If you go about 100 meters from The AsiaN’s office toward Hyehwa circle, you can see “Munhwa (culture) Barbershop.” 75-year-old Ji Deok-young has been cutting hair here for the last 56 years. He said his shop is probably the only place in Korea that has been serving customers from the same place for more than 50 years.

After finishing his 3-year service in the Marine Corps in the late 1950s, he began his career as a barber with scissors and a razor in his hand and has become a master craftsman in his field. There were times when his barbershop was bustling with more than 8 barbers working at one. But, now Mr. Ji works alone.

Mr. Ji said that great scholars such as historian Lee Byeong-do (grandfather of former president of Seoul National University) and Korean language scholar Lee Hee-seung as well as poet Jo Byeong-hwa and former prime ministers Kim Sang-hyup, Lee Soo-sung, and Lee Hoi-chang were among his regular customers. The president of Samyoung Chemical Lee Jong-Hwan(90), who donated 60 million dollars to Seoul National University about this time last year, also visited a few days ago.

Even though many customers left to newer, fancier places, I am very satisfied with getting my hair cut in Mr. Ji’s small shop with his professional spirit as a barber. It is our responsibility to protect the traditions and nature of our society that are disappearing day by day due to economic development and excavation of resources.

I really hope Mr.Ji can continue working at Munhwa Barbershop as a dedicated barber for another 20 years.

The Pakistan general election seems to be blowing winds of democracy. In the process, senior vice-president of the Tehreek-e-Insaf Party (PTI) Zahra ShahidHussain (60) was shot and killed in front of her house a day before the reelections by an unidentified armed man. I pray that her sacrifice can bring about concrete steps for democratization.

May 22, 2013

Sincerely,
Lee Sang-ki, CEO & Publisher of the AsiaN

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