GT - The Granite Tower
Transcription
GT - The Granite Tower
Vol. 439 April 2012 The Locker War The Entrepreneur-in-us The Actual Way We Love Cover Story: Animals, on the Verge of Death Vol. 439 April 2012 CONTENTS The Korea University English Magazine APRIL 2012 NO. 439 The Locker War The Actual Way We Love Cover Story: Animals, on the Verge of Death EDITOR’S LETTER See the Unseen NEWS 02 Honorable Students Receive Honorary Endowments 02 A Way to Improve Student Welfare ON CAMPUS 03 Believe in Film: KU Cinema Trap 04 Academic English, Advanced English— A Change for the Better? 05 Shifting Campuses Program– A Double Edged Sword 06 08 Korea University Peer Tutoring (KUPT) The Locker War PHOTO ESSAY 28 32 Colour KU PEOPLE COVER STORY Living History of Korean Forensic Science Professor Emeritus Moon Gook Jin 22 Animals, on the Verge of Death CAREER 34 Yumma, and Her Illustrated Life FOREIGN REPORT 36 China, the Dead Zone of Human Rights? STUDENT LIFE 38 Dancing with Fire – BURAS LETTERS FROM HOKKAIDO 40 FEATURES 10 12 14 16 19 Toward a More Book-Friendly Society Magical Tips for Finding One’s Love The People, Sounding the Alarm Toward Corrupt Society The Entrepreneur-in-us What Tomorrow Wants from Today ARTS & CULTURE BOOK 42 Let the Games Begin The Hunger Games 43 The White Man’s Burden 50 Cyber Witch Hunt 51 The Actual Way We Love t’s funny how we all struggle to be the exception, to be the ones with at least one of our goals accomplished in life, when the reality is, we all have one common goal of just being happy whether it be money, love, or career. Yet, most of us end up settling for what we have at the time. Happiness greets us everywhere. The real happiness, however, comes from being with the people who are dear and near to us. While preparing for the April issue, I, by chance, stayed up all night at Central Plaza. Sitting inside a reading room, I gazed at hard-working students. It was thought-provoking to see people with seemingly different purposes of studying gathered in a confined place. However, I was certain about one thing—as they go through transitions of life and finally achieve their objectives, the first word they will call to mind is family. In April issue, we explore the theme of companionship and love. Accordingly, the reporters closely researched the lives of the elderly— their outlook and warning to youth. The aging of societies is becoming a global phenomenon, but the welfare state and operation have not reached a satisfactory state, yet. The last article to be edited is this month’s cover story on abandoned animals that are on verge of death. However, it focuses more on the bright side that arouses feeling of compassion and relief. March, the season of new look, new place, and new friends, gave way to April. Romance and excitement gradually diminish while fear and jitter grow as we get familiar with college life. As we grow old, the range of knowledge and experiences broadens and we begin to pay closer attention to unnoticeable weeps and guilt. By reading about the whistle-blowers and many other articles, I hope our readers feel the need of making righteous decisions and being aware of the tears of the weak. 44 Boys Dream of Cheeky Revolution 45 Move Over K-Pop, Make Room for Ailee Yoon Youngmin ENGLISH ADVISERS Michael Blackwood, Sean O’Keefe, John Rector, Brian Stokes EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Kwak Yeon Soo ASSOCIATE EDITORS Lee Da Hyeon, Lee Jeong Min SENIOR REPORTERS Jeon Shi Hyun, Kang Uoo Seob, Kim Hak Young, Kim Minhee, Kweon Yun Jin, Lee Han Byul, Park Jin Yung, Park Jong Hun JUNIOR REPORTERS CHANGE OF ADDRESS If you are a subscribed reader of The Granite Tower, please send all changes of address to The Granite Tower, Anam-dong 5Ga, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, Korea (136-701) or [email protected] along with a daytime telephone or cell phone number. LETTERS The Granite Tower welcomes letters from all readers. Submit opinions, essays, or general correspondence to [email protected]. We will do our utmost to ensure that your contributions are reflected in the content and quality of our magazine. Do You Have a True Friend? Intouchables Who Dares to Blame Them? Bad Boys JOINING GT If you are a Korea University freshman, you are eligible to apply for reporter status at The Granite Tower. All members of The Granite Tower must complete three semesters at the magazine before they can receive their certificate of service. International students and non-first year Korea University students interested in taking on a temporary guest reporter position are also welcome to join The Granite Tower. The Granite Tower recruits new reporters twice each spring and fall semester. VOICE ON CAMPUS 52 FACULTY ADVISER ART DIRECTOR / DESIGNER Park Seong-duck PERFORMANCE 48 PUBLISHER Kim Byoung-Chul PRINTING COMPANY Samwooban Tel.02)2279-2711 FILM 46 Established on September 18, 1954, The Granite Tower is a monthly college journal supported by a staff of Korea University undergraduate students. The magazine is published during the spring and fall semesters and is distributed free of charge. EDITORIAL OFFICE The Granite Tower, Anam-dong 5Ga, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, Korea (136-701) TELEPHONE NUMBER 02) 3290-1685 / 82-2) 3290-1685 E-MAIL [email protected] WEBSITE http://www.thegranitetower.com UNIVERSITY SWITCHBOARD 02) 3290-1114 / 82-2) 3290-1114 Kim Do Kyung, Kwon Min Seok, Kim Tae Rim, Bae Mi Seon, Choi Ji Won, Park Sang Eun, Kim Yoon Sun, Choe Heejung, Park Rae Hyun MUSIC Precious Gift of One Year in Hokkaido OPINION See the Unseen I The Entrepreneur-in-us 01 EDITOR’S LETTER To Be a Liar or To Be an April Fool Kwak Yeon Soo ([email protected]) Editor-in-Chief, The Granite Tower ON CAMPUS NEWS Believe in Film: Honorable Students Receive Honorary Endowments KU Cinema Trap By Park Rae Hyun ([email protected]) ciaries. “I am pleased to deliver this wonderful news to my parents,” commented Hong Yoo Jeong (’10, Psychology), “they will be delightful to be unburdened from the humongous tuition fee.” Professors are also glad to see their pupils full of joy. “Since Seokrimhoi runs on individual donations and membership fees of enrolled professors, it is important for the students to remember to keep trying their best and be the cornerstones of development of KU and Korea,” advised Professor Shim Jae Chul (Journalism and Mass communication). By Park Rae Hyun ([email protected]) 2 _ The Granite Tower Provided by Koreapas (Dongmyo), and Bagu Bagu. Fortunately, the affiliates are not limited to restaurants. For those who want to be relieved from stress, using the card at Rockhu Karaoke and Lotte Cinema (Cheongnyangni) would be a smart choice. At Rockhu Karaoke, they are offering a 2000-won discount for anyone who possesses the membership card, with no conditions attached. Furthermore, at Lotte Cinema, students with the card are given a 2000-won discount. Many students are welcoming the issuing of the membership card with open arms. This phenomenon shows how thirsty KU students have been for enhancement in student welfare. Certainly, KUSA has been successful in quenching the needs of the students. Photographed by Kim Hak Young Commonly, an art theater is considered a place which attracts a limited enthusiasts. However, have you ever been skeptical about the fact that a multiplex cinema shows only extreme commercial films among many other genres? If so, visit KU Cinema Trap at Korea University (KU). W A Way to Improve Student Welfare As a part of their campaign, the 45th Korea University Students’ Association (KUSA) Godaegonggamdae pledged to issue Cheongchun membership cards to the students of the Anam Campus. Application for the card started from March 2, 2012 on Koreapas. The number of students applying for the card quickly reached 1000, and is still growing, proving the success of the campaign. From March 12, the cards were distributed to those who applied for it in advance at People’s Square. Also, students who had not applied for one were given chances to do so at the website. KUSA boasts that the card has a plethora of affiliates, most of which are near the KU campus. Some of the affiliates include Valance Burger, Outback Steak House By Jeon Shi Hyun ([email protected]) Photographed by Kwon Min Seok On March 16, 2012, there was a scholarship conferment ceremony from Seokrimhoi at Inchon Memorial Hall. The atmosphere in the hall was rather solemn and the faces of students were filled with anxiety and pride. The ceremony began with an opening address and a big round of applause, celebrating the achievements of the students. This semester, nearly 40 students were selected after a thorough evaluation, with the amount of money reaching up to 180 million won. Seokrimhoi was founded in 1970 by a group of professors who graduated from Korea University (KU), with the hope of fostering younger students and aiding those who are less privileged but who are also illustrious pupils. As of February 2012, 959 professors were enrolled in the scholarship committee. It is by far the largest and the most active scholarship committee in KU. The amount of money awarded to each student was between two million and five million won. Annually, the scholarship is awarded to 100 students on average. Professors of the committee stressed the value of hard work and honor to the students who were given the scholarship. The students who received the scholarship were delighted by the fact that they were selected as the benefi- ith the new construction of the Media Hall, KU Cinema Trap started as the space which accepts the demand for various images and film media; from classical film to the latest digital format. KU Cinema Trap’s exterior construction was completed in August, last year, and the facilities related to screening were equipped in November. Finally, KU Cinema Trap opened in February, 2012. A private enterprise, Kkumgil Production Center, manages the theater; however, essential particulars needed for the theater are decided by a steering committee in the School of Journalism and Mass Communication, because the theater is located in KU. Producer Park Sun Kyung, the head of the Management Department in Kkumgil Production Center, says that KU Cinema Trap wants to meet audiences in the university through a variety of good films, which are losing their footing by multiplex theaters. “To the public, we desire to communicate with local residents and contribute to local culture,” she says. Film has more diverse spectrums than other media. With its artistic merit, film has become the industrial media. In the system of multiplex cinema-centered screening, it is a reality that opportunities to meet independent films of great artistic value are limited. So, KU Cinema Trap aims to become more popular and more familiar theater, despite the fact that it is an art theater. For this, the theater shows as many films as possible. “As the school facility, KU Cinema Trap will also conduct in-depth educational programs about film and media through supports for technical skills,” Park says. KU Cinema Trap is located on the fourth floor of the Media Hall, and has a screen which is 8.5 meters wide and 4.5 meters long and allows 142 people in. During the semester, the theater is used as a lecture room until 3 p.m. on weekdays; outside these hours, it shows films. Despite its small scale, KU Cinema Trap guarantees the best screen quality in Korea. It has a Sony R320 4K Digital projector that supports the best resolution. The Dual Masking System adopted by this theater helps it show all kinds of Theater Screen Ratio without distortion. Its screen is a Harkness Reference Screen which has excellent angle of field and realistic reflection characteristic. The theater adopts Dolby Surround Sound version 7.1 as the sound system. According to Professor Choi Hyeon Cheol (Journalism and Mass Communication), almost every theater in Korea including multiplex theaters use Dolby Surround Sound version 5.1, while American theaters use its 7.1 version. He adds that the difference in the sound system makes the difference in grandeur. “In addition, KU Cinema Trap is the only theater which is equipped with its own classical cinema-including silent film-screening system so the theater deserves to be called the best theater in Korea,” Choi comments. In fact, Korean Film Archive and KU Cinema Trap are the only ones equipped with the classical cinema screening system. The excellent technical skills are not everything. There are experts in classical cinema, archive film and digital cinema in KU Cinema Trap, and they support the screening. Park says that the managers in KU Cinema Trap plan fruitful programs with sincerity. “These experts play the core function in completing our services and and values,” she says. The admission fee 2,000 won is the same as other theaters; 6,000 won in early morning, 8,000 won on weekdays, and 9,000 won on weekends. But it offers discounts to KU students and the school personnel when they show their student ID card or school personnel card. Also, KU Cinema Trap will start a coupon system so that audiences can be granted free admission after they see movies in the theater seven times. Park finally says, “Last year, some historic art theaters closed their doors because of financial difficulties. Although commercial films are the mainstream nowadays, I think the film made wholeheartedly is an art film. I hope that KU Cinema Trap will become the place where your precious memories are built up. Please give us your interest and affection.”■ APRIL 2012 _ 3 ON CAMPUS Academic English, Advanced English— Change for the Better? Shifting Campuses Program— A Double Edged Sword By Lee Han Byul ([email protected]) By Park Rae Hyun ([email protected]) All freshmen at Korea University (KU) are required to take Academic English. Starting this year, KU is trying out an innovative method; whether it is for the better or for the worse remains to be seen. It has been 32 years since the opening of the Korea University (KU) Sejong Campus. Since its foundation, there have been several issues concerning its identity and relationship with KU Anam Campus. The most recent issue revolves around the controversy over the program of shifting campuses, implemented in 2010. Both proponents and opponents of the program are actively raising their voices, eager to stake their position. F or freshmen, the exciting first month of university life has surely passed quickly by. They are taking mandatory Academic English (AE) classes— but this year’s class is different from the one upperclassmen had. On February 20, all freshmen took a placement test which divided them into different levels of AE classes. The top 20 percent of students were assigned to Advanced AE, which has the perks of having an absolute grading scale and the students being exempt from the mandatory English certification tests required for graduation. Advanced AE concentrates less on English language skills and more on academic skills that all freshmen need. The next 60 percent are placed in intermediate level of AE, and the lowest 20 percent in beginner’s. The new standard AE is similar to what had been taught in the past, but is aimed more at students with less experience in English. This differs from the former system in which the freshmen who took and passed academic exemption tests would receive an A plus without having to take the class. In addition, the previous system divided students into classes according to their student numbers. Through the new system, the school aims to enhance English learning abilities and to make grading fairer. Views on the new AE system vary. Jung Yoon Sun (’12, Journalism and Mass Communication) approves of the new system. She comments, “I think it is good that I take AE class with students similar to my level.” This addresses the fairness of grades issue. “As a student who took Academic English last year, I thought that there were too many different spectrums of English abilities within a single class. So I think it is much better to divide the class by academic levels to lessen the gap,” says Cho Hyeon Seok (’11, Russian Language and Literature). He also said that although there are some slip-ups such as last-minute class allocation, these are natural trial and error while the system is refined. “The primary difference is that students are now taught at appropriate language proficiency level,” says Glenn Sundeen, a professor at KU and an IFLS administrative coordinator. “From the instructor’s point of view, it is difficult to have multiple level students in one class. In the past, some students were intimidated by their peers with significantly higher language level, and others were bored by being taught at a level that didn’t challenge them.” The separation according to one’s command of English 4 _ The Granite Tower may bring about invisible disparity between students and cause lower level ones to lose confidence. “I was very nervous that the test might place me to the lowest level,” says Kim Ae Ri (’12, English Language and Literature). “Since the students in the English section are mostly divided into two ‘intermediate level AE’ classes, I think it would be very embarrassing if someone asked me if I was in the beginner’s level.” As a student who was previously exempted from having to take Academic English, Hwang Jun Churl (’11, Spanish Language and Literature) does not agree with the new system. “I find Academic English unhelpful. By exemption, I was able to take a different class that seemed a lot more interesting,” says Hwang. Furthermore, another commonly shared concern is that it lessens students’ chances to get to know others in the same section better. “Some of my section-mates that take Advanced AE complain that they have to take it with other advanced level students from Department of Political Science. While they take Advanced AE with students from other departments, most of the English section students are in the same AE class. It is pretty obvious that we get to hang out more often,” says Kim. She believes that they might feel a little left out. For the time being, there seems to be a lot of room for improvement for the new AE and Advanced AE. “I think it would be helpful to keep the old way of things,” says Kim Jisoo (’12, Korean Language and Literature). She suggests that, “if those who are already good at English get exempted, they could manage their time better by taking other lectures. On the other hand, dividing the class by achievement levels could enhance good faith competition. It would be the best if advantages of the old and the reformed system are put together.” Moreover, Kim Ae Ri reports there are too many students in her class. She thinks that 47 students in a single AE class is too many, and even the professors are worried about how to manage so many students effectively. It is good that the school is making creative attempts to improve the quality of courses. Nevertheless, the question over whether the new Academic English classes really are for the better remains to be answerd.■ T here are several universities operating two, or sometimes three, different campuses. Yonsei University (YU) has two campuses located in Sinchon and Wonju. So does Kyung Hee University (KHU), which possesses two campuses; one in Hoegi and another in Suwon. The story is not much different when applied to KU. KU foundation currently boasts two campuses in Anam and Seochang. The two campuses have come to exist under the common name of KU since 1980. Both campuses, undeniably, have undergone several minor disputes or struggles since then, owing to different learning environments and varying social perspectives. Yet the most controversial issue, shifting campuses program, has been taking its toll since 2010. Basically, the shifting campuses program is a program in which a student from Sejong Campus who is in his or her fourth semester with a grade point average of 3.75 or higher along with satisfactory English fluency, is given a chance to acquire a degree as a student of Anam Campus. However, barely fulfilling such qualifications is not enough in being one of the selected few. Many students from Sejong Campus are aware of the program’s merits, leading to a skyrocketing number of students preparing for the program. According to students of Sejong campus, in order to practically pass the program, one needs to have a grade point average over 4.0 with a TOEIC (Test Of English for International Communication) score of 990. University officials comment that the program has come to exist for practical reasons. It acts as a factor in attracting talented students from Sejong Campus, while at the same time diversifying the backgrounds of enrolled students. Furthermore, due to such challenging qualifications of the program, students who are interested in it would have to be extremely industrious to be eligible. Their viable attitude would definitely lead to the development of an active learning environment at Sejong Campus. However, the issue is in no way a simple one. Since some students apply for a completely different major, they may encounter problems once they shift campuses. In 2012, the number of departments with openings for the program in the Humanities Department was limited to four: Business Administration, Korean History, English Language and Literature, and the Division of International Studies. Furthermore, the program has met with fierce opposition from some students of Anam Campus, for they are not allowed to change their majors for any reasons. In fact, a plethora of students at Anam Campus taking majors that do not suit them are having a difficult time. Thus, the program can be seen as lacking equity. Jeong Sung Ho (’12, Business Administration) of Anam Campus says, “I am against the program. The very fact that such a program exists makes it seem as though Sejong Campus is looked upon as an imitation of the Anam Campus.” Also, a student majoring in English Language and Literature who wanted to remain anonymous mentions, “I do not see the practicality of the program. It seems as if the school is doing it for money.” The program of shifting campuses has both its merits and demerits. For our beloved alma mater to thrive, school officials and students should look for ways to maximize the merits while minimizing the demerits. One way to make the best use of the merits is to come up with a reasonable standard or measurements for selecting qualified students for the program. Also, Sejong Campus may have to toil to increase its own brand value so as to climb upward on the ladder, instead of relying on Anam Campus for name value. Sejong Campus has its own uniqueness including the Department of North Korean Studies and the Department of Pharmaceutical Studies. If such departments were to be nurtured properly, they would put Sejong Campus in its own spotlight.