Marguerite Duras’ Universe of Love
Title: The Lover Author: Marguerite Duras Publication information: Les Éditions de Minuit, 1984 (first edition) It won the Goncourt Prize in 1984 as the semi-autobiographical novel-turned-movie directed by Jean-Jacques Annaud in 1992. Set around the backdrop of French colonial Vietnam, The Lover reveals the intimacies of a clandestine romance between a fifteen-year-old girl from […]
Ximen Nao’s six reincarnations under the Chinese Communist Party
Life and death are wearing me out Mo Yan, Arcade Publishing (Eng. trans.), 2008, In 1948, Ximen Nao, a rich landowner, was executed by the sharecroppers who were working for him. He felt he had been unjustly murdered since he thought he had been an excellent landlord. After spending two years in the […]
The Fine Line Between Advertising and Propaganda Explored Through Hong Seong-hye Artwork
The first time I heard about the concept behind Hong Seong-hye paintings, I thought it was very interesting in its complexity. By analyzing propaganda art used during wars and for advertising, she created her own way of expressing her unique artistic intention. Born and raised in South Korea, Hong is a young artist who studied […]
Jeju Guide for Backpackers: Rocks, Wind and Haenyo
Jeju is, by far, Korea’s most popular tourist destination. The Island had always been crowded with Chinese tourists, but lately, as tensions arose between China and Korea over THAAD, few Chinese have chosen to vacation in Jeju. Instead, travelers from Korea, Southeast Asia, America, and Europe have been increasing each year. Tourist organizations, seeing this […]
Seung Hwan Oh Artwork: Photography Meets Science
In a cozy bar near the Blue House, I met Oh Seung-hwan, also known as Tonio, a Korean photographer based in Seoul. While he was studying film at Hunter College in New York, he discovered his passion for photography. But Oh does not simply take photos. By focusing on making critiques against society and the […]
Communication in 21st Century: a Delicate Balance between Positive and Negative Aspects
In a relationship with an operating system. “I’ve never loved anyone the way I loved you”. This is a quote from Her, the movie directed by Spike Jonze in 2013. The main character, Theodore Twombly, declared so to Samantha, an intelligent computer operating system personified through a female voice. The movie won several prizes […]
Deathly Levels of Fine Dust Pollution: Immediate Dilemma for New President of South Korea
The worst case of fine dust of 2017 blanketed much of South Korea on Saturday. The huge dust storm was first from Mongolia and then China. The National Institute of Environmental Research (NIER) strongly suggested people avoid outdoor activities and for children and the elderly to stay indoors throughout the weekend. Consequently, the retail sector […]
The Dark Side of the Korean Education System and New Purposes for the Future
Suneung, the most important test of your life The Korean school system is based on six years of elementary school (age 6-12), three years of junior high school (age 12-15) and three years of senior high school (15-18). What comes next is apparently the most important stage in life: the University entrance exam. South Korea […]
“For Vagina’s sake”: the Documentary that South Korea Needs
The taboo of the menstrual cycle In 2017, talking openly about menstruation is considered taboo in many places around the world. In some regions, it is even something to hide or to be ashamed of. In developing and underdeveloped countries, the use of rags and cloths as an alternative to pads is a common practice. […]
Journalist / Art Critic 
Trump, Kim, and the Three P’s of Summit Diplomacy: 
