The Internet and the Newspaper Landscape Hoofers in SNU GPA Sniping Lotus Lantern Festival Lemon Music

& Cafe
V olume 44 June 2013

The Decline of Printed Media

The Seoul National University English-Language Journal

Editors Letter Feature The Internet and the Newspaper Landscape The Fall of the Written Word How Printed Newspapers are Braving the Challenge Newspaper is PAPER! Why the Internet? SNU Society Campus News Vaccine for Global Health SNU Liberal Studies amidst the Turmoil Gathering Together for a Worthy Cause The Dongari Life: Hoofers in SNU Ever Get Tired of Youthhood? A Look into SNU 2013 Spring Festival The Fun and Ugly : Campus Fair GPA Sniping in Foreign Language Courses SNU Library Statistics and Future Plans A&C Lotus Lantern Festival The Golden Landmark of Seoul Marvels Marvelous Plans Perspective from a K-pop Newbie Lemon Music & Cafe The Psy Argument

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CONTENTS
Volume 44
June 2013

The End of the Ahn Phenomenon

THE DONGARI LIFE: HOOFERS IN SNU

THE GOLDEN LANDMARK OF SEOUL

THE PSY ARGUMENT

November May 2012. 2013. Vol. 41 44

FAREWELL LETTER: YUN HWAN CHAE, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Student journalism is a funny thing. We are given a responsibility to report the truth yet often times we find ourselves in over our heads. The writing may be full of passion but at a certain level, they rarely seem to add much to the talk. Throughout my time as Editor-in-Chief, this has been my major frustration and I have faced numerous criticisms from my peers that the Quill tries to make itself out more than it really is. Perhaps the magazine has at times strayed off course but despite such views, I believe that the Quill has never been in the wrong in addressing the social issues relevant to the Seoul National University community. As students we are often too focused on our own individual lives and careers that we neglect the problems that the collective community faces and which we will soon inherit. The Quill can only do so much as a small English magazine, however, I believe that the articles that contain the perspectives of students can provoke the community to participate in the dialogue in such issues. This could be the extent of the impact that student journalism can have but I hope that the Quill will continue to follow through with this mindset. As for me, this is my final issue and I leave the Quill to better hands to establish the magazine as a frontrunner of journalism in SNU. I am eternally grateful to all the members of the Quill for their hard work and commitment and the readers for supporting us despite our faults. Thank you.

THE SEOUL NATIONAL UNIVERSITY

uill Staff
Chief Managing Director Yeun-il Jeong Editor-in-Chief Yun Hwan Chae Vice Managing Director Eun Hur Feature Section Editor Haesol Kim Seo Kyoung Lee Song-Ug Yoon SNU Society Section Editor Diana Dahyun Cho Young Min Son Junghyun Baek KyeongHwan Kim Bora Lee Celine Jeong Hyeon Moon Seung Hoon Bae Arts and Culture Section Editor Abhas Maskey Tselmeg Chuluunbaatar Hee Kyung Lee Regina Hyun Jung Lee Creative Director Suzanne Park Photographer Yeun-il Jeong E-Mail snuquill@gmail.com Website www.facebook.com/snu.quill Advisor Professor Eli Sorensen Professor Eui Hang Shin Printing Late Spring (0222698030) Design Sun Hee Kim

