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www.gosdkorean.com | 97

Korean organizations in san Diego

Active or over a year, this group o diverse people get together Saturdays to rehearse a variety o Kpop songs to perorm or lash

mobs and special events. Rehearsals are usually taken place by the Geisel Library at UCSD rom around 25pm. Just recently they

completed their third lash mob and perormed at Balboa Park which included songs rom groups such as Shinee, Rain, Beast and

Miss A. For more inormation or i you are interested in busting a move with ellow Kpop lovers, look up the SDKFM group page

on Facebook or you can see their videos on their YouTube Channel at: http://www.youtube.com/TheSDKFM

SD Ko rea n La ngua ge E xcha nge Me e tu p:I you are interested in learning Korean but cant ind any aordable classes or are interestedin the culture, this is deinitely a great way to interact with Koreans in this language exchange

meet up. This meet up takes place Wednesdays rom 79:30pm at E and Drink inside 99 Ranch

at Kearny Mesa. There you can reely practice your Korean or ask or help rom the riendly

people in this relaxed environment. Aterwards, there is a ree lesson in a separate classroom

and un activities or both Koreans and Americans. When all the studying is done, you can go

to a Korean restaurant or even hit up a local karaoke place with the group. To join the groups

Facebook page, look up the San Diego Korean Language Exchange.

The Korea n America n Ba r Associa tion: Established in 2007, this groups purpose is to provide Korean American

attorneys and law students in the San Diego area the opportunity

to socialize with each other and to interact with other services. They

oer legal, educational, political, charitable, and other services to the

Korean American community here. In order to preserve the culture, this

organization hosts various events such as inormational workshops,

mentoring programs, undraisers and social events. I you are an attorney

or law student interested in becoming a member, visit their website or

more inormation at: http://kabasd.org/

Korean A merican Coalition (KAC-SD): This non proit , communit y advoc acy organ izat ion was established in 1983

and is active throughout the U.S. including San Diego. Their mission statement

is to encourage and make it easier or the Korean American community tocontribute and become a part o American society through legislative and

community aairs. This group aims to promote cultural diversity not just within

the Korean community here, but with other groups. They introduce various

events relevant to the members such as the mentorship night at UCSD held last

month or people looking or an internship. I you are hoping to advance your

education, civil or voting rights, or your leadership in this community, then

check out the Korean American Coalition San Diego (KACSD) Facebook page

or visit the main website or the organization at http://www.kacnational.com/

Sa n D iego Kpo p Fla sh Mob

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98 | SAN DIEGO KOREAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITY MAGAZINE . November 2012

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sHane anD siMeons Korean 101

Shane Pak is a ormer electric al engineer and an adjunct aculty in math department whorecently returned home to San Diego. His current interests are international business, highereducation, and the flm industry.

Aside rom working in management, Simeon spends his ree time studying Korean and teachingEnglish. Having a passion or language, writing, music and building relationships, he believesthat people are like treasure and are the greatest inves tment someone can make in lie.

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Gary Routh spends his days wor king as an engineer, his evenings as a husbandand ather o two young children, and the remaining time studying theKorean Language. He can be reached at [email protected]

Snow New

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JaCKLi ns BLog sHoWCa se

MattHeWs too Poor or graD sCHooL - a Korean BooK revieW BLog

Korean literature is no longer an obscure genre in the back aisle o the public library. As the Korean wave has been catching

momentum so has Korean literature. More and more Korean books and novels been translated into English recently. Korean literature

has long been something maybe only Korean historians have been interested in, but not anymore. It has become more mainstream,

creating Korean literature clubs on campuses and even blog sites or Korean book reviews! One o the treasures that KKonnect has

discovered is the Too Poor or Grad School blog site, where the webmaster Matthew Smith posts hundreds o book reviews romKorean historical ction to biographies. This month, KKonnect wants to showcase some o the books rom the blog site!

tl:Escape from Camp 14: One Man's Remarkable Odyssey from North Korea to Freedom in the West

ah: Blaine Harden

Shin's story is amazing, simply put. The book is incredibly moving and unsentimentally objective. A possible

weakness in the narrative is that the book is limited to Shin's own experience whereas Barbara Demick's Nothing to