■ APRIL 2012 _ 5 ON CAMPUS By Park Sang Eun ([email protected]) Unlike high schools, universities offer many courses that require students to get involved in group projects or teach solely in English. Not just freshmen, but even seniors find such types of courses challenging that they often try to avoid them. In order to assist these students, the Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL) provides some learning programs including Korea University Peer Tutoring (KUPT), the Creative Challenger Program, and a learning coaching program, to name a few. KUPT is one of the most favored programs among them. KUPT consists of three types of tutoring; English Mediated Course (EMC) skill tutoring, regular course tutoring, and international students course tutoring. In these programs, academically successful students tutor others to assist them with their course work. EMC skill tutoring offers tutoring in writing, presentation, and debate, which are basic skills in taking English courses. All Korea University (KU) students can become tutees if they wish. For tutors, all undergraduates and graduate students of KU can apply. Tutors do not earn any credit or money through EMC skill tutoring. They voluntarily aid other students having difficulty in English courses. Once tutors are selected based on their application and interview, they receive a concentrated tutor training by expert instructors. Then, these trained tutors teach tutees for at least one or more semesters based on what they learned through training. Tutors have to submit activity reports weekly about what they taught their tutees during the previous week. Some tutors who complete tutoring for more than 16 hours can get a certificate. Regular course tutoring is a voluntary one-to-one or oneto-many tutoring program. Tutors who had received A or A plus in a particular course can aid tutees taking the course. Tutees can get help in obtaining learning skills or doing assignments. Tutors as well as tutees can learn something through regular course tutoring. It is a good opportunity for tutors to improve their speciality in the area, their leadership skills, and even communication skills. As with EMC skill tutoring, tutors should submit weekly activity reports and can receive a certificate after tutoring for more than 16 hours. International Students Course Tutoring (ISCT) offers support to international students at KU, as can be guessed by its name. International students may struggle with Korean as well as English. Thus, international student course training helps them enhance their abilities in English-mediated courses and provides tutoring programs in some subjects in which they want to get help. Areas of tutoring are decided based on international students’ needs. Interview with Cho Sunghee, a Researcher at the CTL The Granite Tower (GT): What was the reason for launching KUPT? Cho Sunghee (Cho): Although I am not the one who started this tutoring program, it was launched in order to aid students experiencing difficulty in studying. There were constant demands for assistance, and some students volunteered to help those in need. Our work was to match those potential tutors and tutees. It was the beginning of KUPT. A lot of students especially needed help in English courses that require ability in writing, debating, and delivering presentations. Nowadays, however, many students seek regular course tutoring as well. GT: Have you ever confronted problems while managing KUPT, and if you have, how did you solve the problem? Cho: It is a problem that we are usually short of classrooms where tutors and tutees can study. We only have our own offices to do administrative work but cannot secure rooms for tutors and tutees. Thus, they have to 6 _ The Granite Tower book study rooms in Centennial Memorial SAMSUNG Hall, but it is hard for them to get a study room before and during the examination period as many other students flock to book them. It is so sad that suggesting other rooms for study and often providing our conference room are only things that we can do. GT: Do all tutors and tutees diligently participate throughout the semester? Cho: Usually they participate in the tutoring system quite diligently. Actually, some tutors and tutees are not so diligent. In order to prevent it from fizzling out, we adopted the weekly reporting system. For several years, tutors have needed to submit a report about the activities they did the previous week. In some cases, however, tutees are not so passionate in tutoring program. Thus, since last semester, we have also recommended tutees to submit a weekly self-reflection paper weekly, and it turned out to be effective. Chae Seung-wan (’08, Life Sciences and Biotechnology) tutored biology for regular course tutoring. Kang Sung Han (’10, Computer Education) was one of the tutees Chae taught. GT: What made you participate in the tutoring program? Chae Seung-wan (Chae): I had difficulty studying courses for my major in my freshman year because I had not ever studied actively during my high school years. I wanted to help students just like myself. Also, I wanted to study actively. Most college students usually study only when they have exams ahead. Through this tutoring program, however, I have to find extra information or preview what to tutor. I thought such studying could improve my active studying in my daily life. Kang Sung Han (Kang): Whenever I had difficulty during class, I thought it would be better to get help from otherses. At the time, I found that CTL provided regular course tutoring and I applied to the program. GT: Did you achieve what you targeted when starting the tutoring program? Chae: The biggest goal of my tutoring was to improve the grades of the tutees. In order to attain the goal, I asked tutees not to miss any classes and everyone followed me well with strong faith. With their study fever, they requested classes even on weekends, and all of them finally got a good grade. What was more, we were able to get excellence awards as a tutor, tutee, and tutoring team. Kang: While participating in the tutoring program, I received a big boost in that I came to understand difficult topics and it was a good opportunity for me to study harder. In the end, I was able to get a good grade and even was chosen as an excellent tutee in the excellent tutoring team. Not to mention my initial goal, I was able to foster the habit of studying steadily and regularly. GT: What was the toughest factor during tutoring? Chae: The number of tutees was the toughest thing. CTL recruits tutors before the semester starts. For spring semester, it advertises tutor recruitment in early February. Selected tutors get training at the end of February. After training, tutees can apply to the tutoring program in March. Even during the semester, extra tutees can apply to the tutoring Compared with an ordinary tutoring team, usually consisting of three or four tutees, eight tutees flocked to our team. I had to divide our team into two teams because too many tutees in one team might have been a problem in that it would have been difficult to make an appointment, and courses would not have been so effective. It was somewhat burdensome to teach the same materials twice. Besides, it was hard to adjust the level of difficulty while considering the differences among the students. Kang: It was tough that I had to do something related to studying every week. As tutoring lessons went on weekly, I had to preview what to learn or discuss and review what I got from the lesson. I even had to write a selfreflection paper comprised of reviewing and organizing what I learned every week. Even though I had to spend a lot of time participating in tutoring, I felt really great about having completed tutoring successfully at the end of the semester. GT: What lessons did you learn from tutoring? Chae: I realized that a leader should set a good example for followers. Rather than forcing tutees to be diligent, I prepared teaching materials two days before tutoring day and arrived and waited for tutees ten minutes before the tutoring started. Once I become diligent, tutees also participated diligently in the tutoring program. Through teaching, I was able to learn more because I had to know the contents more deeply and more specifically in order to teach tutees. Moreover, I could enhance my studying ability in the process of debating and contemplating what tutees questioned. Provided by Chae Seung-wan Korea University Peer Tutoring (KUPT) Interview with a Tutor and a Tutee for Tegular Tourse Tutoring Provided by Cho Sunghee A Friend in Need is A Friend Indeed GT: What would you say to students who have not participated yet? Chae: The tutoring program is helpful in that you can improve your learning ability and can receive useful tips for a career through conversations with a tutor and tutees. Besides it can be a good opportunity to make acquaintance with new people. I strongly recommend you to participate in the tutoring program. I even would like to participate again if I have a chance later. program, but not tutors. If you have any questions about it, you can visit Central Plaza #121 or #122, or call 02-32901576.■ APRIL 2012 _ 7 ON CAMPUS The Locker War become that though originally free of charge, some lockers now come with a price tag attached. Koreapas, KU’s student online community, is the main means through which the deals are made. Of course, it is officially forbidden to buy and sell lockers, and those who get caught will be restricted from using the lockers in the future. By Lee Han Byul ([email protected]) “Lockers wanted” articles posted on Koreapas Every new semester starts with a war over lockers. The limited number of lockers on campus means only a few remain victorious and the rest will be left with a load of heavy textbooks in their arms. The overheated competition for lockers clearly demonstrates the fact that the supply does not meet the demand. 8 _ The Granite Tower Number of Lockers and Applicants, 2012 Spring Semester Place Number of Central Central Woo Dang Science Hana total Plaza Library Hall Library Square Lockers 1703 500 560 710 1670 5170 Applicants 2623 823 235 538 1927 6146 the fiercest in Central Plaza. According to locker administrator Gim Ju Han, the lockers in the Central Plaza are fully occupied throughout the semester and rank first in number of applicants. As for the Central Library, Gim reports that there are about 70 private lockers students have placed on top of or next to the communal lockers, something the university discourages. In Woo Dang Hall, the lockers on the first floor are always full, and the second floor is 80 percent full. Yet interestingly, the lockers at the Science Library are more popular on the higher floors. This is because most graduate students want lockers on the fifth floor. Although there are plenty of unused lockers on the third floor, moving them to the fifth floor is not feasible due to lack of space. Counting all the communal lockers distributed by the colleges, nine out of ten Korea University (KU) undergraduates are supposed to have his or her own personal locker. However, these are just numbers; the reality is that undergraduates are not the only ones coming to study at KU, and the supply of lockers near reading rooms is insufficient to meet the demands. “There have been a number of requests to increase the number of lockers in places such as the Central Plaza or the Central Library,” says Gim. “The staff of the Office of Student Affairs have been looking around for room to place more lockers for the past five years. However, because of aesthetic reasons, putting more lockers in the hallways is out of the question.” Although the problem is well known, the school has done little to improve the situation. So popular have these personal spaces to store books As there are loopholes to almost every law, people are quite hesitant to speak out about “selling” lockers. Hence, the ones who desperately need them post wanted articles and the deal is made discreetly in the dark through online messaging. The middle three rows are more preferred, and the nearer to a water fountain or closer to the reading rooms the better. During March, a single locker sells for 50,000 won or more; some even offer more than 70,000 won to secure a place. The price gets lower as the semester continues. “There were people who suggested I sell my rights on my locker,” says Go. “I am not going to do it though, since I applied for a locker because I really needed one.” However, not all are so rule-abiding; some students who do not necessarily need a locker still apply for one in the hopes of making a profit. The school is also responsible for this transaction; a student who asked to not be named confided that she went to receive the keys to a locker for her friend who is preparing for national exams. Although she was holding her friend’s student ID card, there was no problem in her getting a key. “It is practically impossible to compare the students one by one. The line of the people waiting for the lockers is so long that if the school staff meticulously compared the student ID card and the students, it would take a whole day,” she says. Moreover, since the black market for the lockers takes place outside of official KU websites, regulation is very feeble. The locker shortage has long been recognized by students and the KU Student Affairs staff, but not much has been done about it. The students pay an awful lot of money to attend KU, plenty enough to cover securing an individual locker in a convenient location. It is now time that the school administrators stop giving dead-end answers of “there is no more space for lockers” or abstract solutions of “intensifying regulations” and start coming up with realistic solutions.■ Photographed by Lee Han Byul I magine the heavy air of the Central Library, or the Central Plaza. Students sit in silence with thick books obscuring their desks. If you are an undergraduate, you know how heavy those required textbooks can be; having even the smallest space to store them can be a great relief from the horror of having to carry them back and forth from home to school every day. This is exactly why Go Hyeon Jong(’11, English Language Education), like so many others, applied for a locker this semester. “Since I am now a sophomore, I have to attend many major courses that require some seriously heavy books. It would have be a total nightmare if I had to carry them around for my 70-minute commute, especially with my laptop,” says the lucky winner. “I applied for a locker at the Central Library because it’s the closest to the College of Education buildings. I am so glad that I got a locker.” Not all of those who apply for the lockers are as lucky, though many students face the same problem. In fact, the demand is so high compared to what is available that there is a profitable black market for the keys to those lockers. The system currently works in the following way: the lockers in each department building are under the management of the student council of the appropriate college. Hence, the policies on how the lockers are distributed vary accordingly. For instance, the College of Liberal Arts gives priority to students who applied for a single locker together with another student. Other more popular locker spots, including the Central Plaza, the Central Library, the Science Library, Hana Square and the Woo Dang Hall, are under the administration of the Student Affairs Department. The winners of the lockers are chosen randomly according to the quotas provided for undergraduates, graduate students, and post-graduates. Because these hotspots are mostly where many students study for national qualification exams, winning the draw for one of the lockers is as difficult as “winning the lottery”. The following graph shows the demand and supply of lockers this semester. As can be seen, the competition is APRIL 2012 _ 9 FEATURE Toward a More Book-Friendly Society By Kim Do Kyung ([email protected]) Photographed by Kim Hak Young “The reading of all good books is like a conversation with the finest minds of past centuries,” said Rene Descartes. As such, no one can deny the great value of reading books. Reading, from an early age, has been emphasized and encouraged as an optimum leisure activity as well as being the foundation of a well-balanced, educated, and culturally enriched life. Not only do books enable people to gain knowledge in certain specific fields, but they also lead them to travel to fantasy worlds where they can indirectly experience a different life. Bae Min Joo (’11, Chinese Language and Literature) agrees with the merits of reading. “By looking through books of diverse genres, I feel as if I am getting smarter, even though they may not be directly related with academics.” However, recent broadcasts reveal people’s lack of reading. Research done by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Korea shows that more than 30 percent of Korean adults do not read a single book each year. With college students, the situation was slightly better. According to a survey done by The Dong-A Ilbo in January 2012, university attendants read an average of one book 10 _ The Granite Tower every month. Moreover, a whopping 80 percent of students answered that they spend less than 30,000 won every month buying books. An interesting point is that collegians mostly read best-seller books, which are often related with the so-called “spec(specification)” such as self-help and employment books. Kang Dong Won (’11, Chemistry) shares his similar personal style of reading. “Rather than focusing on just a few specific genres, I tend to follow the trends in books, such as when they gain social and public attention. Thus I mostly read books that are on the best-sellers list in bookstores.” Before blaming contemporary society for not being cultivated due to its lack of reading it is important to analyze the primary causes of this trend. The first and foremost reason can be attributed to the changing social structure. Competition in diverse areas is becoming fierce, leading college students to prepare for employment even several years before their graduation to get decent jobs in the intense job market. In order to win and earn high positions in the strict hierarchical structure of society, it is inevitable for them to devote their efforts and time to more practical issues. Therefore, engaging in part time jobs, volunteer activities, and internship programs are preferred by the majority of students. Moreover, revolutionary development in electronic devices has brought about an array of leisure activities including playing online games, getting on SNS, and watching television. Kang says, “One of my major hobbies is playing games while reading takes only about ten to 15 percent of my whole leisure time.” However, excessive use of such devices causes severe negative consequences such as addiction and health problems. Therefore, it seems that reading, a sound activity, should be further encouraged to today’s youth. To promote reading books, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) designated an annual event on April 23 and named International Day of the Book or World Book Day in 1995. This day originated from the Catalonia region of Spain, where people who bought books received flowers on St. George’s Day. Coincidentally, this date is the anniversary of the death of William Shakespeare, Miguel de Cervantes, Inca Garcilaso de la Vega and Josep Pla, who are all renowned historical writers. More than 80 countries worldwide celebrate World Book Day including Spain, the country of origin, France, Norway, the United Kingdom, Japan, and Korea. Each