ANOTHER FAREWELL LETTER: ABHAS MASKEY, THE NEPALI ARTS AND CULTURE EDITOR. I thought I could take on the world (be the next Alexander/Genghis/Bush/Buddha) after joining the Quill but things dont turn out as they plan, do they? After nearly 104 weeks with magazine, it feels rather weird writing your last piece of writing but thats how it is. As an international student whose Korean was limited to asking directions for the restroom, it was hard for me to find an activity I could engage in. To be honest, I tried getting into some clubs but unfortunately, I could not really connect with them. After hopping on and off several clubs, I finally ended up in one such club that required you to be proficient in English: the Quill. I am aware that the magazine still has a lot of work to do, especially with its content, readership and layout (that basically covers everything), but I think it is progressing towards the right direction. The previous and the current team of editors have worked to ensure this and I am confident that the writers who will be spearheading the magazine in the near future will do so as well. Personally, I feel Quill was a lot of work, however, the people I got to work with made it feel..less work. Although I do agree I annoyed a lot of people and they annoyed me as well (you know who you are) but I think it was part and parcel of working and interacting with writers from a host of different backgrounds. Whats next? I am really not sure. I think I will go insane without putting my thoughts on paper so..yeah I will be writing or rather blogging (check this out: www.madeinepal.blogspot.com). Now I dont know how to end this so I will leave it to that. By the way, I love the Quill. And all the annoying people who are associated with it.

Feature

June 2013. Vol. 44

How the Internet has Changed the Newspaper Landscape

BY SONG-UG YOON

he rise of printed media started with Gutenbergs invention of the printing press. Ever since this invention marked the turning point in sharing information and cross border communication, printed media has been an undeniable part of human history and daily life. We can look for information in dictionaries, newspapers or entertain ourselves with novels or magazines. As literacy rate increased and technology improved, printing also became a successful economic sector. There are big multinational companies which focus on the distribution of magazines, newspapers and even television broadcasting channels. One good example is the American company Advance Publications. It owns about 30 local newspapers, 10 business journals and successful international magazines such as GQ, Vogue, Vanity Fair, Allure and the Discovery

Channel. But with the advance of internet, things have changed dramatically for print media companies. Especially around 2008, a lot of newspaper companies announced that they were heavily cutting jobs and reorganizing management. In just one year, more than 120 American Newspapers have shut down and about 20.000 jobs have been cut. But the most shocking news was probably that the Encyclopedia Britannica announced that it is going to end publishing print version and that one of the worlds most famous readings, readers digest, announced its bankruptcy. As already said, the severe change in print media sector was caused by the advancement of the internet. But paradoxically, newspaper websites and smartphone applications are one of the most popular on the internet and

are steadily growing. Today, there are more people who read and have access to daily news than 10 or 20 years ago. Digital Media and online content have the advantage of being easily accessible, fast and often free. Therefore, one could say that the problem print media companies nowadays face is more a consumer problem. Newspapers still take about 90% of their revenue from selling printed papers. This is because a printed advertisement can costs thousands of dollars while an online advertisement such as a pop-up will only cost 10 or 20 dollars per whatever thousand clicks or so. So if newspaper companies face difficulties in adapting to modern day conditions, where reader habits, advertising strategies and the newspaper industry itself has changed so much, why does it affect the reader or society in general? The point is that some people fear that newspapers

traditional role as a watchdog could be threatened. Lesser competition and bigger companies mean that there is less space for critical journalism because bigger news companies will have bigger interests and therefore, lose big parts of their independence. For decades, people believed that competition will breed better journalism and thus effect an engaged and informed public. If this gets lost, it might be considered as a threat to an essential part of our democracy. New Business models have been tried such as by the Times or other newspapers when they charged a certain amount of money for subscription with various successes. The basic idea was that even on the internet, people will be willing to pay for quality journalism which comes fast and with checks and balances. But for this idea to be long-lasting, every bigger newspaper should have joined the idea and followed it. But papers like the Guardian just kept on publishing for free which made charges for subscription a long time failure. So what options do newspapers have then? Basically, it depends on the region you talk about. Newspaper and Print Media are still a highly demanded good in regions where the advancement of the Internet still did not reach or did only poorly. Countries like India may be an IT giant but do not provide access to internet for all of its citizens. Local journalism and newspapers can still survive there because there is a high demand for it. In some places in South East Asia, newspapers are so specialized in local journalism that many people are willing to charge for online subscription. Especially English written newspapers have a huge advantage against international big newspapers due to their specialization into local news. Another factor is newspapers have to use social media services more actively to gather reader/customer base. Many newspaper companies nowadays actively use services like twitter or facebook in order to deliver news faster and to gather more readers. This can have a positive effect on the internet presence of the company and thus lead to more advertisement which brings us to the last problem. If traditional newspaper companies want to survive, the current business model is more than insufficient. Even online advertisement revenues are cracking down since there are more popular websites or websites that grant better banners and more clicks while newspaper websites have a layout limitation in such matter. The future of print media and newspaper companies are declining but it may not be such a tragic loss of democratic and social values because investigative and independent journalism may find new ways to exist.