Envy charts several diverse stories at once; Shin's experience was not typical o most North Korean reugees. This is

hardly a knock at Harden's book as it proudly stands as a brilliant account o the world's most despicable regime's

nightmare o a labor camp. Graphic at times but always moving, pay heed to these atrocities by at least hearing him

out. Shin's is an original story that deserves your attention. You won't soon orget it.

tl: The Reluctant Communist: My Desertion, Court-Martial, and Forty-Year Imprisonment in North Korea

ah: Charles Robert Jenkins, Jim Frederick

His narration is seductively easy to ollow and makes appropriate detours when explanations are necessary to

clariy context. The reader is cautiously drawn in to empathize with Jenkins and his plight. His story is told simply

with ew obvious embellishments. I thoroughly enjoyed the book and wished I picked it up sooner.

A Q&A with the blogger, Matthew SmithWho are you?

Father o two, ormer U.S. Navy, current schoolteacher and coee lover, I am currently living and working in Korea.

When and why did you start blogging?

I started writing an online journal back in 2006 and have since enjoyed posting mainly or my own benet and uture nostalgia. As or

Korean historyrelated material, ater eeling a bit humbled by realizing that it would be a long time beore I could ormally study Korean

graduate studies, I wanted to stay proactive and selstudy. I gured one o the best ways to stay sharp was to read independently and post a

review/summary as i it were homework. Granted, it's selassigned homework, but I enjoy it. It's a huge source o motivation.

What are some of your favorite book s related to Korea / Korean culture?

Choong Nam Kim's Leadership or Nation Building is an amazing book about the Korean presidents and well worth your time. Korea in

War, Revolution and Peace by Horace G. Underwood is one o the most ascinating memoirs I've had the pleasure o reading. Finally, Koreathrough Western Eyes by Robert Ne is an amazing collection o turnothecentury Korean rsts like the rst streetcar, electric power plant

and Western military advisor, among others. No other author on Korean history writes it as interesting as Ne does.

Matthew Smith is a native Texan with a background in Education and English as a Second Language. He currently resides in

Korea with his wie and two daughters. His blog can be ound at https://toopoorforgradschool.blogspot.com

Jacklin Lee is a board member o Korean American L iterature Club (KALC).KALC holds regular book meetings and movie nights apart rom the specialevents such as attending flm estivals and other Korean culture events.

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iLM revieW

tHe tHieves: raising tHe Bar

Big. Loud. Dazzling.

by Sierra Fox

For we have known the summer blockbusters already, known them all. Stories

weve already seen. Jokes weve already heard. Characters weve already loved.

Indeed, The Thieves embraces this ormula: an impossible jewel heist, the

high jinks in pulling o such a eat, and the typical motley band o seasoned

criminals. But this lm denitely raises the bar.

The cast are simply stellar. Kim Yun Seoks brilliant portrayal o criminal

mastermind, Macao Park, is calculated, menacing, yet shamelessly vulnerable.

Hong Kong star, Angelica Lee, lls the screen with her piercing, unrelenting

intensity, oten stealing the stage rom lead actress, Kim Hye Soo. Veterans

Simon Yam and Kim Hae Suk cook up a chemistry with heaps o sophistication

and touches o tenderness. Giggles and acepalms are abound with Oh Dal Sus

perect portrait o the buoon.

Witty dialogue dripping with decadence invokes Tarantino on occasion,

fuently traversing languages in its international setting. Its worth pointing out,

however, that the English subtitles sometimes stray a bit ar rom the spoken

lines.

Auteur Choi Dong Huns careul attention to detail doesnt disappoint, either.

Flurries o fashbacks food the spaces with confict and curiosities. Color and

contrast coyly favor the mood o each scene. The sets and shots even seem to

share stories o their own.

Still, though, The Thieves is in no way an art house lm. Rather, it is a

rereshingly well crated piece o entertainment: un, exciting, and sexy.

And I want to see it again.

Now oN DVD:i aM: sMtoWn Live WorLD tour in MaDison square garDen

Oshore music hasnt created this much o a renzy in this country since The Beatles invasion! Now experience the best o Kpop in I AM: SMTOWNLive World Tour in Madison Square Garden, exploding on DVD (4 discs) and Bluray (1 disc) Nov. 6 rom CJ Entertainment America.