country has its unique way of commemorating this day. For instance, there is a simultaneous festival of books and roses in Spain, and a campaign by which parents read books to their children 20 minutes a day for a month in the United Kingdom. Korea also holds diverse events in bookstores and public libraries to entertain citizens so that they ultimately become familiar with reading books. Major bookstores in Korea organize diverse events to entice customers of all ages. Kyobo Bookstore has been one of the most active bookshops taking the initiative. For example, it invited celebrities including Kim Yuna to share their dreams and visions with the general public. Moreover, it hosted events through Social Network Service (SNS) channels. In 2009, the bookstore requested customers to write a touching line from books written by Shakespeare and Cervantes to commemorate their deaths on April 23, 1616 and gave out presents to the winners. Kim Hyo Yeon, an employee of Kyobo Bookstore, shared some ideas of the company’s promotion team. She says, “The main purpose of organizing these events for the sake of World Book Day is to allow Korean citizens to become more interested in books. As the leading company of Korea’s reading culture, we believe that we are responsible for activating people’s reading. We are glad that the participation of customers in each of our event is great every year.” Kyobo Bookstore is busy preparing for the upcoming event this month. Kim continues, “Although we do not have any specific plans set yet, we are aiming to have public reading sessions and meetings with authors in each of our branches.” The National Library of Korea has also been contributing to celebrations of World Book Day. The Acquisition & Technical Processing Division says, “Last year, our library held a ‘Book The More’ event in which citizens donated their unnecessary books to the library to commemorate the day.” The books that the library had not possessed became registered as national documents, and those that they already owned were sent to libraries in isolated areas where residents did not have much access to the book culture that was experienced by those living in big cities. According to the library, other events included the recitation of the poets’ and writers’ own poems and novels, and exhibitions of poetry. Librarians further mention, “About 600 people in total participated that day, giving great support and response. We are planning to hold the ‘Book The More’ event this year as well. We look forward to citizens’ active participation.” Although there is no solid statistic showing noticeable success of events such as World Book Day, they are surely great methods for promoting reading activities. There may also be other efficient ways of making people become fascinated with books. More promotion, such as social campaigns through the media, can influence people’s reading habits in positive ways. Another suggestion is to enforce reading proficiency exams in schools. Several proficiency exams including English and Chinese characters are already set as graduation requirements in many universities, allowing students to gain at least a minimum knowledge in those areas. Similarly, the adoption of reading proficiency exams will hopefully make students become more sophisticated in general. Therefore, both public and individual efforts are necessary to enhance interest in reading nowadays.■ Photographed by Kim Hak Young Libraries around university campuses are usually crowded with students, where intense competition occurs, especially during exam periods. These students do not hesitate to stand in long lines early in the morning to save “good” seats for themselves. However, the majority of them have the primary purpose of studying academics, rather than reading educational books. APRIL 2012 _ 11 FEATURES What do you do on Valentine’s Day or White Day? Some might go out with their respective lovers and exchange chocolates and candies. And others might just stay at home or take dull classes at school, ignoring many campus couples. It is likely that most students are included in the latter group, acting as if these special days have nothing to do with their lives. Here, a reporter of The Granite Tower (GT), who has a lot of theoretical knowledge about dating, talks about three secrets of relationship, connecting them with episodes of the TV program, Jjak. Magical Tips for Finding One’s Love season of Jjak, there was a woman with a great background, graduating School of Business at Yonsei University and working at Korean Airlines. A car maintenance man, whose background was far below hers according to a materialistic measure, kept trying to win her love. To some audience members, it seemed kind of reckless to target the woman with such a great background. However, his unfailing attempts to win her love finally produced fruits by their being a couple after all. Do not be afraid to set your sights high. If you think you are good enough for a girl, she will think you are, too. If you do not think you are good enough for your partner, then the person probably would not think so, either. Hence, be confident. This shows others that you have good taste and that you are giving them a compliment just by talking to them. 2. Ask for a Date By Kang Uoo Seob ([email protected]) The TV program, Jjak (Couple), which is aired every Wednesday on Seoul Broadcasting Station (SBS), is one of the most featured TV shows nowadays. This is basically a reality TV show, in which several single men and women come out to find marriage partners in a week. They live together in a village named Aejeong-chon for a week to find their lifelong partners, carefully watching who would be the best fit for their lifestyles, characters, and ideals. Since it is for marriage, not for merely finding a dating partner, every cast member is serious about the whole show. Even though all the members have one common aim, some succeed and others fail. A few months ago, it was even reported that a couple who met at Aejeong-chon promised to marry this year. In contrast, other members left Aejeongchon without any romantic fruits. In every episode of Jjak, it is not hard to find some kind of principles of attracting partners. Those who fail to achieve success in finding partners were mostly unaware of such principles. If you do not want to face the same failures as they did in the show, read carefully the magical rules for finding your love. 12 _ The Granite Tower 1. Be Confident, No Matter What “What college does he or she go to?” “Is he or she good looking?” “Where does he or she live?” These are several top questions people ask before they date someone. The bottom line of asking such questions is that one’s background is one of the most significant factors in dating. Materialism already seeped into people’s minds and replaced innocent feelings with a calculating attitude to find partner with a nearly “perfect” background. Due to such mindset, many college students tend to give up asking for a date from those considered “superior” with better backgrounds. Just because a man goes to a less prestigious college, a woman refuses to meet him. Just because he is not good-looking, she does not react to his unfailing attempts to win her love. However, this is such a silly bias. According to a book, Techniques of Attraction, written by Song Chang Min, the most popular date consultant who gives advice to others regarding dating and relationships, it is very important to say to yourself that “they got nothing on me,” as Bruno Mars says in his song, “Nothing on you.” On the eighth episode of the current Many of us are afraid of asking for a date from those we like. It is because we fear that he or she would reject our asking for a date. Before asking, we think of every situation we might face and fall into a delusion of grandeur, most of which will never happen. For instance, a man usually imagines that if he asks for a date from a woman and she rejects it, the relationship with her would be totally messed up in the future. Yet, this is not true. Do not get disappointed easily with only one rejection. Keep asking for a date until your beloved one accepts your proposal. In his book, Song says that, “It is important to ask for date before somebody else does.” In the 18th episode of Jjak, two men showed interest in one woman. One man had nearly no experience of dating a woman, and the other was full of experience, knowing much about woman’s mentality. The first man had many opportunities to ask for a date from the woman, but he did not just because he knew nearly nothing of how to win her love. In contrast, the second man kept asking for a date to attract her. At first, the woman seemed reluctant and careful to such proposals. However, after he won several opportunities to date her, they went out of Aejeongchon as a couple. Do not be afraid of asking for date. There is nothing better than showing your charm and to win his or her love. 3. Do Not Get Disappointed Easily. When the person whom you are interested ignores your text message, what would be your first reaction? Most people get disappointed and even give up on him or her. When their text messages are ignored, they start to think that “Oh, my God, he (or she) does not like me. We are over!” However, this is not true. He or she might have been in a situation in which they could not send a text message. Be optimistic. Even if he or she intentionally ignored the text message, do not give up on him or her. It is important to learn from rejection. Rejection is just part of the game, and being rejected does not necessarily mean there is something wrong with you. Repeated rejections, however, should prompt you to evaluate yourself and look for changes. In the ninth episode of Jjak, a man smothered a woman. He gave presents to her, made a special event for her and took her out for a romantic dinner. Yet, her reaction was not as great as he had expected. He was disappointed and shifted his attention to another woman. However, his disappointment was misguided, given that the original woman chose him at last. Just because he or she does not fervently react to your show of love, do not get disappointed and give up easily. It is just too early to give up.■ APRIL 2012 _ 13 FEATURE The People, Sounding the Alarm Toward Corrupt Society By Kwon Min Seok ([email protected]) “The reason why the government protects whistle-blowers is that it is hard for investigative agencies and audit institutions to detect covert corruption through temporary investigations, while it is fairly easy for insiders, who have many chances to witness it, to leak information.” - Lee Jimoon, a whistle-blower T oday, Korean society is suffering from many affairs associated with corruption and bribery. To be specific, Koh Seung-duk, a member of the National Assembly, revealed a money envelope filled with bribes which he had rejected during the past party convention of the Grand National Party. In addition, most of the national sport leagues bothered their head about fixed matches manipulated by some immoral players and brokers. Such a corruption-prevailing atmosphere even is swallowing justice in Korea. This society absolutely needs brave whistle-blowers in order to cure itself, like our bodies need white blood cells. It is certain that our society 14 _ The Granite Tower and laws should protect whistle-blowers from being treated unfairly after their disclosure. However, our society is inclined to turn its back on people who tell what Koreans have generally thought righteous. Lee Jimoon (’87, Political Science and International Relations) is one of the people who received unfair treatments because of his revelation. Lee was not a student political activist, but just an average sort of university student during his campus life. He just served in the army so as to perform his obligated tour as a commissioned officer of Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC). However, Lee ran into irrationalities of the Korean armed forces. In the armed forces, moral education which forced the ranks to support the ruling party at that time was practiced and elections were conducted by proxy and in the form of open vote. In the end, he decided to let the public know such truths and to improve this system because he thought that those illegal actions of the military were not desirable. Moreover, he could not hesitate to do so after watching enlisted men remonstrating about the difference between reality and what they were taught at school. After his disclosure, he was placed under arrest for being absent without leave (AWOL) and was demoted to a private. As a result of this demotion, Lee lost his job at Samsung, which he got before joining the army through a special employment program for commissioned officers. At the end of trials which lasted for three years, his exposure proved to be true and he could hold his honorable discharge. Nevertheless, Lee could not get his job back because Samsung turned down his application for reinstatement by reason of exceeding the limit of leave of absence. Lee Mun-ok, a former examiner of the Board of Audit and Inspection of Korea (BAI), also unjustly received undeserved treatments on account of his revelation. By providing information for The Hankyoreh, he made it public that an inspection, which he took the responsibility of, was stopped by directions from the lobbied superior office. After his exposure, BAI asked him to write a memorandum including an acknowledgement of his fault and to submit his resignation. Moreover, the prosecution detained him on the charge of revealing classified information. During his review of legality for confinement, what he exposed turned out to be facts. Nevertheless, he was not found innocent but was released on bail later. After this, he was expelled by BAI and he had to have long legal battles for six years so as to show that he was not guilty and to regain his job. In 1996, he received a judgment of an acquittal from the Supreme Court. Brave informants were neither protected by Korean society nor the Korean government since the Corruption Prevention Act was established in 2002. Although the law took effect, there were plenty of weak points. The monetary reward guaranteed by the law was too little to bet one’s life in a situation where nobody ensured their future. Furthermore, temporary employees could not be within the boundary of this law. Because only companies can extend the contacts between temporary employees and companies, the employees always become the weak. Last but not least, this law only dealt with whistle-blowers relevant to corruption of public officials and public institutions. In other words, whistle-blowers who disclosed decadence in the private sector still were exposed to a lot of dangers. Also, the Public Interest Disclosure Act has been in force since last year. Fortunately, this law protects whistleblowers in both private and public sectors. Still, it has several problems. People who expose corruption through the media or civil groups are not safeguarded from threats. In addition, disclosures about slush fund creation, tax evasion and accounting fraud of private enterprises are not included in the law because the report procedure of aforementioned crimes already has been fixed by another law. Lee Jimoon said, “Concerning only the laws for whistleblowers, Korea has the most systematic laws about whistleblowers except the U.S.” If so, why do brave people hesitate to tell the truth? The most important reason about the hesitation is a social atmosphere where speaking about inside problems to the outside means betraying their group. In other words, other people are inclined to regard a whistleblower as a person who does harm to them and their group. In such a situation, whistle-blowers fall to a disloyal person to their colleagues in the society where a group is considered prior to an individual. Lee said, “No matter how many times the laws will be established and be strongly amended, the laws cannot protect whistle-blowers from being ostracized and isolated by their company and fellow workers.” Korea ranked 43rd among the 182 countries in the Corruption Perception Index which was presented in 2011 by Transparency International, one of the most famous non-governmental organizations (NGO). Compared to other members of Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), this score is not enough. It means that we need more courageous voices in this situation. However, the society, which has to encourage honest people to do the right thing by keeping them safe, forgets its duty. For the righteous and fair Korea, our attitude toward corruption and whistle-blowers needs to change, although legal protection is also important.■ APRIL 2012 _ 15 FEATURE In recent years, Korea has witnessed an increasing number of people who start their own businesses; some call this phenomenon a “venture boom.” Today, success stories of self-made entrepreneurs, especially young ones, occasionally make it in the news, and the government is vigorously promoting new support measures for startup companies. All of this make us wonder if it is time to give a wake up call to our very own “entrepreneur-in-us.” O ur parents’ generation grew up at a time when the nation was not well off. In times of poverty, getting a secure job was naturally considered a highly admirable achievement. Over time, Korea’s economy grew substantially and society underwent some changes accordingly. However, our parents still hold onto some old values to this day, the classic one being the near-obsession with secure, goodpaying jobs. Many have tried to instill the old-fashioned value into us ever since we were young. As we grow tired of the same preaching—that entering Samsung or KT, for example, will guarantee a decent life— the stories of people in their 20s becoming entrepreneurs and CEOs strike us as impressive. Ticketmonster, Groupon Korea, Ogada, Add2Paper, and StyleShare are just few of the successful companies that are in the hands of young 16 _ The Granite Tower men and women. It may be the fatigue coming from society's—and our parent's—expectations, the sweet talk from the government about how much support will be available, a much lowered initial cost of business thanks to the Internet and the smartphone, or even just youthful enthusiasm and high spirits; whatever the impetus is, a notably increasing number of people are now making an early debut into the world of enterprises. With the exception of a very few, however, they usually meet with little success and stop the journey at that. They go back to reality, and they are lucky if they have not run into debt. Feet Back on Ground “This is really going to be something!” At the spark of a seemingly brilliant business idea, such a thought flashes through the mind of an ambitious student. He grows convinced of the business potential until he takes action and starts a business. He takes a semester off to fully immerse himself in making his business as big as he imagines it to be. Far from hitting it big, however, the aspiring entrepreneur is instead saddled with some tens of millions of won worth of debt. This student took a course called Campus CEO at KU. As to why this student was bound to fail, like so many others, Kim Chang Hwan, who co-conducts Campus CEO, points out the fact that students “walk on a cloud.” They get easily excited, picturing their future in every rosy way possible, and hence, lose touch with reality—a fatal mistake for an entrepreneur. “Some students just do not take it seriously enough from the very beginning. Then there are others who get frightened as they go along. They realize, often too late, how difficult running a business really is.” It goes without saying that chances for both types of students to succeed in business are low. Song Eui Jeong (’07, Mechanical Engineering), also a Campus CEO-graduate, has tried running a business, too. He was very ambitious at the beginning—youthful blood all stirred up—but he quickly learned his lessons as he saw his business crumble. “KU students are generally very smart, but with our smart minds, we are busy thinking of how to expand the scale of our businesses,” says Song. His observation is that many of us think we are “almighty.” “We go far above ourselves, increasing the scale of our business to a point where we just cannot manage it any longer,” laments Song. That is when we “chicken out,” and laugh it off with the usual saying (yes, you guessed it), “It was a good experience.” The core curriculum of Campus CEO lies in coming up with and fully developing a business item, after which each team presents its business plan. If and when there is a team or a particular team member that shows potential, the professors then initiate a full support system made up of mentoring, networking, and funding. Cha Wonyong, an adjunct professor who mainly leads the course, says, “only Most universities usually have one or more student-run clubs dedicated to studying and training entrepreneurship skills or the alike. However, many of these clubs have a bad reputation for not being run smoothly. “It is because everybody in the club wants to be CEOs,” explains Kim Juwhan (’03, Yonsei Universtiy (YU)). Kim is the president of INSIDers, a KU-YU united