Feature

June 2013. Vol. 44

The Fall of the Written Word

BY SEO KYOUNG LEE

The blank front page of the Yonsei Chun-chu newspaper.

Seoul National Universitys university press center at Gwanaksa.

e all know the cliche story of the seemingly lucky student who inadvertently stumbles upon a salacious story, publishes it, and goes through the upand-down aftermath involving university politics, unfounded accusations, and glamorous selfdiscovery. Minus the jazzy feature, the history of the university press can be similarily categorized. It embodies all kinds of controversial voices and promotes the constant push towards liberalization of knowledge. At home and abroad, the role of the university press possesses a scope of influence that can hardly be understated. At Seoul National Universitys neighboring school Yonsei University, the Yonsei Chun-chu faced financial difficulties last March. Until March 2013, the annual subscription fee for the newspaper of 5,900 won was a

quintessential part of the school tuition fees under miscellaneous costs. That was where the majority of the funding for the Chun-chu had originated from. But the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology demanded that the costs be separated, and as an expected consequence, only 17.9 percent of the students paid the subscription fee and the annual budget of the paper fell from 733 million won last year to 500 million won. As a protest, the staffers published a special edition with a blank front page, to spread the word about the budget cut made by the school. Chief editor Jung Se-yoon, 20, noted that we will issue special editions in protest of budget cuts until our demands for normalization are met. The Chunchu fell under financial pressure after being constantly bombarded by funding difficulties, and has, to the

dismay of many staff and reporters, moved onto the digital field of publication. Although the benefits and disadvantages concerning the digital method can be argued, the fact that The Chun-chu was forced to move into the digital sector must be strongly noted. At our very own Seoul National University, the first edition of the newspaper was published while seeking refuge from the destruction brought on by the Korean War, on February 4, 1952. The press center was moved to Dongsung-dong in Seoul in 1953, even writing for local high schools. But like the Yonsei Chunchu, financial difficulties in the 1960s led to the paper ceasing print for a period of time. Upon relocating to the Gwanak Campus (present) in 1975, it has been in continuous publication until today. Although during the time of its first

launch the paper was sold for 500 won a copy (even twice a week), it is now distributed for free every Monday. The Seoul National University Press, in light of the circumstances at the time of a very formative period in terms of social, political, economical, and academic sense, played a leading role beyond the university. As it is widely known, it was established in the city of Seoul during the period of Japanese colonial rule, formerly known as the Imperial university. The 1970s were met by an explosive demand for professional and academic knowledge about the changes the country was undergoing, and the press successfully met such academic standards. However, South Korea is no longer the feeble, broken country in need of knowledgable academic sources. Rather it has transformed into a super market economy bound by strong nationalistic ideals with a sense of

togetherness. This advancement of the country as a whole has unprecedented effects on the role of the university press. Unfortunately, this dramatically changes, or rather removes, the stage for the social role of the university press. The power of the written word the press once weld now runs obsolete, and is the very reason that is driving the press into the ground. For the university press, the information age has brought such ease of access to information that such printed information is rendered irrelevant or unnecessary. News about

politics or international policies are received from major news channels, while local or campus news are easily available at the swipe of a touchpad. Following the original mission statement of Seoul National University Press, there is an inherent focus on sound scholarship, promoting knowledge of culture and fostering the university by strengthening exchanges between different members. Now, adapting to current demands and, there is a specific concentration on publishing about the procedures, planning, and investigating about the works of students around the school. This coverage is also in the form of a digital copy, at www.snunews.com.

