Seoul – Page 6 – Circles and Squares

Multicultural Day in Seoul and Help for Non-Korean Workers

October 13, 2013 by

I am more and more impressed with Seoul every day. There was an enormous “Multicultural Festival” in the plaza in front of Seoul City Hall dedicated to making Seoul a more open and tolerant place for people from around the world. In the middle of that exhibition I came across this table. These cards, in fifteen different languages, have a number that workers who do not speak Korean can call to get advice and legal help concerning their status in Korea and possible problems they may have with their employers regarding wages or other issues. Although I cannot say how effective the services are, never having called, the very concept and the effort are quite inspiring and suggest a new facet of contemporary Korea.

Seoul Decadence

September 15, 2013 by

I have been extremely positive in my assessment of Seoul’s potential, But I do not want anyone to think I am blind to problems in this remarkable city. I am deeply disturbed by the inroads in Seoul of the global decadence that is destroying many cultures around the world.

In particular the blatant degrading of women in the media into objects of consumption and the emergence of pornographic advertisement is worrisome. At the most basic level, humans cease to be humans. Young women in cities like Seoul who are exposed to such destructive images are let to think that somehow they must conform to this grotesque model, that sexuality must be part of their identify and that the gaze of others is of the utmost importance.

This particular scene at Nonhyeonjin Station in Gangnam featuring a Caucasian model is typical. The situation is made worse by the fact that you cannot escape the image. Just as you cannot set up Youtube to block out violent and pornographic videos without blocking out essentially everything.

In addition, the incredible waste of electricity is of great concern. What is the point of such use of video–as if to say the use of energy is irrelevant.

video

“Seoul as a Mecca for the Creative Class in the 21st Century” (September 14, 2013)

August 9, 2013 by

10 Magazine Book Club

Hosted by Barry Welsh

Saturday, September 14^{th 2013}

Speakers:

Emanuel Pastreich

professor at Kyunghee University and director of the Asia Institute

Ogan Gurel

A director at the Samsung Advanced Institute of Technology

A visiting professor at SKKU’s Advanced Institute for Health Sciences and Technology,

“A Florence for the New Renaissance:

Seoul as a Mecca for the Creative Class in the 21st Century”

“It was not that long ago that the only internationals you would find wandering around Seoul were missionaries, English teachers and GIs. But that has changed radically over the last few years, with the best and brightest of the creative class flocking to Seoul as the new-found cluster for culture, business, technology and education. What is it about Seoul that makes is a leading contender for the global city, like Florence at the dawn of the Renaissance? What are the blue oceans for internationals looking for unique opportunities? How does Seoul stack up against Singapore, Seoul, Shanghai and Hong Kong? This talk will engage an informed and motivated audience in a frank and inspiring discussion about the true potential for Seoul and what we need to do to make Seoul realize its full potential.”

The second half of the session will be a question and answer session with the audience in which we can ask both guests about their work and experiences of Korea.

The Cat Choo Choo

August 4, 2013 by

I came across this cat, named “Choo Choo,” at a shop in Insa-dong yesterday. I was struck by the mystic look on his face, like a saint looking down on us sadly from the midst of this bacchanalia of consumption. There is a sadness in his eyes that one does not normally see in the products begging to be purchased and bring mindless happiness to consumers.

Seoul Metropolitan City on Food Waste

July 29, 2013 by

Seoul Metropolitan Government has launched several campaigns to raise awareness of the threat of climate change. Recently, the following sign has also appeared in the Seoul Metro. The caption reads

“We can reduce the amount of food waste that causes such pain to the earth”

The illustration shows the entire world as bits of leftover food. There is a tremendous problem with food waste in Korea–as in China wasting food is often seen as a sign of living well. As a whole, however, Korea is far less wasteful of natural resources than the United States. I wonder if any American cities are carrying on similar campaigns?

Reducing nuclear power through conservation

July 25, 2013 by

This add on the bus suggests that with sufficient energy conservation the city of Seoul can reduce electric usage sufficiently to justify reducing the number of nuclear power plants by one.

Two different visions of Seoul

July 25, 2013 by

Seoul is torn between a vision of the city as large apartment buildings and the more conventional buildings of the last fifty years. Here is a stark contrast.

Seoul Metropolitan City offers to help citizens handle debt

July 25, 2013 by

This advertisement for a program run by the city of Seoul to help ordinary citizens deal with debt struck me a truly original.

Take a look:

Encouraging signs in the lavatories of the Seoul Metro

July 25, 2013 by

If there is one thing that is truly amazing, it is how well maintained and clean the public lavatories in the Seoul Metro are. There is an inspiring dedication to service here that I do not think I have seen elsewhere. I took the liberty of photographing this text which aims to inspire worker and user alike to take pride in daily experience.

The Big Issue

July 25, 2013 by

The Big Issue is a journal that is sold by the unemployed in the city of Seoul. I purchased one the other day and read it with great interest. The writing was quite good and the design good as well.