startup club that now has 80 KU and YU students after its recent recruiting. “Members of INSIDers luckily vary in their goals and ambitions. We especially have many design major students who specialize in the area,” says Kim. People who have little experience in the field of business tend to vaguely think that they want to be leaders. It is part of one’s instinct, almost. However, he speaks from his own business experience that, in the end, team members know where they fit best and learn how to cooperate as a team. People matter that way. During the first Campus CEO class, a student asks the professor, "What do you think is the most important factor for a startup to succeed?" A banal yet thought-provoking question it is, to which the professor's immediate answer is "business philosophy." A clear business philosophy not only guides a company through difficult times, but is essentially what the company is all about. "Just as important as philosophy," continues the professor, "is people." More specifically, it is the ability to find people who share your philosophy and therefore are willing to walk with you through a fairly long journey. Provided by Daehak naeil By Park Jin Yung ([email protected]) People First Photographed by Lee Jeong Min The Entrepreneur-in-us about eight to ten percent of students go on to do real business, which we do our best to support by all means.” Among those means, mentoring is what the professors attach key importance to. They try to bring students down from the clouds and keep their feet on the ground. It takes a lot of mind-training to let them understand that sometimes slow is better than fast. APRIL 2012 _ 17 FEATURE Photographed by Kang Uoo Seob Venture doing business. People like Kim look at the bigger picture and point out that society becomes a better place when entrepreneurs, whatever their “real” motive may be, do their job—grasping people’s needs and fulfilling them through business items. While refraining from making value judgments, Kwon puts emphasis on entrepreneurs’ motive more than anything else. “When I meet entrepreneurs, the first and foremost question that I ask is ‘why are you starting a business.’” He believes that not just entrepreneurs but all men make decisions and take actions according to their values. If your business plan does not revolve around your values, then your “decisions and actions” will not be the best ones for the future of the company. Whereas if it did revolve around them or accord with your values, then you would make far greater choices that may completely change the company’s fate. Provided by Small & Medium Business Corporation From Different Planets What Tomorrow Wants from Today During orientation of Campus CEO, Cha makes one point clear to the class: that the goal of the course is not launching a startup. (As mentioned, only a small number of people end up doing it). He intends the course to be helpful for everyone—in specific words, “to do well wherever it is you may be at.” Preparing startups, though it is only a simulation, can provide many valuable lessons, and eventually alter thoughts and beliefs. Kwon puts it as “people from different planets”: people who have and who have not experienced running their own businesses. “We have some salt of our youth in us,” wrote Shakespeare in one of his writings. On top of that, today’s people have some salt of entrepreneurs in them. Whatever motive you might have, how about not minding it for a while and just sprinkle that salt of yours onto the world. It may make you a whole different person.■ By Choe Heejung ([email protected]) Photographed by Kang Woo Seab "I like our society. I really do," says Kim. This seemingly casual remark turns out to be part of a significant insight. "The problem is, it is dead." Our society today has, if not everything, at least a little bit of everything that we may ever want or need. It is hard not to "like" society when it can offer us so much. At the same time, however, it is equally hard not to grow complacent in such an environment. There is nothing more dreadful than a generation of complacent young adults. Society has no future to look forward to. Just a few decades ago, especially in the 1980s, there was a wide student movement in Korea. Students fought fiercely in the streets against the dictatorship, and their spirits of self-sacrifice spread a powerful message to the nation. It greatly contributed to bringing an end to military dictatorship. Kim believes that the contemporary equivalent of student movements—that has a similar power to change society—is young people doing business. However, not everyone starts business from noble motives. In fact, reasons vary greatly when young people decide to run businesses. Some people start just for the money, some do it for the sake of experience, and a few others even hope that it look good on a resume. It may be inappropriate and even careless to judge these people who have “ulterior” motives for 18 _ The Granite Tower The bright sunlight of 2062 beaming through the window wakes you up. Lying on your bed, you turn your aged face to the left, but you see no one by your side. College students are so involved with filling out their resumes nowadays that they do not seem to have much time to ponder the days when they will be in their 70s, even in their 80s, or over. We cannot deny the fact that we will all get older some day. And we cannot deny the fact that one day, each of us will be left alone. APRIL 2012 _ 19 A Voyage to the Past Nakwon Instrument Market is known for selling all kinds of musical instruments. You would then be surprised to see the Silver Cinema on the fourth floor. Entering the Silver Cinema leads you to another world, somewhere in the mid-20th century. Near the ticket booth lies a room especially prepared for elders to rest. With each movie ticket, you are able to bake two kukhwabbangs, Korean traditional bread originating in Jeonju. Inside the building, many senior citizens were sitting around the table. Jung Han Ik (78, Seoul) was one of them. He was looking through the movie schedule, which contained three movies that would be playing for the next three weeks – the movie changes once a week. “I tend to come here quite often,” he said. Most of the films that play at the Silver Cinema are classics, possibly to stimulate nostalgia for the elders. “Sometimes I just watch the movies with indifference either because I have already seen them or because I have nothing else left to do. However, sometimes it is fun to watch because it reminds me of the old days,” said Jung. 20 _ The Granite Tower A Visit to a Senior Citizen Center One Tuesday afternoon, Oh Mi-yeoun, assistant manager at the Seongbuk Senior Welfare Center, drove to one of the senior citizens’ centers in Seongbuk-gu with another assistant. They were ready to show a movie, and grandmothers were ready to watch the movie. The programs they provide are different every day. Twice a week there is gymnastics; song class and movie day are once a week. Seniors gather around to cook together for lunch. They seem to have created another family. Oh said, “The seniors are usually in their 70s or 80s. We visit about four to five senior centers a day to hear what kind of programs they would like and also to chat with them.” The most popular program among many is the music class—trot, the oldest form of Korean pop music, which is often sung. Next is oriental medicine, Oh added. One of the grandmothers at the center said, “What I want from the adolescents is not a big thing. I just want A Student Shares Her Experience Since 2007, the Korean telecommunications company SK Telecom has been working with the Korea Association for Senior Welfare Centers to provide lectures on mobile handset utilization. Approximately 3,000 senior citizens had participated as of 2009. The classes are taught by members of Sunny, SK Telecom’s collegiate volunteer group. Ho Ga Ju (’11, Japanese Language and Literature) is one of the Sunny members who has participated in this program. “The reason I chose this volunteering program when there were so many others is because it focused not just on giving out help, but on sympathizing with the seniors,” said Ho. Such arrangement promotes communication between different generations and social brackets. “You get to pick your partner and teach them how to use the alarm and calculator in the first week. On the following week, you show them how to do text messages, and on the third, you teach them how to take pictures and then send them via texts. On the last week, there is a competitive exhibition and a graduation. Providing this kind of practical help is what I regard as special and fresh,” explained Ho about the program that lasted for two months. “The feeling that you get when you see your partner graduating is indescribable. Four weeks is short—but long. I gave myself a pat on the back when seeing the elders using cell phones to a full extent when just four weeks ago they only used them for calling someone and answering phone calls,” added Ho. Ho would like to participate in the program once again this summer because it had been an unforgettable experience: “I occasionally contact my partner and even the other college students whom I met. Seniors treated us as if we were their grandchildren so we were able to open up our hearts.” According to her, although studying and reading are Provided by Ho Ga Ju T he Senior Welfare Center in Korea is for those who are 60, or sometimes 65, or even older. There are 25 districts within Seoul Metropolitan City alone and each has a senior welfare center whose purpose is to give hope to seniors. Programs include activities such as providing massages, cooking, or showing movies, as well as programs to take care of the elders. According to the 2011 Social Survey carried out by Statistics Korea, 34.4 percent of those aged 60 or over thought that a “'medical checkup” was the most desired welfare service. While there is an elder like Jung who hangs around the Silver Seniors’ Center, one senior citizen dressed in hanbok enjoys walking around in Tapgol Park. “I think it is silly to just sit and lie around in one of the senior centers. I tell them, ‘Why are you just sitting there counting your last days?’ They need to go outside,” said Shin Ji Woo (80, Seoul). Shin seems to enjoy striking poses for strangers. He walks around with a cigar in his hand, wearing a gat, a Korean traditional hat made of bamboo and horsehair. As he was talking, visitors gathered around to hear what he had to say and sometimes nodded to his stories. “Some people call me a fool because I would not just sit in the Silver Seniors’ Center. But I think it is sillier of them to just sit around doing nothing. What could be better than walking around under the sun telling people the moral stories that I have thought of based on my experience? Humor is my strength and energy,” almost boasted Shin. What Shin regards as the main problem of today’s society is too much use of English among Korean adolescents. “The reason we elders do not know much about Korean pop songs is because there are too many English words in the lyrics. I have written some on my own and have had them published, for I have written them beautifully in Korean.” He wishes Korean adolescents to have much affection for their mother tongue. essential as a college student, doing various activities is the most precious gift that one can get. “Knowledge that you gain from texts can be forgotten afterward. However, what you get from experiencing something stays in you forever. It is like nourishment.” Filling out your resumes one by one does not assure one’s success. “Volunteering and doing club activities give the effect of killing two birds with one stone--you get to improve yourself, and you contribute to public welfare.” With this in mind, Ho would like the collegians to enjoy their youth heartwarmingly. By spending time with the elders, she has learned how to narrow the gap between different generations and listen to others. What she Photographed by Kang Uoo Seab Photographed by Kang Uoo Seab Tapgol Park: Where the Eternal Sunshine Can Be Seen them to be polite and have manners.” When asked in what way she would like the adolescents to change, she explained, “Nowadays, I see many young smoking on the streets. More absurd are the couples showing too much affection in public places.” This seemed to correlate with what Jung said at the Silver Cinema. Oh has been working for the senior welfare center for quite a few years now. “I have done a lot of volunteer work including various kinds of social welfare. However, what really suited me was working with elders. It is worthwhile. And I enjoy talking to them.” What gives her and possibly many others working at the center, strength to carry on is their smile, as well as their appreciation. Photographed by Kang Uoo Seab Jung does not expect much from others in the way of help. “What I truly want is a friendship. Adolescents these days have changed too much—to an extent that it will never be able to be the same again. When I was in their age, no one could have even imagined the young smoking in front of elders. Besides, we greeted those whom we did not even know,” said Jung with a shadow across his face. regarded as easy was, in fact, difficult, so she was able to look at things from others’ perspectives. Put down what you are holding right now and search for something that you can do to contribute to helping elderly. Lee Seog Young (’12, Foreign Language and Literature) says that you will feel delighted just to see them smiling at you. “I had a grin on my face before I entered their house, but a smile when I came out of their house,” added Lee. Though it may be uneasy to approach elders, you will realize that their smile is absolutely priceless. Even a short conversation can make someone happy for the rest of the day.■ APRIL 2012 _ 21 COVER STORY E very day, seven to eight abandoned animals are rescued on the verge of death in Korea. Some are rescued while giving birth to their offspring or suffering severely from starvation. Humans treat their pets as broken toys when they get annoyed by their existence. Once these pets are abandoned, they roam across the empty streets. There may be several reasons to this misfortune. It may occur because the pet owners have gotten tired of raising them or could not afford to pay for their health care any longer. As a consequence, a large number of abandoned animals is suffering and dying tragically on the road. Luckily, some are adopted by a new family and live a happy life. Nevertheless, the number of these animals is only about 20 percent of the total rescued abandoned animals. The rest are managed under poor condition. About 70 percent of the abandoned animals, which are not adopted, are euthanized. According to the government’s official sum, 80,000 animals are abandoned or lost each year. One fourth of them are led to mercy killing. Obviously, this phenomenon is not restricted to Korea. To a certain extent, it is also a problematic issue in other countries as well. Problematic in both Korea and Foreign Countries Animals, on the Verge of Death By Bae Mi Seon ([email protected]), Choi Ji Won ([email protected]) “Screeeeeeeech!” The horrible sound of a driver slamming on the brakes echoed down the block. The victim-to-be was a small dog, wearing disheveled clothes. It appeared to be mopping around the district like a stray dog. The driver soon reported the animal rescue team and the lost dog was sent to an animal shelter. There, the volunteers named it Harry. Unfortunately, the story of Harry is not unusual. The phenomenon of abandoned animals is out of hand, the number skyrocketing up to 120,000. The Granite Tower (GT) met with concerned people and got deeply engrossed in the subject matter. 22 _ The Granite Tower Compared to other nations, Korea still has a long way to go. In foreign countries, most people take a walk with their pets in the neighborhood. Pets are rather appreciated as companions. Since 1983, dogs, cats, and other animals living with people have been called life companions. The term “pet” has a negative connotation, meaning that animals are "belongings" of human beings. After the international conference that was held in 1983, animals became our companions, friends, families, and partners of life, sharing equivalent value with humans. Animal lovers, witnessing these earlier introduced abandonments, started to raise their voices. Nowadays, animal rights are being sought. Taking a closer look into more developed countries, we find ourselves in great need of improvement in the management system of abandoned animals. As introduced in a documentary named “Companion animals… a courtesy to their lives” of Sisa Gihwaek, which heavily covers current issues, of the Korean Broadcasting System (KBS), England is referred to as the “heaven for companion dogs.” Animals are regarded as human companions for a life time. In 1900, an environmental protection law was made and the government official workers were allocated in every division to manage abandoned animals. “One can be sentenced to a six-month imprisonment or fined 20,000 pounds for abandoning animals.” England has adopted a system using microchip; its size of a grain of rice, which keeps information of registered animals and the owners on a database. In such way, a lost animal can easily find its owner and vice versa. After this system was brought in, the number of abandoned animals decreased to a third compared to the past. Another measure worth following is making sure animals in the shelter have enough room allotted and equipping each of the rooms with a television. An associate explains that this method helps an animal to adapt more easily to the new home it might move into. Television noises and phone calls are some of the sounds that an adopted animal is likely to perceive every day once they get adopted. To make these animals more comfortable and easily adjustable, the shelters in England take these kinds of measures. Last but not the least, there are a large number of volunteers who help the associations. At present, it is estimated that a volunteer can be assigned for each animal in the protection center. These statistics show how much England cares about and shows affection toward abandoned animals. Japan also stresses the expression “companion animal.” In Tokyo, there is an animals’ almshouse. Japan has special charnel houses where the owners can place their animals’ ash pot just above their own in a little space allotted for each cabinet. Japan also suggests a law to restrict selling animals indiscreetly online. Korea is far behind England and Japan regarding animal protection. According to the Animal, Plants, and Fisheries Quarantine and Inspection Agency, there were about 120,000 abandoned animals last year. The number has been increasing dramatically since 2005, marking 100,000 in the year 2010. Sadly, a huge percentage of these animals end up being mercy killed, which is pointed out as a problem. Another difficulty regarding abandoned animals is the cost of taking care of these animals. In 2010 only, approximately 10.2 billion won was spent into managing animal shelters. As a result, there are about 397 shelters today. 