Feature

June 2013. Vol. 44

How Printed Newspapers are Braving the Challenge

BY HAESOL KIM

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f traditional printed newspapers, as many observers forecast, are indeed destined to be doomed, then what strategies are directors of the respective newspaper companies employing in trying to save the printed press? Although some have simply switched to solely investing in their online services and abandoning their printed services, others are switching from traditional methods to the more

digital methods of printing. Put simply, an era of small print runs, highly decentralized printing units and above all, customized papers are likely to follow the current inclination. This is the final resort for printed newspapers who are striving for survival in their desperate fight against the decline of printed newspaper audience. Primarily, a technical explanation is required to explain

how printed newspapers used to be manufactured and distributed before the recent decline of printed newspapers. That is, a vertical model, a method in which productivity is the main metric, was extensively used; in other words, printing presses were measured by the size of newsprint rolls and by the number of copies they deliver. Hence copy numbers were staggering, with the last generation of presses manufacturing up to a mesmerizing 70,000 copies per hour. Such method evidently led to the mass production of newspapers and was revolutionary in the fact that everyone could accessibly read newspapers. Hence newspapers were easily dispersed all around the country, freely and with little limitation or organization. Leftovers were frequently simply binned. On the other hand, after the decline of printed newspapers, the value of each printed paper has increased drastically as they have become something of a rarity. Publishers no longer tolerate even the slightest of misuse or waste of paper and ink. Thus today, papers are printed at regional plants, shipped by truck to distribution hubs, reloaded in small trucks for newsstands or handed over to a home delivery company. A complex logistical chain with many intermediaries and handlers now exist. In their fight for survival, newspaper companies have become aware of their need to become less wasteful, more cost-efficient, more organized and more strategic. Yet despite such efforts, still, an average of 20% to 30% of the output is left unsold and has to be re-handled and re-processed. Therefore understandably, paper manufacturers are locked in a fierce battle to seize the market of short-run digital presses aimed at the newspaper industry. The next generation of newspapers, made possible by these digital presses, are heavily customized almost down to the individual subscriber level. For example: the local paper inserts news and advertisements which is relevant not only to the city, but also to the neighborhood or street block. Individual subscriptions are tailored as well; for example, different advertisements are served for a family with four children and a retiree couple. Then only afterwards, the print run begins. The machine prints indifferently, seamlessly and continuously, copies of the local paper, copies of the business one, copies of the national one, back-to-back, with the exact number

depending on the requirement for each stack of papers for newsstands or home delivery carriers. Titles have different number of pages but all use the same paper size. Each group of customers has its own newspaper data files, even if there is only few dozens of them. Such process substantiates the marketing effort that newspaper companies are inputing in order to obtain and maintain as many customers as possible. At the end of the production chain, stacks of papers tagged with each point of distribution are made available in the order they will be distributed whether it is for newsstands or offices buildings. The home delivery company individually identifies its copies for each subscriber and are sorted according to distribution paths with, again, two households in a same apartment building receving a slightly different paper according to their socio-demographics group. In other words, the local news, health topics and its individualized advertisements can be altered for each individual copy of the paper. Aforementioned, nowadays, companies concentrate on no waste of paper in the printing process, optimized logistics in distribution and reduction in transportation and handling. Moreover, quantities can be adjusted on a short notice and instead of running 6 hours a day like today, digital presses can do many other printing jobs, from leaflets, periodicals and municipal bulletins. On the revenue side, targeted advertising, geographically and demographically, increases its value, offering much better performances in terms yields and measurability.The newspaper industry, for the first time has been customerfocused. This is the most prominent strategy that printed companies are implementing to rescue themselves from decline. They are assiduously segmenting, targeting and marketing their readers with detailed analysis of each region and readers. They now crave to hold on to even one reader, knowing such customer loyalty is their best way to survive. If printed newspapers continue to follow this strategy and hold on to loyal readers, there is a chance that they can continue to survive in the volatile environment of newspaper industry. It is a sound example of how a catastrophe forces cost-efficient strategies, innovation and a new opportunity for those in affliction.