Once outside the mainstream American music spotlight, Kpop is now a sensation not only in the U.S. scene, but globally. This movement is led by

enormously popular acts such as SMTOWN superstars KANGTA, BoA, TVXQ!, Super Junior, Girls Generation, SHINee and (x).

WIN I AM K-POP SWEEPSTAKES!Enter Online at: www.iamk-pop.com

Follow on Twitter: @iamk_pop

Like Us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/IAMK.POP

About writer: In need o a weather upgrade, Sierra F ox let her home o Bristol, UK in 200 9, soon settling inSan Diego. She is ond o warm days bare oot in the sand, warm nights snuggling with her dogs, and warmmemories o teaching English in Seoul.

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ateHs asian MarKet CHroniCLes:six MarKets in six HaiKus

Zio n Ma rke tKimchi and Curry

They Put the Soul in Seoul Food

Try the Koroke

Ranch 99 MarketLike Asian Walmart

Parking Can Be a Nightmare

Try Chinese Pancakes

Mit suwa Ma rke tRegional Food Fairs

Ramen, Bookstore and Sushi

Japan in Your Face

N ijiya Ma rke t J-Pop on Speakers

Fresh Cream Puffs on WeekendsDecent Fish Array

Ma rukai Ma rketHello Kitty Store

Food Plaza and Value Store

Get Membership Card

Balboa International MarketWestern Asian Food

Remember to Say Salaam

Kebobs are Yummy

A wonderul blend o dark bittersweet Pacifc Northwest, twoshots o moxie, a hint o cool, and a spoonul o Central AsianAwesomeness. Fateh is an Engineer by day, Dreamer by nightand Cultural Sojourner on weekends. He will be providing hisunique commentary on all things Korean.

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events in noveMBer

tHursDay, nov 1st - riDay, nov 9tHThe San Diego Asian Fi lm Festival - From Masterworks from Asian countr ies to Asian American indieromantic comedy films, the 13th annual San Diego Asian Film Festival brings a week-long cinemaparty with over 140 films from 20 countries.

riDay, nov 2nD @ 12:30-2:00PMWHAT IS THE K IN K-POP? Lunch talk session at UC San Diego - The Culture Industry, Soft Power, andCultural Transformation in South Korea Lunch discussion by Professor John LieHosted by the School of International Relations and Pacific Studies at UCSD

sunDay, nov 4tH @ 1:40PMKkonnect and Korean Language Meetup Group co-presents the fi lmAll About My Wifeat theSan Diego Asian Film Festival. Tickets are $11.50. Visit festival.sdaff.org/2012 for tickets

saturDay, nov 10tH @ 11AM - 8PMAMP Music Festival - The AMP Music Festival is an al l-day, outdoor music concert on Saturday,November 10, 2012 from 11am-8 pm at the Jacobs Center for Neighborhood Innovation in Market

Creek Plaza featuring local Asian-American per formers.

saturDay, nov 10tH @ 6:30PMSBS Kpop Super Concer t: November 10th is the long awaited SBS Kpop Super Concert whichwas previously moved from August to a later date then was postponed and is now back with a newlineup including: SNSD, 2NE1, Beast, KARA, CNBLUE, 4 Minute, and Sistar. The concert will takeplace at the Verizon Wireless Amphitheater in Irvine at 6:30pm.

http://estival.sda.org/2012

http://ampmusicestival.com/

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Korean restaurants in san Diego

Chingu Ne, or Friends House4647 Convoy St Suite 101ASan Diego, CA 92111www.friendshousekorean.menutoeat.comMon-Sat: 11AM-12AMA KKonnect favorite: Mention us and get a FREE DRINK & 10% OFF!

Fuze SD9379 Mira Mesa BlvdSan Diego, CA 92126

www.fuzesd.comSun-Thu: 11AM-3PM, 5PM-11PMFri-Sat: 11AM-3PM, 5PM-12AMTraditional to fusion, daily specials and beer pong

Thang Thang7905 Engineer Rd.San Diego, CA 92111(858) 569-1582M-Sat: 5PM-1:30AM, Sun: 5PM-1AMLate night hot-spot with beer towers and chalk boards!