25 percent of the animals are euthanized and 19 percent meet a natural death due to lack of systematic care. Korea is also looking over a law that demands the rights of animals. However, passing the law does not mean the problem can be marked as solved. Though many animal-lovers are supporting this bill and protecting abandoned animals by encouraging adoptions, it is not yet enough. It surely is a good start but there are still a lot to supplement. Here are two real stories of an abandoned cat and dog in Korea. APRIL 2012 _ 23 COVER STORY adopted, she did not have any extreme fear for humans. It is said that many abandoned animals have traumas due to their childhood memories of being abandoned. As time went by, Yuri started adapting to the new home and recovered quickly. When asked about the most impressive moment in raising Yuri, Heo recalled “Since she was only a puppy, she did not know how to tell where to poop. We taught her from the very basic steps, and the time when she mastered pooping lessons is most unforgettable. I was extremely happy and proud.” Interestingly, Yuri was not neutered. Some associations require abandoned animals to get neuter surgeries to prevent indiscrete breeding and vaccinate the animals against viruses. However, Heo seemed a bit provoked when asked why he did not neuter Yuri. Heo asserted, “I certainly do not feel the need for a neuter surgery. I feel it is like treating the animals as a ‘toy’ of human beings, not a real ‘family’. I simply think if the reason for neuter surgery is to stop indiscrete breeding, it is only for the convenience of humans, which should be frowned upon.” As we can assume from his comment, it is surely those who like animals and have liked them from their childhood who make up their minds to raise an abandoned animal. While interviewing Heo, it felt good to be with someone who cared for animals; of course, it helped that Yuri was truly adorable. Photographed by Choi Ji Won Story2: Heineken’s Story 24 _ The Granite Tower Heineken was found on a drizzling rainy day in May, 2011. The person who took him in was walking on a hill in Jaegi-dong when he found Heineken crying and huddling itself up under a building roof. Heineken could not even open his eyes then. He was in such bad condition that he had to be taken to the hospital for about a week, being abandoned when he was only a month year old. “I really liked animals since I was young. Accordingly, I wanted to become a veterinarian but I could not make it. I always wanted to raise a pet and I finally got a chance to when I saw a posting on Koreapas. This is how I first met Heineken,” reminisced Shim Hyo Jin(’08, Mathematics), the owner of Heineken, an 11-month-old Gray Tabby. Since Shim did not know much about raising a cat before, he asked a veterinarian and collected information from an Internet community for abandoned cats. Interestingly, Heineken was not his original name. When Heineken first came to live with Shim, he called the kitten Can, named after his favorite German mathematician, Cantor. Unfortunately, Heineken rarely responded to Shim when he was called so. A few days later, Shim was drinking a can of Heineken with a classmate at his house. Surprisingly, the kitten showed reactions when Shim’s classmate called him “hey, Heineken.” So he thought it would be better to name him Heineken and he calls him by his affectionate name Neken. Shim explained that it was not that hard for him to get familiar with Heineken. “Since he was abandoned right after his birth and raised in humans’ hands, he thinks he is a human. I am just kidding. Still, it is a fact that he is used to being with humans and has a good character,” added Shim. In most cases, cats are very reluctant to leave their home and travel far distances. This is no exception for Heineken who gets frightened whenever Shim tries to take him out to the HanaSquare turf on a sunny day. Thus, it was a great surprise when Heineken visited the office of GT, which takes about 20 minutes from home by feet. Most cat owners know that kittens need castration. “I heard it was better when done young. He used to be so small that he could pop into a baseball cap,” recalled Shim. However, after castration Heineken’s appetite took place of his sexual desire, which was warned by the veterinarian. Suddenly his weight doubled and eventually by thrice that his size grew big too. Shim said he felt that Heineken’s mind seemed to have become calmer after then. When questioned about when Shim is most proud of Heineken, Shim answered, “When he gladly greets me as I come back home after a tiring day studying. Since I live on my own, I feel the warmth of a family when he rubs his head against my leg when I get into my room or when he lays by my head as I go to bed. Heineken is my companion, my family, possibly my son.” When asked about the hardest part of raising an abandoned animal, Shim replied, “not being able to leave my house for a long period. For example, I cannot go visit my parents on holidays since I cannot leave Heineken by himself or leave him at an animal hospital.” Though the hospital gives him food regularly, they cannot give him the “love” Shim does. Fortunately, people who love cats post on Koreapas saying they are keen to take care of others’ cats for a day or two. There is even a cat-lovers’ community on Koreapas, where cat owners can share information about raising a cat or help each other, for example when faced with a sudden cat feed shortage. “Before meeting Heineken, I could not understand people posting lost pets saying they will reward, for example 1,000,000 won, to the finder. Now I see why they do so. When having lived with an animal, they are not animals but family members. Returning to an empty house without Heineken is unimaginable,” Shim highlighted. He truly wishes someone who has the financial ability and enough time for looking after an abandoned animal will decide to raise one so that he or she can at least take the smallest responsibility. Photographed by Choi Ji Won Photographed by Choi Ji Won “It was a long-time dream of our family to raise a dog. My older sister and I wanted one ever since we were young, and my dad gladly allowed us to raise a dog. While we were wondering what kind of dog we would adopt, we suddenly came upon abandoned animals. It took some consideration, but we firmly made up our minds to raise an emotionally hurt but cute doggy.” Heo Sung-goo (20, Seoul), the owner of Ku Yuri, a six-year-old Cocker Spaniel, relentlessly talked about his lovely pet. He seemed to really care for Yuri, even giving her a family name. The story behind it is very touching. “Since children go by their fathers’ last name in Korea, we thought of giving Yuri our mother’s last name. It would make my mom feel less lonely thinking that one of the members of our family shared her last name.” However, it was not always so easy to raise Yuri like a family member. The first time Yuri became their family member, she was sick and had troubles due to the poor environment of the animal shelter. She constantly puked since the shelter’s hygiene is not so good for the animals. Fortunately, since she was only a baby at the time she was Photographed by Choi Ji Won Story1: Yuri’s Story APRIL 2012 _ 25 COVER STORY The Media Shedding Light on the Phenomenon Recently, the public has become more widely exposed to issues regarding abandoned animals. Celebrities such as Lee Hyo-Ri and Song Joong Gi are supporting campaigns for abandoned animals’ adoption. For example, Lee Hyo-Ri has donated all the money earned though the selling of her calendar, which includes photos of her and her adopted dog. Lee is also known for her personal adoption of an abandoned dog. Moreover, in recent years, she has become notable for her continuous postings about abandoned animals on her Tweeter account. The issue of abandoned animals is also handled in television programs such as The Birth of a Family (Gajokui Tansaeng). This program intends to help abandoned animals find new homes. Many different celebrities, including idol singers show the audience how the animals are like by spending some time with them. Then, after watching these animals on the show, interested audiences can apply for an adoption through the web. This fresh-idea program works to familiarize abandoned animals to the adopters-to-be beforehand, so that they do not feel like strangers to each other once adopted. Once a new animal is introduced in the program, a lot of applications are posted on the official website, wanting to adopt a new member. The program seems to be working up to its expectation and raising awareness for abandoned animals. Moreover, there is an omnibus film named Thank you, Sorry, that comprises four stories about abandoned animals. The people who work in the abandoned animals association have gathered to make a film portraying touching stories of happily-adopted abandoned animals. The stories based on real-life events are warm, captivating and fuzzy, depict- ing animals and the owners as best friends. Associations such as CARE and the Animal, Plants, and Fisheries Quarantine and Inspection Agency are campaigning for abandoned animals. They put up banners of animals on the web and ask the public to help these poor animals. These associations also have programs that are provided to schools and organizations to educate people on the serious situation of abandoned animals. The associations try to let the public know the poor environment of animal shelters and calls upon people to donate to the shelters. Sadly, most of the shelters are not located in Seoul, where many animals are abandoned, due to expensive land cost. Therefore, the need of fundraise is critical in order to create shelters where it is most desperate. Three Steps in Helping Abandoned Animals FINDING HAPPY-ENDING The home-lost and abandoned animals are rescued and brought to the abandoned animals’ shelter. There is a hotline directly connected to the rescue team in each association which is continuously updated. The rescue team is always ready, equipped with navigation system. If the animals are injured, they are provided with free medicine and healthcare, which is funded by fundraisers and volunteers. Once the new home-to-be has gone through a careful inspection, the animal is ready to be adopted. After all the official documents are filled out, the only task that remains is for animals to adapt to the new home environment. They should be loved by their families and hopefully become the family’s life companion. It would be best if the association that connected them together regularly update on how the adopted animals were faring. FINDING FINDING FINDING FINDING HAPPY-ENDING HAPPY-ENDING HAPPY-ENDING HAPPY-ENDING HELPING 26 _ The Granite Tower SAD-ENDING After ten days of legal obligatory sheltering by the associations, abandoned animals are killed by means of euthanasia. There are countless animals that meet this tragic fate. They are either incinerated after being put to sleep or just thrown out in a garbage bag. These animals are problematic due to the aftermath of its death, becoming trash for human beings to undertake.■ SAD-ENDING SAD-ENDING SAD-ENDING SAD-ENDING Provided by Google HELPING HELPING HELPING HELPING Illustrated by Bae Mi Seon Abandoned animals protection associations help abandoned animals find new homes. Yet, when these animals are brought to the shelters, there are still hopes of going back home if they were just lost rather than abandoned. Therefore, upon acquiring an animal, the association immediately puts up a notice with detailed description of the animal on their sites. If ten days go by without anyone claiming ownership, people can sign up for adoption. Naturally, since these abandoned animals are fragile, the waiting-to-be-adopters have to go through a thorough investigation carried out by the association. First, the adopters need to fill out adoption forms. The forms include questions about experiences with animals and their future plans. Then, the person in charge of the association carries out a phone interview with the adopter. They also agree upon a time of third interview over the phone where the adopter is asked to come to the association in person. After the third interview, the association visits the adopter’s home and inspects the surroundings of the animal’s soon to be new home. This is the final step of the adoption and the only step left afterwards is for the animals to adapt quickly. APRIL 2012 _ 27 Photographed by Kwon Min Seok PHOTO ESSAY By Photo Division Photographed by Choi Ji Won Edited by Lee Jeong Min 28 _ The Granite Tower APRIL 2012 _ 29 30 _ The Granite Tower Photographed by Lee Han Byul Photographed by Kim Hak Young Photographed by Lee Jeong Min Photographed by Kang Uoo Seob Photographed by Park Sang Eun PHOTO ESSAY ̵ ̴ APRIL 2012 _ 31 Living History of Korean Forensic Science Professor Emeritus Moon Gook Jin By Kweon Yun Jin ([email protected]) “An authority of Korean forensic science” or “the origin of the Korean version of CSI” is the title that follows Professor Emeritus Moon Gook Jin (Medicine). As the very first forensic doctor in Korea, Moon has also shown incessant passion as an educator and writer. Ahead of his 50th publication, Olfactory Appreciation of Arts, The Granite Tower (GT) had an honorable interview with him on March 13 at Yeouido. M Photographed by Lee Jeong Min oon is a well-known figure in Korean forensic study, but it does not mean that he wanted the life of a doctor at the outset. “My mother forced me to major in medicine, saying that she would not pay for the tuition fee unless I studied to be a doctor,” says Moon, recalling his old days at Seoul National University (SNU). He was just like many of today’s undergraduates, who do not have any idea about what they are eager to do in the future. It was in his junior year, however, when he finally 32 _ The Granite Tower found his dream. One day, while he was on the street, it suddenly rained hard. So he jumped into a secondhand bookstore nearby where he found a book entitled The Story of Forensic Science. “Flipping through pages, my hear kept pounding. I was totally captivated by the phrase— ‘Whereas clinical medicine is based on respect for human life, forensic medicine is based on respect for human rights. It only develops in a democratic state, in which the value of human rights is highly regarded,’” describes Moon. Setting the goal of a forensic scientist, however, did not resolve anything, as there was nowhere to learn forensic science at that time. Luckily, however, an opportunity came to him before long. In 1955, shortly after he graduated from SNU, the National Forensic Service (NFS) was founded. “After three days or so from my entrance into the lab, the Ministry of Public Administration and Security sent an official document to search for a doctor for the NFS. On the recommendation of a professor, I became the first staff,” recollects Moon. Just as many other professions, he found both bright and dark sides while working at the NFS. “The most glorious moment of autopsy was when I made clear what the cause of death was, which had bewildered investigators due to its uncertainty. Whenever the real criminal was arrested, I felt like the victimized soul was comforted at last,” explains Moon. On the other hand, he points to “public ignorance against forensic science” as the most difficult thing he had to put up with. Owing to conventional prejudice that harming the corpse is no more than killing the dead man again, Koreans have shown strong aversion towards autopsy. “Not only did I come near being stabbed with an ax, but women in rural village sometimes threw rocks at me during the autopsy,” says Moon. Talking about the limits of a forensic scientist, he told one episode. One day, an engaged young couple went hiking to Mt. Seorak. At night, the man found out that his fiancé had atrichia, which was considered a bad omen for marriage, in particular for husbands in Korea. After being dumped, the woman left for countryside where she met a barber. The barber vigorously asked her to marry him, but “ Whereas clinical medicine is based on respect for human life, forensic medicine is based on respect for human rights. It only develops in a democratic state, in which the value of human rights is highly regarded she refused because of her disease. Listening to her excuse, the barber simply said, “My job is to get rid of all hair on body.” Touched by his words, she married him and lived happily. Several years later, however, misfortune occurred to the couple. One day, after returning from the town, the barber asked his wife if her ex-fiancé knew about her atrichia; she said yes. From then on, the husband spent drinking every day which made his wife hang herself out of feeling tortured. “I conducted her autopsy, and the only thing I could write in the report was ‘suicide.’ If her ex-fiancé had not shot off his mouth, she would have not made such a horrible choice. Indeed, it was a murder. It was without the boundaries of forensic scientists to pay attention to what the truth was,” adds Moon, accentuating that it is the task laid upon law. Despite his bottomless enthusiasm, there was one thing he failed to overcome: financial hardship. Making up his mind to move to a university in 1970, he firstly visited SNU medical college. However, when he was talking about his plan of setting up a forensic laboratory, the first response was “What is forensic science?” Then, he went to Korea University (KU) to meet the President Kim Sang Hyup. “Being all ears, the President Kim straightly ordered the dean of the College of Medicine to give me a new position, saying, ‘Who would lay the groundwork of forensic science in Korea, if KU, the representative of Korea, did not do it now?” recalls Moon. Moon led KU as the first and best forensic study institution in Korea. Now that KU was the only school that provided young medical experts with a forensic medicine course, it came to be a byword of Korean forensic study. Among his many pupils who followed his footsteps, Professor Hwang Jeok Joon (Medicine), famous for his autopsy of Park Jong Chul, the former SNU student who died of torture, that ended the former president Chun Doo-Hwan’s dictatorship, is the most well-known example. In fact, he is one of the earliest bestseller writers in Korea, too. For example, Jisanga (foetus papyraceus), a group of essays dealing with autopsy and murder cases published in 1986, has been printed over 30 years. Atop this, many of his other works, like Saeteuni (the ghost of a little girl who dies of smallpox), were tremendously spotlighted. “My written works were surely dedicated to enhancing public awareness of why forensic science is crit- ” ical in the society. Plus, they could raise the attention of young doctors on the study,” explains Moon. Even after his retirement, his passion for writing did not blow over. He proceeds, “What rendered me depressed the most was the fact that I could neither conduct an autopsy nor experiment any more. I came to question myself if forensic science is no avail without evidence or a corpse.” One day, while reading an article about the mysterious death of the greatest composers, something struck him in a flash that he could unveil the unknown cause of many artists’ death, now called “book autopsy.” “The first case I dug up was Tchaikovsky. Carefully looking into the remaining reports of autopsy and biography, and listening to his masterpieces, I concluded that he died of poison, not hanging himself as announced,” says Moon. He ended up introducing dozens of books regarding relation between medicine and art, including Ears of Mozart and Art and Crime. Moon still has a sharp opinion about Korean forensic academy. “The standard of Korean forensic science is very advanced. However, Korean legal procedure is totally not enough to support it,” criticizes Moon. In the case of the U.S., forensic scientists, otherwise called Medical Examiners (ME), not only carry out a spot inspection but independently decide whether to conduct an autopsy. On the other hand, Korean ME neither has access to the corpse without the judge’s permission nor investigates the scene of the accident. “I do not believe that politicians are able to change the system. Rather, it is the public who could play such a role. That is why I have endeavored to approach the public with my books,” emphasizes Moon. As of the 50th publication, Moon is going to put down his pen. “Throughout my life, I have endlessly chased after something. But I think it is time to take a rest,” adds Moon. As one of the greatest teachers at KU, he offered some advice to today’s younger generation. “Do not give out a flash. Just be the person who shines brilliantly. Learn one thing at a day, and you will be such a person,” remarks Moon.■ APRIL 2012 _ 33 Provided by Munhakdongne Publishing Group KU PEOPLE CAREER Yumma, and Her Illustrated Life “It is not only mine, but when I look at other illustrations, I see that they are all reflections of their illustrators,” said Lee. Characters, vibes, emotions, and even the objects drawn in illustrations are all somehow related to who the illustrator is. In Lee’s case, her ego as an illustrated character lies in “girl with antlers.” At first, she drew as her feelings led her; the result was a girl that resembled Lee, both on the outside and inside. Antlers on the girl are the transformed feature of dry twigs, by which she wanted to express loneliness; the girl’s thin, peaked eyes look as if they are closed or cast down, which was the effect Lee wanted—indefinable expression and emotion. For the vibe and texture she wants to display, Lee uses acrylic paints and canvas. The objects that appear in her materials, and other goods, Lee has also published a book on illustration, Drawing Illustrations with Yumma. It introduces how to easily draw what is in one’s mind, inducing one to practice along with Yumma. Although an illustrator should not imitate others’ work, it can still be helpful when practicing. “This book is to make people feel that drawing is not a hard thing,” said Lee. A second edition of this book will be published this year, with more details and examples. Reading books on illustrating, or studying illustrations in other books can be of great help. “I sometimes go to a bookstore in the morning and just ‘watch’ books with beautiful pictures until it gets dark,” said Lee. There is more to illustrations than just learning to draw, however. Illustrating requires people to come up drawings, such as birds, flowerpots, paper boats, and clouds, are her favorites. When asked to explain the exact emotion displayed in a certain illustration, she told us to just feel the way we feel. Figuring out the characteristics and messages of illustrations and illustrators is up to the viewer, according to Lee, and it is the beauty of their drawings. To become an illustrator, Lee suggested primarily three things: practice, experimenting with different styles, and perseverance. The first two steps are for setting one’s own style of illustrating—although it is not like one has to stick to only one style—and the last one is for surviving the process which is uncertain in length and reward. There is also the matter of paving a road until one becomes an acknowledged illustrator who gets paid. Lee chose making her own website as her path to gaining others’ attention. Lee’s blog displays her works and processes. Before long, she was contacted by publishing companies that wanted to use her illustrations in their books. Other than illustrating children’s story books, study with original ideas; this can be difficult. Also, working mostly as freelancers, illustrators might, from time to time, grow bored with the monotonous life of drawing all day indoors, Lee said. Considering that there is no guarantee of salary or fame, one really needs endurance, and of course, a genuine love for illustrating. “I do not restrict my illustrations to mean only one certain thing,” said Lee. “Still, sometimes people post replies on my blog saying, ‘I totally sympathize with you,’ and it makes me so happy,” she said. For her, this kind of emotional sympathy means more than just “well-done” compliments—besides, she does not believe in drawing well or poorly, because everything has its own aim and value. Illustrators express and share their emotions—sometimes with specific messages—to others by the means of drawing. Lee emphasized that illustrating should not be regarded as work, but rather as communication and a hobby that one does eagerly and of one’s own free will. Just like in any other work, to excel at illustrating one needs to really love doing it.