Expect Resistance & Library Autonomous Zone » Korean Culture

Eating and wandering through Korea

James R. Jacobs — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 14:19:38 +0000

It’s been a busy few days full of trains, buses, walking, eating (especially eating!), meeting relatives (brothers, cousins, aunts, nieces and nephews). After spending last week in Daegu with Shinjoung’s parents, we headed up to Seoul and its surroundings to visit myriad relatives — I know some names, but mostly I remember them as relations (big brother, big aunt, little aunt, curly hair aunt, violin cousin etc!) because that’s how I’m introduced to them. We stayed with Hyungnim (literally “older brother” who’s actual name is Sangheun) and his family in Bundang, just outside of Seoul. We’ve actually done quite a bit of cooking, both at Shinjoung’s parents’ house and at Hyungnim’s apartment. Gazpacho (from the moosewood cookbook of course!) was such a huge hit with Shinjoung’s mom that we made a second double batch

Hope you enjoy the following videos

Shinjoung and her mom walking around in Daegu, Korea:

Eating sushi in Daegu, Korea:

Spirited busker near Hongik University, Seoul, Korea:

Eating mung beans near Hongik University, Seoul

Right at home in Taegu, Korea

James R. Jacobs — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 08:26:48 +0000

Yes we’re still on our SE Asian tour. Shinjoung and I have been in Taegu, Korea for the last few days. No videos to post yet (and also no tour books to consult ). We’ve been staying pretty close to home, visiting with family, eating, visiting with more family. As some of you know, Shinjoung’s dad is having some health issues. He started dialysis a few weeks ago, and is actually doing pretty well. His energy is up as is his appetite, he’s doing his usual walk (though *slowly*) to Apsan mountain — Shinjoung’s family’s house is a couple of blocks north of the park so it makes for a nice leisurely stroll. We’re going to Seoul over the weekend so perhaps will have more exciting sites to show. stay tuned!

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정보공유연대 IP Left

ShinJoung — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 05:03:54 +0000

South Korea was the first country to pass a “Three strikes” or “graduated response” law on March 3, 2009. France was the first country to introduce a similar three-strikes bill called Hadopi but it is still being litigated (BoingBoing has been tracking the French law but has not as yet written about the Korean law). The provision gives the Minister of Culture, Sports, and Tourism the authority to order ISPs to send warning letters to users who violate copyright, and to order them to suspend users’ Internet connections for up to six months. The law has been in effect since July of 2009. The bill was modified later but originally it was for permanent termination of users’ internet connection.

The South Korean government has been boasting about being the most wired country in the world; at the same time the country has been increasingly tightening its IP laws. Most of their posts are in Korean, but an organization called 정보공유연대 IP Left (Chung Bo Yun Dae IP Left) has been following the changes in Korean IP law and mobilizing and educating about these IP issues. It’s good to see civil society organizations put forth resistance toward these shifts away from democratic ideals.