Chon Ju Jib4373 Convoy St.San Diego, CA 92111

(858) 268- 0835Cozy local favorite with reasonable prices

Visit Kkonnect.net or ur ther listings o Korean restaurants in San Diego

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Manna B.B.Q.4428 Convoy St.San Diego, CA 92111(858) 278-3300M-Th: 2:30PM-11PM, Fri-Sat: 1PM-11:30PM, Sun: 1PM-10PMAuthentic Korea n BBQ in San Diegos K-Town

Min Sok Chon4620 Convoy St.Ste D&E

San Diego, CA 92111www.mscsd.comM-Th, Sun: 5PM-2AM, Fri-Sat: 5PM-3AMKorean cuisine, drinks, & karaoke

Jiggle Jiggle3146 Midway Dr.San Diego, CA 92110www.jigglekgrill.comM-Th: 11:30AM-9PM, Fri-Sat: 11:30AM-10PMBig taste and small price for Korean fusion near SportsArena in Point Loma

Korean Kitchen Tofu and Galbi509 Telegraph Canyon RdChula Vis ta, CA 91910

(619)216-8882New Korean Restaurant in Chula Vista

About Illustration Artist:William Dunn has had a graphic design studio, and been a watercolorist and collegeinstructor his entire career. He recently moved rom the San Francisco Bay Area to SanDiego, and paints every day. His work can be seen at www.williamdunnstudio.comand www.williamdunnatlarge.blogspot.com

His work is currently on display at the new Artbeat on Main Street Gallery in Vista, CAand in the Art People Galler y in Crocker Galleria in San Francisco.

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KKonneCt rePorters nataLie, rHeMa, anD eLi visit tHe inauguraL Korean PoP MusiC Convention in irvine

KKonneCt goes to K-Con

October 13th was the day I had been looking orward to or months: the rst ever Korean pop culture convention.In the midst o the best year or Korean pop with its growing popularity, I knew I had to attend this event whichoered not only a dance workshop led by amous choreographers, panels on aspects o Korean culture, movies,booths and even an autograph session, but a concert to top o the night with rising stars in Kpop. The concertincluded a mix o well known and even rookie artists such as BAP, VIXX, EXOM, Nuest, 4 Minute and G.NA. Theconcert was opened by Asian American singers AJ Raael and Dumboundead and Korean electronic duo, Daze47.

Also making a high anticipated appearance among many others was Simon and Martina, rom the popular YouTube channel Eat Your Kimchi, who are a staple in the Kpop phenomenon.

Upon rst entering the convention, it elt like going to Disneyland with all the contests, merchandise, activities, andevents going on throughout the entire day. Walking around the packed outdoor venue, there were many ans thatdressed up as their avorite idols or made signs or them in Korean or Chinese. As the mayor o Irvine, Sukhee Kang,said during the concert, There is no language barrier when it comes to Kpop, this summarizes the attitude o thethousands o people at KCON. While many will assume this sort o event would mostly be focked with teenagegirls, the demographic in the Kpop andom has certainly broadened with a wide range o male and emale, youngand old, Asian and nonAsian. One o the greatest things about this genre o music is that it has become a cultureo its own and is lled with passionate individuals who love meeting others with the same interest, which is some

thing I witnessed ater attending my second Kpop concert.

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This event had quite a lot o potential but it was ar rom perect. I occasionally elt like even Comic Con couldnt

compare to the conditions o this venue. From 10am to 10pm in the heat o the day, the small and packed convention was lled with ten thousand people, many o whom crowded around the autograph session tent to catch aglimpse o all the idols. It became quite chaotic especially when B.A.P and EXOM were to start their signings whichin due course caused delays in scheduling and someone a broken ankle. Despite the disorganization o this event,the day was ended on a high note with a spectacular perormance and even the artists people werent amiliarwith received a lot o praise rom the audience. This convention proved to be a success and will hopeully improveand become an annual event as part o the hallyu wave.

Rhema currently attends Mesa College and has a passion or Korean pop music. Sheis eager to learn more about all things Korean.

Eli is a high school student in Chula Vist a who has also interned at Anime Conji,Japan Society, and the Japanese American Historical Society o San Diego.