■ By Kim Hak Young ([email protected]) 34 _ The Granite Tower Provied by Yumma O n books, magazines, diaries, bags, and so many other stationery goods, there is something that brightens them up and helps form their images: illustration. Lee Yun Mi (28, Dongducheon) is an illustrator who goes by the pseudonym Yumma. She draws the character “girl with antlers,” with bobbed, red hair, and of course, two antlers. Lee first entered the College of Visual Design because she found working with design interesting. While taking the courses in visual design, however, she realized that she wanted to draw, rather than just design. Among different kinds of painting, illustration was the most fascinating to Lee. “Most of all, illustration is a freewheeling expression of thoughts and emotions that are more common and close to everyday life,” said Lee. “I can draw whatever I feel at the moment, and this drawn diary becomes an illustration. This is what I love about it.” One day, Lee tried drawing on the computer what she had sketched on her notebook. It was her first actual illustration, and she was dazzled by the new experience. She started looking for illustrations on the web and began her own blog (http://www.yumma.co.kr) to post her works. She also experienced and learned through illustration communities, because there was little source at school. Showing her small, red sketchbook, she said, “I carry this with me all the time. I draw on the subway, in bed, wherever and whenever I feel like drawing.” It has become one of her habits, and through it, she discovered a certain type of illustration that suits her best. “Expressing lots of things in drawings, and trying out different materials and skills is essential for finding one’s own illustration,” said Lee, emphasizing the importance of establishing one’s own style. Photographed by Park Sang Eun A red-haired girl with two antlers on her head has her eyes closed, or is looking down. Behind her reddish cheeks and eyes, she displays a slight wave of emotion—maybe sadness, loneliness, or shyness. From the girl’s slight expression, we feel some intense emotion surging through us. If we could look up and see who is drawing her, we would observe a girl with misty big eyes and with shades of shyness, which recall the horned little girl on the canvas. APRIL 2012 _ 35 FOREIGN REPORT munity appears to identify with South Korea concerning the issue. Not only did the UNHCR request China to guarantee the safety of N.K. defectors, but Amnesty International (AI) launched an online petition to earn signatures of thousands of people. Moreover, the minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade promised support from the European Union (EU) when visiting Germany on February 27. Is South Korea Opening a Can of Worms? China, the Dead Zone of Human Rights? By Kweon Yun Jin ([email protected]) Last February must have been a tough period for the Chinese Embassy in Seoul, as a series of campaigns urging China not to send North Korean defectors (N.K. defectors) back were held in front of it. On February 22, around 30 Korean celebrities scraped a number of reporters together near the embassy to protest against China. Four days later, 40 refugees from Congo, Myanmar, and some other places, raised their voices at the same spot, for the same purpose, as well. China, the Dangerous Shortcut Because of the great economic recession that has made tens of thousands of North Koreans die of hunger, people began escaping from their homeland for survival since 1995. Crossing the border to China in the middle of the night, they often risk chances of being caught or even shot dead. Although they succeed in stepping onto Chinese territory, they should hide somewhere so that Chinese police could never find them until reaching a third nation. In that China made a mutual agreement to repatriate fugitives with North Korea in 1960, it has strictly carried out its duty for the last 17 years. According to statistics released by the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, the number of forcibly repatriated N.K. defectors was up to 100,000. Regarding the issue, China is accused of violating the Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees. In order to protect a large number of Chinese-Vietnamese refugees after unification of Vietnam, China entered into the agreement in 1982; yet, it has never observed the rules with respect to N.K. defectors. In article 1, it says that a refugee is someone who “…owing to well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion, is outside the country of his nationality and is unable or, owing to such fear, is unwilling to avail himself of the protection of that country…” Based on this condition, China maintains that the law does not pertain to N.K. defectors, 36 _ The Granite Tower for they ran away mostly due to economic difficulties. Although this sounds plausible, there is no denying that China breaches the international norm, which gets even clearer considering article 33. This clause articulates that any country should not return refugees to where their lives are “threatened on account of…race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion.” Experts suggest that N.K. defectors, though they did not cross the border for political reason at first, are meant to be “traitors” as soon as they did it. It also runs counter to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, which is similar to article 33. Besides, by blocking the contact of the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) to N.K. defectors, China is criticized for going against article 35. For years, reports about human rights in North Korea have shown that those of fugitives are severely infringed in re-education camps where they are imprisoned. On March 5, the U.S. Congressional-Executive Commission on China (CECC) held a hearing regarding human rights abus- es in North Korea. At Washington D.C., two N.K. defectors testified how they had been treated in a re-education camp. “We used to work from 5 a.m. to midnight in the camp. In winter, people suffer from frostbite for working barefoot; and sometimes we disposed of dead bodies with our bare hands,” says one of them. In fact, a level of an abuse of fugitives is currently getting much harsher. Since Kim Jong Il, the former North Korean leader, died last December, Kim Jong Un, his successor, cautioned that anyone who defect the country during the mourning period would be sentenced to death with his or her entire family annihilated. Besides, if someone is convicted of heading for the South, he or she would be sentenced to additional penalties. China Driven Into a Corner Meanwhile, it is not true that the issue suddenly popped up. Rather, the government has discussed it with China since the late 1990’s. However, the Chinese government lately behaved in an uncooperative manner. It is said that not only does a large influx of N.K. defectors render circumstances of Chinese border areas unstable, but China cannot help but keep amiable relationship with North Korea. Due to these factors, experts analyze that the bilateral talk is no longer efficacious as before. So as to cope with the change, South Korea has altered its attitude the from low-key to aggressive. It is by far different from the prior stance that it has so far asked China for favorable arrangements behind closed doors. On February 19, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MOFAT) strongly insisted China abide by the international law via official channel. Atop this, the government demanded the Chinese minister in the Foreign Office accept its proposal when he made a visit to South Korea on March 2. What is more interesting is that South Korea is intensifying its attacks by publicizing the issue in the international community. On February 28, the government drew global attention by sending a representative to Geneva where the 19th United Nations Human Rights Council was ongoing. In the keynote address, the deputy minister of multilateral and global affairs, Kim Bong-hyun, evinced South Korea’s demand of halting repatriating N.K. defectors, without mentioning China. Luckily, the international com- Against South Korea’s unprecedented raid on it, China, which had been assailed for its poor human rights status, flew into a rage. Last February, a spokesman of the Foreign Office announced that China has dealt with N.K. defectors according to humanitarian principles, international and domestic law. However, in terms of international law, China meant mutual agreement of repatriating fugitives with the North. With respect to this, however, experts point out that such a duty to repatriate fugitives is completely invalid in a situation where it violates the peremptory norm, the most representative examples of which is the entrenched principle that prohibits torture and other cruel punishments In the face of the current issue, some people suggest that it is inevitable for South Korea to confront China to solve the problem. “Someone needs to publicize the controversy to correct China’s misdeed,” says Lee (’12, Nursing), who refuses to reveal her full name. She proceeds that it is our duty to endeavor to rescue N.K. defectors, since South Koreans originally shared bloods with North Koreans. Nonetheless, negative views on abrupt change to antagonistic diplomacy existed, as well. “I am afraid that the recent governmental action might provoke China. So as to defend itself from the condemnation from without, the state is likely to take far less cooperative guidelines, such as refusing to provide information about N.K. defectors in China,” remarks Sim Ji Eun (’11, English Literature and Language). In addition, others are worried if such a dispute might result in disadvantages to South Korea—collapsing the ongoing discussion of Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between China and South Korea or strengthening political tensions in North-East Asian district. Notwithstanding potential disadvantages for South Korea, it is undeniable that China acutely breached the international law. Over the last few decades, North Korea has threatened the security of the world and degraded human rights, but China, the closest ally of the North and one of the most influential states at the same time, has tolerated misdeeds of the Communist country rather than fixing it. Unless China observes international law, there is little possibility that it would be respected as a decent member of the world. China must soon realize that the permanent seat of the Security Council and the fastest growing power do not automatically make one country venerated.■ APRIL 2012 _ 37 STUDENT LIFE T he auditorium was crowded with fans and spectators, including not only the families and friends of the dancers but also those who were purely intrigued by the name of the performance, and eager to view what BURAS was to offer. Each series of dances received heartfelt applause from the audience, and the performers danced with even more enthusiasm and joy, being in their element. After watching the performance in awe, one inevitably imagines oneself dancing on the stage. Indeed, this is one of the very reasons that draws a number of students to BURAS, an acronym for Korean words meaning “sport dance glowing like a fire flame”. BURAS members cover a broad range of sport dances, including several Latin dances and ballroom dances (also called standard dances). “A lot of the students join BURAS primarily because they want to perform on stage, and the majority of them turn their dream into reality at the end,” says Jung Jinhwan (’10, Electrical Engineering), who has undertaken the role of male president at BURAS since March. Currently, the club is composed of thirty members who are actively participating, mostly juniors and seniors, with the ratio between male and female members equivalent to one to two. Although the female dancers remarkably outnumber the male dancers at present, it is a phenomenon inconceivable when the club first initiated 11 years ago with the effort of four male students tied by their common interest in sport dance. President Jung explains, “During that period, sport dance was not a mainstream dance genre welcomed by the Korean society, so our founding members struggled to familiarize the KU community with the dance.” The continuous effort of the club to promote the dance among students is well reflected in its regular performances presented each semester. Aside from merely showcasing a series of dances that the members have practiced all semester, the club organizes the whole performance under a spe- 38 _ The Granite Tower ing a solid foundation for dancing through rumba and waltz. “Because the senior members will surely instruct the newcomers from the very beginning, such as finding the right step, a newcomer has nothing to worry about,” adds Kim Eunji (’11, Chinese Language and Literature), who has been enlisted in the club since her freshman year and now ascended to the position of the female president. During vacations, BURASers hold training camps to prepare for the performance that is usually scheduled in the beginning of each semester. President Kim explains, “We rent a practice room and practice throughout the night, sometimes practicing in parts and sometimes as a whole group.” As the performance day draws near, the members undergo three times of rehearsals. “Although the practice is rigorous and physically demanding because all parts of muscles would ache from stretching and posing, I feel immense pride for myself and my partner after the performance. Moreover, it is inevitable Photographed by Choi Ji Won cific theme to entertain the audience, connecting each round of dances with different stories, associating famous songs, and choreography. “Once we organized the performance to resemble High School Musical, a popular American TV drama, dancing waltz during the Christmas party scene and chacha-cha during the classroom cleaning scene. For the September performance last year, we borrowed the format of the TV program Dancing with the Stars, pairing dancers into couples and making the couples compete with each other. We even heard comments from a panel of judges on the spot and had the audience vote by text messaging. Both the audience and members enjoyed it a lot,” recalls President Jung. To reach this high level of satisfaction for their performance, the members of BURAS gather twice a week during the semester to practice diverse forms of dancing, ranging from rumba, cha-cha-cha, and jive, to waltz and tango. For the newcomers, the club seniors offer special sessions that introduce the novice to the world of sport dance, establish- Photographed by Choi Ji Won Photograph by Choi Ji Won By Kim Minhee ([email protected]) Photographed by Choi Ji Won BURAS Provied by BURAS Dancing with Fire Arms and legs stretching out elegantly in the figure of a swan, striding in swift, brave steps at times and tiptoeing at other times, the dancers at the stage articulate their blazing passion according to the dynamic beats through their bodies. This is not a scene from a dance film, such as Dirty Dancing or Step Up, but from a real dance performance named “Starry Night”, presented by Korea University(KU)’s only sport dance club, BURAS, on a Friday night on March 9, 2012. that I become better friends with members since I see them almost everyday, rehearsing and having meals with them,” comments President Kim. The friendship and closeness among members of BURAS never pause at dancing, but it extends to other fun activities as well. Besides going on Membership Training (MT)s and picnics each semester, the club arranges a unique Christmas party that combines party with sport dance. The members dress up formally according to the set dress code and even select the best dresser. In May, homecoming day is scheduled to bridge the current BURAS members and the alumni. In addition, BURAS also interacts with other sport dance clubs in other universities, SPIN in Seoul National University and SWAY in Sungkyunkwan University, cheering for each other during each school’s performance. Last October, the three sport dance clubs collectively staged a united sport dance party for the first time. BURAS requires no interview or screenings in recruiting newbies, so those interested in dancing may consider joining. As the last say toward the readers, the two presidents had their own. “Some students misapprehend that sport dance is something that demands a great amount of physical contact between the dancers, but in reality it is not. Holding hands would be the most you would have to do,” says President Kim. President Jung adds another word to the male students, “Some male students feel shy to join our club, but please do not hesitate. On the stage you could also become impressive, and your confidence would grow.” For those who seek a physically and mentally rewarding hobby which will thrill them as well as provide them with relaxing moments among the busy times, sport dance might be a perfect match. Dancing with zeal and zest in BURAS, one would discover the vitality and liveliness hidden inside one’s heart.■ APRIL 2012 _ 39 LETTERS FROM HOKKAIDO Precious Gift of One Year in Hokkaido By Lee Sang-jun ([email protected]) A t first, when I was decided to be sent to Hokkaido University as an exchange student for one year, fear preceded excitement and expectation. The image of Hokkaido was the land of far northern part of earth with lots of snow and extreme coldness; above all, I could not speak Japanese. I had about six months before leaving Korea, and so I started studying Japanese immediately. Behind the fear toward my life in Hokkaido, I could feel an ambiguous excitement after doing some researches about Sapporo, where Hokkaido University is located. Sapporo has beautiful nature coexisting in a big city with many famous sightseeing spots. The snow festival of Sapporo (Yuki Matsuri) is also known as one of the top three festivals in the world. Six months passed by and I flew to 40 _ The Granite Tower Sapporo with the expectation of joyful memories of one year. The first impression of Sapporo to me was a very clean and quiet city. It was so clean that I could not find any trash on the road. Compared to the scale of the city, there were not that many people, making the city so quiet and peaceful. Furthermore, the people had such good manners and they made me feel welcomed everywhere. It seemed like a perfect city to live in. Hokkaido university is located right in the center of Sapporo. The campus is so huge that when I tried to look around the school for the first time, I lost my way and it took so much time to get used to it. Because Hokkaido University is famous for its Department of Agriculture, there are huge farms and many agricultural facilities at campus. Hokkaido University is one of the most presti- gious and old national universities in Japan, and the school is maintaining its tradition and the early facilities in a state-of-the art campus. The campus is so beautiful that almost all the travel packages to Sapporo of Korean travel agencies include the course of sightseeing Hokkaido University. It is like a national park of Korea with so many big trees, a big pond, and a wide lawn. In October, with buoyed heart, I went to the first class in Hokkaido University. For the HUSTEP students (Hokkaido University Short-Term Exchange Program), the class schedule is composed of two parts of the following: Japanese classes and major classes. Because there are many students who are not good at Japanese in HUSTEP program, students have to take Japanese classes according to their Japanese levels. There are three levels which are composed of Introductory, Intermediate, and Advanced, and there are many kinds of classes including grammar, Kanji(Chinese characters) communication, reading, listening, and writing. Also, for the core courses, there are various kinds of classes for students from various majors. In my case, I was able to select many engineering classes from various majors; because there were many graduate and research students in the same classes, I could learn advanced material about the subjects. Besides the normal classes, the HUSTEP students can participate in independent study. Students who participate in this program do their own research with the tutors. The students can select the study theme purely by themselves and they meet the professors regularly to discuss the theme. I am now studying about mini rockets in the Space System and Utilization Laboratory. The school life of Hokkaido University is very fun. Because there are so many students from a variety of countries, students like to get together quite often after school. To celebrate the birthdays of HUSTEP students or to simply enjoy free holidays, the students like to throw a party at the dormitory or at the bars near school. It is a lot of fun and I could not only make exchange-student friends but also various friends from graduate school to business men, and even students from other schools, because all the parties are open to everyone. Also, there is a club of Japanese students in Hokkaido University that mainly supports programs or hosts cultural activities and various parties for the international students named “Sakura”. I could make many Japanese friends by participating in many programs hosted by Sakura. Especially it was easy for me to make many Japanese friends because there were lots of students who were interested in Korean culture, language, and K-POPs. Japanese students were quite open to foreigners, so we became friends soon. In addition to the enjoyable school life, Sapporo is always filled with lots of events. In autumn, the bear garden is formed in Odori park, located near the school. So I enjoyed many delicious foods and watched bears. Moreover, because Odori park is very beautiful with lots of trees, fountains, and the famous Sapporo clock tower, I could take many pretty pictures. During the winter, Sapporo is crowded with a huge number of tourists from all around the world to see the snow festival called “Yuki Matsuri” in Japanese. It lasts for about a week and I could see many big ice sculptures and many small, cute sculptures made by snow. Also, there are many fun events held in winter like a Christmas event or light show in Odori park. Though the winter in Hokkaido is very tiresome with severe coldness and lots of snow, I had a pretty good winter time. Now my Sapporo life already passed the halfway mark. Looking back the six months from when I arrived in Sapporo until now, it was like a dream. So many things happened and I met so many people. I miss my family and friends sometimes, but I feel so blessed to be in Sapporo now. I have about five months more to go, and I really want to make an unforgettable one year in Japan.■ [Lee Sang-jun is a junior at KU majoring in Mechanical Engineering. He writes every other month on his experiences on exchange at Hokkaido University in Japan.] APRIL 2012 _ 41 COVER STORY_2 ARTS & CULTURE : BOOK REVIEW The White Man’s Burden Let the Games Begin— Why the West’s Efforts to Aid the Rest Have Done So Much Ill and So Little Good The Hunger Games By Kang Uoo Seob ([email protected]) By Kim Tae Rim ([email protected]) Great books of the sci-fi and fantasy genre are hard to come by since the ground-shaking wonder of the Wizarding World of the Harry Potter era, and past ground breaking disappointments of the hideous werewolf versus vampire chronicles of the Twilight zone. The Hunger Games series thus fills the empty void for fantasy lovers craving for an adequate replacement. The Hunger Games is more of a game for readers, whether they have the ability to stop and drop the book or to stick it out and skip a meal or two. It is that good. The first of the series, The Hunger Games is an addicting read written by author Suzanne Collins, who has created somewhat of an adventure masterpiece. Listed as a New York Times Bestseller, it is thrilling and exciting to the core with a hypnotic and thoughtful storyline, exhilarating by twists and turns. Collins brings a brand new world wrapped in oppression and tyranny to the table, its characters desperate to claw their way out by beating the system. The Hunger Games is written in first person perspective through the eyes of sixteen-year-old leading lady Katniss Everdeen, living in a postapocalyptic world of the nation of Panem once known as North America. Divided into twelve distinguished districts, all of Panem is controlled by one shining advanced metropolis, the Capitol. To keep the people in check at the grasp of their hands, the Capitol holds annual Hunger Games in which one boy and one girl from each of the twelve districts are selected by lottery to fight to the death amongst each other—in a man-made and televised arena shown live to all districts. There is only one catch, one rule: the last person standing wins. The Hunger Games are seen as a diabolical and inhumane annual tradition the Capitol 42 _ The Granite Tower created to flaunt power, but naturally authority comes off as intimidating and ruthless that none can object to. Rebel-rouser Katniss Everdeen steps up as one of the champions of District 12, along with simple-minded Peeta Mellark. Katniss is an illegal hunter and sole provider of her starving family, paired up with run-of-themill baker’s son Peeta. They’re the regular odd pair, one with strong survival skills and one without. Thrown into the arena that is the Hunger Games, they are faced with more than just hunger—death, pain, torture, and perhaps, of course, a little love. The Hunger Games is perfectly paced and brilliant at worst. Reading it is much like playing a game. You know none of it is real, but you play it anyway into the night, as an escape from reality. Virtual reality becomes reality. You are the protagonist to bring hope and honor to your dying hometown, defying evil and bringing down the tyranny of the oppressors— you are Katniss. It is a game that is in no way a game to you. What sets The Hunger Games way above the bar is its breathtaking and actual hypnotic narration. Collins’ world-building ability of every detailed observation, thought, feeling of lead- By Suzanne Collins Scholasticc 374 page. ing lady Katniss is addicting to read and hard to stop at that. Nothing can come as a distraction as readers get sucked into the adrenaline-spiked world that is the Hunger Games, and into the memorably complex mind of our heroine. Not to mention there is much to take from Collins’ latest masterpiece as well. Tackling such issues as poverty, oppression, effects of war and hunger can take a hold of readers as they contemplate society in their own lives. Doesn’t the government hold citizens as puppets they control to master their own plans for their own wellbeing? What of war to take place in the future, by North Korea and perhaps Iraq? Self-preservation and survival become key factors in the future, and ought to be, but should they be at the cost of the lives of others? “Big Brother” is always watching. So watch out lower case. The world may seem a TV show, like the Hunger Games was, as our two heroes create fake personalities to advertise themselves to sponsors. And isn’t just anyone creating fake personalities out in the open these days, in real life? The Hunger Games is as thoughtprovoking as it is intense, and is a rollercoaster ride of emotion and thrills for readers. In fact, the film adaptation is set to premiere this coming April 5 in Korea. Movie adaptations are never as good as the original book…but we shall see. ■ After decades of Western aid with more than 2.3 trillion dollars, people in poor countries are still living on one dollar a day, starving and lacking access to drinking water, sanitation, and basic education. Moreover, children are dying everyday from preventable diseases. Why is it that so much money has brought so little improvement in poor countries? The deadliest form of disease in the world, malaria, infects nearly 50 million people a year, causing severe pain and debilitation. Millions, mostly infants and young children, become severely ill. Insecticide-treated mosquito nets, which cost five dollars or less, could prevent most infections. Mere 2.5 dollars of medicine can treat and prevent the disease, according to reports by the World Health Organization (WHO). So why do we not just buy the nets and medicine? Many people believe that poverty in Africa and the developing world is a simple problem, persuaded by the media and the politicians. If the rich countries just give more money, we can solve many problems related to poverty. It is that simple. All we have to do is to donate more and more money to deal with poverty, malnutrition, lack of access to drinking water, HIV/AIDS, and other problems. If we really try to solve the problem regarding poverty and preventable diseases, could not the rich countries eradicate malaria and also alleviate the world's worst poverty by allocating or donating funds? It is not that simple, William Easterly argues in The White Man's Burden. When aid agencies hand out aid in poor countries, he says, “nets are often diverted to the black market or wind up being used as fishing nets or wedding veils.” Nets provided by Western countries do not reach those who really need them for survival. Another reason that development aid failed is, the author strongly asserts, that a large part of the blame lies in donor governments, the World Bank, IMF, and other organizations. For the most part, donor countries, mostly in the West, see fit to impose central planning on the recipient countries. Easterly contrasts the activities of Planners and Searchers—those By William Easterly Penguin Press 436 page. who believe in command and control economics and those who just look for something that works. A professor at New York University and a senior fellow at the Center for Global Development, William Easterly spent most of his career as an economist at the World Bank. The world's poor need more focused, trial-and-error programs like the Malawian net distribution and fewer ambitious plans to cure poverty. In The White Man’s Burden, Easterly argues, if we truly want to help the poor, rather than just congratulate ourselves for generosity, rich Westerners have to give up our grand ambitions. Piecemeal problemsolving has the best chance of success.■ APRIL 2012 _ 43 ARTS & CULTURE : MUSIC REVIEW Boys Dream of Cheeky Revolution Move Over K-Pop, Make Room for Ailee By Park Jong Hun ([email protected]) By Kim Tae Rim ([email protected]) Annyeongbada (ByeByeSea) revolution just got started with its latest album, Pink Revolution. Escaping from their original fresh boyish charm shown on their previous albums, their new one exudes more matured manliness. ByeByeSea is a Korean indie band composed of four members: Namu (Vocal, Guitar), Jun Hyuk (Base), Myeong-Je (Drum), and Dae Hyun (Keyboard). They made their first debut in 2009, and since then, their captivating voice has created a huge fan base, planting them as a unique indie band in Korea. Through their first mini-album, Boy’s Universe, released in 2009 and full album, City Complex, in 2010, they impressed their audience with their distinctive sensibility and addictive lyrics. Immediately after their first two albums, they attained national fame with their hit songs like “Beautiful Dance” in Boy’s Universe and “You & Me” in City Complex. Since the release of their first two albums, their fans became more curious than ever of their next album. Receiving those expectations, ByeByeSea finally revealed the recent album on February 28, 2012, two years since their debut. In their second 44 _ The Granite Tower album, Pink Revolution, there are 12 top quality tracks about love of adolescent boys and girls. This album is produced by Kim Sang Hun, one of the members of the popular Korean band, W (Where The Story Ends). In addition to it, Son Jun Ho, a professional photographer well-known for his fabulous photographs, made the different and distinguishing artwork of the album under the concept of “a little exhibition in my hand.” The name of the album, Pink Revolution, seems a bit weird at a first glance because revolution, by its very nature, does not easily blend with the album filled with love songs. According to ByeByeSea however, Pink Revolution means love affairs of young people in their twenties or thirties. So to speak, the pink stands for love, and consequently the name of the album signifies the explosive experience of falling in love which appears like a revolution. Indeed, this album has the sounds of love that touch people's emotions. The title track, “The Devil,” is one of the most beloved songs. Though this song consists of just several simple repeated patterns, it captures listeners’ hearts with its straightforward and strong sound compared to any other tracks in the album. Besides, songs like “Morning Bell,” which was made in 2006 when they first organized the band and “Babobus,” which is the remake of the same name song of PIPI LONG STOCKING (Korean punk rock band) make this album more outstanding than their previous albums. ByeByeSea also arranged the song, “Things Change,” of Kim Kwang Seok (a famous Korean artist). Other tracks cannot be missed out. In fact, every single song in this album has its own story related with love, the main theme of Pink Revolution. Considering that we, as listeners, can empathize with the situation delicately described in each song enjoyable it is to say that this album is evidently worth listening to. Especially in an age of mainstream pop and prepackaged artists, their unique voice and laidback style definitely captivate fans’ hearts.■ Ailee is, or was, a Jersey girl, born and raised, who has taken Korea by storm, becoming one of the high prime rising stars of today. She has made both her acting and singing debut on stage and on set in the motherland, with single Heaven and popular Korean drama Dream High Season 2 this year. Initially seeking some mediocre fame and attention on her YouTube channel, aileemusic, Ailee caught the eyes and ears of international YouTubers alike with more than two million total video views to date. It is plain to see the dedication and passion she has for her music through her videos, just as her fans do. She had already begun to cause a sensation by her strong vocal control and passion in her videos, in such renditions of Mariah Carey’s “Hero” and Miley Cyrus’ “The Climb.” Through abandoning her amateur and stagnant stature on the Internet, Ailee sought bigger and better things to voice herself in the real world. Ailee made brief shining moments in various miscellaneous singing competitions and music scenes in America. However, her life-defining moment was to come upon her arrival in Korea and her firstever step into the K-Pop scene last year. Singing with popular Korean singer Wheesung on MBC’s Chuseok special episode of Singer and Trainee, she made an easy but astounding impression on the judges of the show and Korean viewers alike that shot her from simple music lover to national superstar. Judge BMK, a prestigious K-Pop singer, noted Ailee’s talent, “wherever she goes, she has the potential to be a big star…she definitely has the voice.” It was pretty much smooth sailing from then on for Ailee. “First impression means everything,” then you’re good to go. And that was so. Starting January of this year, Ailee went on to make her acting debut on popular teenage drama series Dream High Season 2, based on idol stars on their path of achieving their hopes and dreams in singing and dancing on stage. And isn’t she one? She is thus currently working on set with actual top idol stars as SISTAR’s Hyorin, and T-ara’s Ji-Yeon. Ailee’s multi-talent in both acting and singing has hence sparked quite a fire of attention and fame surrounding her as she progresses through the K-Pop music scene. Now competing with a busy schedule, far from her days as a run-of-the-mill singing aficionado on YouTube, Ailee finally made her singing debut this February with her first single ever, Heaven. From her vocal talents and thriving passion for music, Ailee is probably the first Korean singer recognized as not really completely submerged into the KPop genre, but an all-around brilliant artist in general. Her rising fame in the local scene are rumored only to be temporary, as fans from all parts of the world are now listening and watching in on her performances on television as both actress and singer. Ailee’s days of parading just her YouTube channel may be over, but traces of her charm and innocence as a typical music and fun-loving Jersey girl still remain throughout. “I am a very determined person with a hopeful heart…the most important thing about me is the fact that I am completely in love with music; I wouldn’t be able to picture my life without it,” as she describes herself in the “About” section of her channel. Move over K-Pop, and make room for Ailee. ■ APRIL 2012 _ 45 ARTS & CULTURE : FILM REVIEW Do You Have a True Friend? Intouchables By Jeon Shi Hyun ([email protected]) What is a friend? Is a friend a person near your age? Is a friend a person in a similar position to yours? Or, is a friend a person who shares similar interests with you? In this film, Intouchables (named Untouchable in Korea), the special friendship of two men who have no resemblance begins. Directed by Olivier Nakache and Eric Toledano Starring Francois Cluzet, Omar Sy, and Anne Le Ny For those over 12 years old 112 min. Philippe, the main character in Intouchables, is from the one percent upper stratum of society. He is one of the top French aristocrats. He lives in a palatial mansion with many caretakers and has the six finest automobiles. Unfortunately, however, he was paralyzed after a paragliding accident. On the other hand, Driss, another main character in this film, is from the one percent lowest stratum of society. He comes from a slum. He lives in a rented apartment and has a dozen dependents. The only thing Driss, who is penniless, can count on is his healthy body. The two men are poles apart. It is not only because of the gap between rich and poor. There is no resemblance what- 46 _ The Granite Tower soever—from age to character-between them. They, who seem to bear no relation to each other, encounter each other by chance. After Philippe’s unfortunate accident, Philippe seeks an assistant to take care of him all day long. Then, Driss, who is poor and has a criminal record, comes to him. Driss just wants to obtain a confirmation stamp on the assistant application in order to receive unemployment compensation. However, Philippe feels a great curiosity to Driss who has a freewheeling character, and decides to hire him as his assistant. Philippe offers Driss a bet on whether Driss can take care of him for two weeks. Driss, whose competitive spirit is aroused, accepts the bet, and their pleasant cohabitation begins. The music in this film is one of the must-points to ponder. In Intouchables, audiences can meet gems of music: from Earth Wind And Fire’s music to Vivaldi’s Four Seasons. From the film’s opening scene, a car chase scene, September of Earth Wind And Fire flows. The song captivates audiences from the beginning. In Philippe’s birthday party scene, the role of music is maximized. In other words, music dominates the image. The exquisite harmony between classical music and pop draws audiences into the scene, adding to the fresh atmosphere. The O.S.T. (Original Sound Track) of this film made a hit. The 50 thousand first editions of the O.S.T. albums released only in France were nearly sold out, and the O.S.T. became a golden record. Another impressive point in this film is that the film does not make audiences’ forced laugh. Though the genre of Intouchables is comedy, there are not actor’s exaggerated gestures or constrained humor. Instead, small wits melt into the plot naturally. It makes audiences laugh from beginning to end, and the directors of this film do not forget to put touching factors between the wits. The acting is also like a masterpiece. Especially, the two main actors, Francois Cluzet and Omar Sy, get absorbed in each role with all their heart, and it lets the audiences regard the characters in this film as real people. The combination of the actors’ superior acting and their effort makes it possible to captivate audiences. Omar Sy, who acted as Driss, reduced his weight by ten kilograms and shaved his head after he had been cast in this film in order to look like a real person in a French slum. He changes not only his appearance and body type but also his accent and fashion style. Francois Cluzet, who acted as Philippe, a paralyzed character, had to manage to play the exceptionally difficult part in a wheelchair only with lines and expression; without any motion. Although Francois Cluzet is a top French actor, the role of Philippe was like a challenge to him. For the role, he met the real person who had been model for the character, Philippe. During three days, Francois Cluzet lived with him, and studied his behavior, his words, and his inner side. At the 24th Tokyo International Film Festival (2011), the two featured actors, Francois Cluzet and Omar Sy, shared the best actor award. Omar Sy also got the best actor award at the 37th Cesar film festival (2012). The actors’ passion and effort lead to the success of the film. Intouchables was released last year in France and set a remarkable record; it was top at the box office for ten weeks in a row. (2011. 