Natalie Cisneros is a student at Mesa College who enjoys learning about otherpeoples cultures. She is also a memb er o the San Diego Kpop Flash Mob group.

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In hindsight, maybe I should have played more video gameswhen I was younger. In addition to riding bikes and building forts,I spent much of my childhood magnetized to a television, blowinginto Nintendo cartridges, and surfing up and down cinnabarisland looking for "Missing No." If you don't understand these

references that's okay (although you should put this article downand invest in an old school game boy color and find a copy ofPokemon Blue right now). While my mother was amazingly coolenough to buy me Nintendo gear, she never told me about thesix-figure salaries and fame many South Koreans earn in theirpro-gaming leagues and competitions. I can imagine travelingback in time to tell my prepubescent self about the possibilities ofthe future. Play more video games, I would say.

Here in the States, video gaming isn't considered (by most) tobe a sport. If anything, I feel as though the stereotype portraysthe polar opposite. I imagine the typical American generalizationas being moderately obese, greasy, and ghostly (although in myexperience, it's usually only one of those characteristics, if any).In South Korea and many other Asian countries, gaming is an"E-Sport." As far as I can tell, there is no accurate stereotype of amodern gamer. You can see this by stepping into one of the manyPC Bangs in South Korea.

PC bangs (internet cafes on steroids, literally translated as PCrooms) are a popular pay-as-you-go means of gaming andsocializing. It's not just teenage boys you'll find there. Thedemographics are diverse in age and gender. With the fastestWIFI on the planet, South Korea's PC bangs are a staple in anycompetitive or recreational gamer's life. People of all ages andinterests will show up to play cards, Tetris, or the game we mostassociate with Korean culture: StarCraft.

StarCraft is a strategy-based futuristic military-style computergame. Not being an E-Sport's star myself, describing exactlywhat goes on in a single match is too ambitious of a task forthis article. However, a simple YouTube search can illuminatethe curious commoner. Thousands of spectators cheer on theirfavorite competitors as they strategically place their chess-likepieces throughout a sandbox style landscape. A single game willlast fifteen minutes, give or take, until a victor emerges. And withvictory, comes tens of thousands of dollars. Halfway through 2012alone, over $1,000,000 was allotted to the winners of numerous

competitions (not limited to competitions taking place in SouthKorea). With such inviting benefits, what reason could there be inpursuing another career?While social stigmas might exaggerate our perception of gaming,there is a dark side to this counter-culture. Perhaps the most well-

known instance of gaming-related problems occurred in Suwonin 2009, when the negligence of a couple took the life of theirbaby. While the couple spent twelve hours a day raising a virtualdaughter, their real daughter starved to death. The infant weigheda pound less when she died than when she was born. A fewyears prior, after losing his job and his girlfriend, Seung Seop Leedied of exhaustion after a 50 hour gaming binge. He was 28 years

old. These two instances are tragic, but their familiarity resonatesglobally. Similar cases have occurred in the United States andacross eastern Asia.

It is well-known in most, if not, all cultures, that moderationis necessary for any indulgence. Yet, the stresses of societyoften weigh more than we'd like to carry. Whether it's a glass ofChardonnay, a Choco Pie, or virtual reality, we all need somethingto distract us from the daily grind. But what is it that attracts somany South Koreans to gaming?

According to the BBC, as of 2005, 30% of the South Koreanpopulation are registered for online gaming. Statistically speaking,at least one member from every K-pop group is a gamer. Withone of the most technologically innovative countries in the world,this should be no surprise. In addition, a society that expectsperfection from its students, its employees, and itself, is likelyto foster citizens with high blood pressure and insufficientsleep. In the virtual world, a player can live vicariously through asuperhero, a soccer star, or his or her own civilization. The playeris in control. The problem, however big or small it may be, lies inthe ability to discern between our distractions and our personalidentity.

snaPsHot o gaMing CuLture in soutH Korea

ControL aLt DeLete

Statistically speaking, at least one member

from every K-pop group is a gamer.

Clark Rhodes () is a senior at SDSU studying philosophyand creative writing. He also serves as the treasurer oSDSUs Korean Student Association.

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