11. 2~2012. 1. 8. France) As many as 21 million people watched this film in Europe. Moreover, the film maintained its top place after beating out the big Hollywood films including Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol, Puss In Boots, and Breaking Dawn. In addition, this film is topping the box office for six weeks in a row in Germany and Austria (February 23, 2012). Intouchables also has favorable notices in the press. “It attracts the audiences like a magnet,” New York Times said, and The Guardian commented that it stirs up a tempest in the box office with reviews as a masterpiece. With these, the film achieved good results at various international film festivals. In a word, this film is not only commercial but artistic. Intouchables is a French film. In French films, the feelings of the characters are usually restrained extremely, and French films have normally been recognized for being too artistic to be interesting. So, French films often draw unwelcome attention to the audiences. However, Intouchables is different. Because the film guarantees both fun and artistry, it is like killing two birds with one stone. Intouchables is similar to The Bucket List, released in 2007, in that both films are based on true friendship between two men who are dissimilar. Among recent films, 3 Idiots, released last year, seems to be similar to this film, Intouchables, given those films’ genre. However, Intouchables is more special than The Bucket List or 3 Idiots. The power that makes this film special is from its plot which is based on a true story. The episodes in this film are not forced and not artificial, and at the same time this film leaves a deep impression, because the film is based on a true story. In fact, 3 Idiots is too optimistic to agree. On the other hand, Intouchables is more persuasive because of its true story. What is a true friend? If you are just happy when you are with someone, he or she is your true friend. Other conditions do not need to be discussed. In this film, Philippe says, “For me, it does not matter where Driss came from and what he did.”■ APRIL 2012 _ 47 ARTS & CULTURE : PERFORMANCE Who Dares to Blame Them? Bad Boys By Kim Yoon Sun ([email protected]) When: 2012. 2. 3~ 4. 29 Location: Art-One Theater, Daehak-Ro Weekdays at 8 p.m.(no performance on Monday) Saturdays at 4 & 7 p.m. Sundays & Holidays at 2 & 5 p.m. Looking at themselves in the mirror, two men are readjusting their suits in the hotel restroom. They seem to be having a silent competition as to who is more attractive, peeking at each other in the mirror. They soon find out that they were once close classmates in high school. However, even after they learn this, their unspoken competition does not stop. Making exaggerated smiles and gestures, they are apparently typical men in their thirties. The above is the opening scene of the play, Bad Boys. But soon the four 35-year-old men are back in time, wearing school uniforms instead of neat black suits, sitting in small school chairs. Today’s prosecutor is then the class president. Today’s elite are common hard-working students. Bad Boys realistically portrays what is happening in Korean high schools and how much pressure high school students are under. It further shows how the pressure students have then continues even after they go out into the world. Bad Boys is a long-running play that first premiered in 2007. The Art-One Theater is located in Daehak-Ro near Hyehwa station exit number 2. The stage setting is remarkably simple with only four school desks and chairs with a wall that resembles a built-in wardrobe. With the limited use of lights, the play has a dark and gloomy atmosphere. SYNOPSIS Three 35-year-old men, Myung-Joon, Soo-Hwan, and Jong-Tae, encounter each other at Min-Young’s wedding in a five-star hotel. Myung-Joon and Soo-Hwan have made it into the so-called three percent upper stratum of society by becoming an accountant and a politician’s aide respectively, while Jong-Tae has not been as successful. MinYoung, on the other hand, made it into the upper stratum, having become a prosecutor. 48 _ The Granite Tower The scene then travels to the past when they were seniors in the German department of the Daerim Foreign Language High School. It is September of 1992, when the university entrance test is on the verge of changing. Students are under extreme stress that they must qualify to enter universities with only one chance. The play revolves around the four protagonists making a plot for cheating on the mid-term exam. Will they succeed without being caught? What will happen to the four bad boys? ATTRACTIONS Bad Boys’ best attraction is its realistic storyline. Indeed, as the overall plot deals with Korean society, it arouses the sympathy of Korean audiences. Many Koreans can understand the pressure of having to get good grades on every single test in high school in order to get into prestigious universities. Sometimes, we miscalculate out of extreme tension and cannot find the right answer from the multiple choices. The depiction of the tension with stage props, along with lighting and sound effects, is impressive. Moreover, having only four actors appear on the stage enables audiences to focus solely on the acting. Of course, the storyline requires several other actors and actresses, but they remain off stage. Often, a single actor commands the stage, so that it seems like a one-man show. Surprisingly, this does not look awkward but rather aweinspiring. Just watching how the four actors lead the play and fill the stage is itself a good way to enjoy Bad Boys. Another interesting trait of this play is that many German famous sayings are spoken here and there during the performance. The German proverbs, which all have a cynical mood, fit each scene and underline the meaning of the scenes. For example, Myung-Joon says, “Jedermanns Freund ist niemandes Freund(Everyone’s friend is no one’s friend),” and “Die beste Taktik, einen Gegner anzugreifen, ist es, seine Achillesferse zu attackieren(The best deal is made when a man finds out the enemy’s weakness).” It is possible that the playwright intentionally set up the situation that the four characters were German students to put these proverbs in the play. In any case, the proverbs are remarkable, not because German arouses an exotic atmosphere to Koreans, but because they give audience some food for thought. Furthermore, the sound and lighting effects are outstanding. Even with the limited stage setting, the play avoids monotonousness through diverse use of stage effects. As the overall mood is dark, only a little use of light makes a big difference to the atmosphere of the stage. The most impressive ones include making a big shadow of the character on the wall and drawing a centerline of the street with a lighting effect. The sound effects work to place the audience in the characters’ thoughts and feelings Lastly, the irony found in the play is its most important feature. There are many witty lines and comical scenes in Bad Boys. However, it is hard to laugh out loud delightfully, probably because the overall mood of the play is dark and resembles Korean society so closely that it is hard to just laugh at it. Thus, rather than feeling catharsis through laughing out loud or shedding tears, the audience chooses rather to smile bitterly.■ APRIL 2012 _ 49 OPINION Cyber Witch Hunt By Park Sang Eun ([email protected]) Photograph by Lee Sihyoung 50 _ The Granite Tower The Actual Way We Love By Kim Hak Young ([email protected]) In order to deal with cyber witch hunts, we should recognize the causes and strive to find out suitable counter measures. Originally, witch hunts were used in medieval time in order to wipe out heretical faith caused by the failure of the Crusades. Once a woman was suspected of being a witch, she was burnt alive at the stake regardless of whether she was actually a witch or not. Similarly, a witch hunt is taking place in the 21st century on the Internet. Netizens, who mainly used to condemn public figures such as entertainers, are nowadays turning their attack against ordinary people with reckless verbal abuse, even harming personal lives by exposing personal information. Recently, a pregnant woman posted a complaint about Chaesundang, a popular franchise restaurant, on the Internet. She criticized one of the Chaesundang employees while insisting that the worker kicked her in the stomach. This posting infuriated thousands of netizens, who demanded Chaesundang to apologize and even suggested to boycott Chaesundang. A few days later, however, police announced that it was not the fault of the employee but of the woman. Such an extreme reversal surprised netizens who hurled criticism toward the employee, and even toward Chaesundang at large, based on only the woman’s statement. This incident led netizens to reflect on how harsh they had been on an individual as a part of their cyber witch hunt. There are some factors that cause to the cyber witch hunts. The great ripple effect of SNS is one of these contributing factors. As SNS users can read and quickly spread the news, a lot of netizens are able to take notice of incidents requiring blame within a short period of time. Portal websites as well as SNS further stimulate the ripple effect. For instance, NAVER, a well-known portal site in Korea, provides hit lists showing what items are being searched most at a particular time. The more people click on the witch hunting posts, the harsher the victim is condemned by numerous netizens. Actually, we can clearly see that the number of cyber witch hunts has dramatically increased compared with the past when SNS was not so popular among netizens. Netizens are also showing off their power to create social issues and dominate public opinion. In the real world, most people are merely ordinary citizens, who listen to what the ruling class says rather than influencing the majority. On the Internet, however, each individual has the same authority to make people listen to them thanks OPINION to anonymity. So every netizen listens attentively to what everyone else has to say. In order to gain vicarious satisfaction, netizens tend to spread witch hunt incidents. Anonymity also leads to being less responsible for making groundless comments about someone. Showing off domination and anonymity are combined, causing emotional or arousing statements rather than rational ones. As modern people are usually so busy, they are liable to perceive some issues based on a single opinion. Although there are various viewpoints toward certain issues, netizens do not have enough time to cover all of them. Once they decide their own stance, extra information is selectively perceived. In order to avoid a clash with one’s original standpoint, they unconsciously filter diverse information and accept the only one that fits their opinion. To some extent, hot-tempered Koreans have contributed to the cyber witch hunt. Not always but often, Koreans fly into a rage easily and forget it easily. When an alleged witch appears, a bunch of netizens flock to the issue so rapidly. Then, after harshly throwing verbal arrows at the witch, they soon disperse without taking enough time to verify the truth of the incident. Such a tendency makes cyber witch hunts even more severe and hurts the victim. Whenever a hasty cyber witch hunt proves to be a misdeed of netizens, they close their mouths as if nothing happened and run away quietly. The problem cannot be solved unless they fully regret their rash attack and biased criticism. Specific changes in the system are needed, as well as improvements in netiquette or behavior. The green box system has received attention as it could be a help in alleviating the problem. This system allows victims of Internet news reports to directly require the media to correct any mistakes in their reporting and to receive a written apology from them. Although this system has some drawbacks—it is limited only to online media and the media has to report the corrected article without any oversight by a third party—it is recommendable because hottempered netizens can be informed of rectification soon afterwards. Based on such improvements or changes in behavior and the system, the problem of cyber witch hunts can be alleviated and hopely solved, at last.■ Once upon a time, a servant girl met a prince, and they fell in love. They overcame all obstacles, got married, and lived happily ever after. The girl was named Cinderella, and she was pretty, and the prince was, indeed, “the prince.” Recently, a stunt woman met a CEO, and they fell in love. They overcame all the obstacles, got married and lived happily ever after. The girl was cool and chic, which was new and attractive to the Mr. Rich and Handsome, who had it all. Once upon a time in Joseon Dynasty, a shaman met a king, and they fell in love. They overcame all the obstacles, got married and lived happily ever after. The woman stole the king’s heart in just one encounter, and the king fell for her immediately. “What beautiful love stories!”—this is probably your response to these tales. Millions of others have responded the same way to these demonstrations of undying love and shaman—and love is returned by the girl. Then there are powerful obstacles. They are not everyday problems, but magical problems, assorted threats, and enormous social gap. In reality, such a wide gap in backgrounds is rarely surmountable, and even if it is, it is followed by huge regret. Nonetheless, something dramatic happens—for example in the two dramas mentioned above, one of the lovers gets almost killed and loses memory—which makes their love more precious and noble. Then there is always a happy ending in the last scene, saying that they got married and lived happily ever after. However, what the stories do not tell us is life after marriage. There is a saying that comedy ends in aspiration; to Cinderella Story for 2000 years, to Secret Garden in 2010 and 2011, and to The Moon that Embraces the Sun this year. It is enthralling that two people from different backgrounds meet and fall in love in ways which seem impossible in reality. It gives us hope and vicarious satisfaction. Then, what comes after that, later in their lives? A Cinderella Story and many others have put in our minds a certain love story as an ideal; love at first sight with a handsome prince, and marriage—or any other form of accomplishment of love—in the end. People crave the experience of falling in love like Yeon Woo and Prince Lee Hwon in The Moon that Embraces the Sun. The problem is not in the craving itself, but in setting it as an absolute value to the rejection of all others. This does not concern only women; men are no less affected by traditional love stories. There are four main elements of these famous love stories. First there is a prominent male—a prince, CEO, or a king—who falls in love with a normal girl—a servant girl, stunt woman, or a subordinate’s daughter who becomes a marriage, and that is when tragedy begins. It does not mean that marriage necessarily leads to tragedy; it just means that reality sets in after all the romantic moments of dating end. What is wrong with taking comfort in fictional stories, one might ask. It is not wrong, and I actually enjoy this repertoire, myself. Even so, too much fictional comfort can be dangerous because it affects the way we deal with reality. Besides, acknowledging—instead of beautifying—reality helps sometimes. We hate to admit it but there are impossible loves, and some happily-ended loves start again with realistic hardships that are not described in stories. Sometimes, it is better if the story tells you “It did not work out and they thought they would die from a broken heart, but they somehow lived on” or “It did work out and they were happy, but then followed some realistic problems that cast a shadow on love,” instead of just concluding that “They lived happily ever after.”■ APRIL 2012 _ 51 VOICE ON CAMPUS To Be a Liar or To Be an April Fool By Park Jong Hun ([email protected]), Kwon Min Seok ([email protected]) Every one of you may have told a lie or fallen for lies on April Fools' Day. On that day, people across the world tell lies or play jokes to people around them. So when we talk about the first day of April, humorous episodes can never be missed out. A variety of experiences could be both entertaining and embarrassing at the same time not only to you but also to those close to you. The Granite Tower (GT) therefore, met five students on campus and asked them about their unforgettable events that occurred on that day. Ryu Seong Shick (’10, Chemistry) On April Fools’ Day, my friends and I went to classes, wearing high school uniforms. We took pictures and enjoyed playing a game. In the middle of playing, it occurred to me that we could not leave out alcoholic beverages on this happy day. So, I went to a convenience store to buy some alcoholic drinks with a friend wearing a high school uniform. The clerk rang the items up without checking our ID cards. Therefore, we thought the clerk was aware of April Fools’ Day so he did not have to ask us to show our ID cards. However, he thoroughly examined the next customers’ ID cards. My friend and I discussed who was in charge of an aged face which unburdened the clerk’s effort. We did not come to a conclusion and left it unsolved. Kim Ki Yeon ('11, Healthcare Management) Greeting April Fools’ Day, I determined to play a funny trick on my friends. I pondered ways to make a “good” prank. That moment, I came up with a really good idea. I first bisected the Oreo and then put toothpaste instead of the cream, which originally was there. After preparations had been completed for the mischief, I went to school and gave my friends the Oreos that I made in advance. They, to my embarrassment, just took them, not eating even a bit because they are, of course, aware of the day’s arrival. To make matters worse, one of my friends gave it to the teacher just for fun. I expected him not to eat it. He, however, broke a bit away and popped it into his mouth. Eventually, I got punished for the well-made fruitless Oreos. Lee Suhun (’12, International Language and Literature) In my high school, there was an auditorium, which was adjacent to the main stairway. Thus, nobody could move to other floors unless they go through this auditorium. On April Fools’ Day, about 20 senior students came to school at dawn, bringing a lot of cans with them. Then, they filled all the cans with water. In addition, they fetched every desk that was placed in the first floor and the second floor. 52 _ The Granite Tower WE LISTEN After carrying all the cans and desks, they started to heap them up in the auditorium. At last, the place was full of them. Students and teachers were astonished by this sight at morning and they could not go anywhere because of such mischief. As a result, they had no choice but to spend their first class cleaning up the mess. Park Min Jun (’12, Interdisciplinary Studies) The night before April Fools' Day, I had many assignments for my Chemistry class, so I had to stay up all night doing them. After finishing all of the homeworks without sleep, I prepared to go to school the next morning. Then, one of my friends said that the class that gave us the assignments had been cancelled because the professor was sick. Though his voice seemed to have a true ring in a way, I knew that it was the first day of April. So I just ignored his words, sneering at his palpable lie, and rushed to school. When I finally arrived at the classroom, to my surprise, there was an announcement on the door of the classroom saying that the lecture was really cancelled. I got totally shocked. Even on the bottom of the paper, was a scribble that reads "Seriously, it is not an April Fool." Min Hyeong Gi (’12, Materials Science and Engineering) When I was a middle school senior, one of my friends invited me to his birthday party, giving me an invitation card. I naturally thought he was just playing an April Fools' Day trick on me, so I did not go to the party. The following day, I realized that almost all the friends who were invited to the party did the same, thinking it was just an April Fool’s prank. At that moment, my friend came in with a long face. I suddenly had an impression that yesterday might have been his real birthday. So I asked him. Only then, I figured out that his remark and invitations were true and that yesterday was, in fact, his birthday. Feeling awful, we held a magnificent birthday party for him the next day.■ The Granite Tower (GT) values your opinion. Send us detailed feedback on GT’s April issue—anything from what you liked or disliked reading or seeing to what you would like to see more of in our upcoming issues. Your correspondence must include your name, year of entrance, major, and cell phone number. Contact us at [email protected] for more information. OCTOBER 2010 _ 53 APRIL 2012 _ 53