Feature

June 2013. Vol. 44

Newspaper is PAPER!
BY YEUN-IL JEONG
As I was skimming through articles on the web one day searching for interesting things to read about, my eyes stopped to read that Readers Digest, after 91 years of prosperation, has declared bankruptcy earlier this year. As I scrolled down the article, I could not help wondering what the future holds for the printed journalism. The newspaper industry is struggling, so they say. Not only Readers Digest has gone bankrupt, Newsweek is now saying that they will not print. Evidently, the world is in favor of and welcoming the new age of digital newspaper. As a part of the younger generation of readers, I have mixed feelings towards the phenomenon. On one side, I am in favor of digitalized media but on the other, I still have fears about the newly introduced cultural shift for I believe that the phenomenon has yet been properly examined. As a matter of fact, there have been recent concerns regarding the digitalization of newspaper. T h e biggest concern with the new media is about the unbalanced readership. One of the most frequent arguments cast by the advocates of digitalized news is that since now that the readers can actively choose the sort of article they would like to read, it will ultimately finalize the liberation of news readers. As much as it sounds right, I fear that this liberation could cause the modern readers to be more ignorant than ever before. It is currently discussed with concern that the people of today are becoming more and more negligent to current events that relate to certain topics such as politics. (Look at the grave degradation of recent turnouts and you will see.) Sure, making the readers choose to read what they want is liberating but one could fear that this could lead to a more severe condition of the readers only choosing to read what they want to read and neglect reading what is actually worth reading. This is especially important with the younger generation of readers who are not yet likely to have developed such sharp insight regarding this matter.

Another thing that we have to take into consideration is the tangibility of data. Perhaps the biggest perk of digitalized mass media is that it is easier to access and store information. However, that does not indicate that the information is always tangible to us as there are always concerns for the security of data. Printed media means that the materialized newspapers are going to be duplicated into millions of copies but digitalization indicates that there is only one copy of data (If you could call what is up there on the web a copy, that is) that is stored in the database of the newspaper firm. Whether we could rely on that one copy to survive the history of mankind is questionable. What if a web-based newspaper firm declares bankcruptcy? How will their issues live on throughout the future then? Even if Readers Digest goes out of business today, their previous issues will still live on long after the company itself is gone but what about Newsweeks future articles, can we say the same for them? Sometimes I even feel that we are just throwing data up in the air thesedays as there is no guarantee of retrieving it in the future. No one knows what the future holds for the paper media but surely, the history will once again seek balance and compensate between the good of old and new. However, newspaper has the word paper in it for a reason; newspapers ought to be papers. Now is the time to stay vigilant and see what is right for the future of journalism.

Why the internet?

BY HAESOL KIM
myriad of products are becominginternetized . Just look at the range of digital things available to us today. Customizing just one Smartphone, and with very little complications, anything can be carried out from paying house bills to reserving restaurants. In parallel with such trend ofinternetization , it has been some time since printed newspapers have gone into decline themselves - in fact since the internet was first founded, newspaper companies, perceptive to such trends, immediately began to post their articles online. Albeit the initially small number of readers, after the propagation of the internet and the transmission of web surfing, many services, such as banking also became internetized . In turn, readers began to contemplate why not read newspapers online too? With books also becoming readily available online, critics began to argue that it was a rejection of the traditionalcoffee and book/newspaper image, claiming that printed newspapers and book companies would now suffer as a result. In addition, they affirmed that online newspapers were less broad in depth as it eliminated plurious articles that were originally in the printed newspapers. Yet there were substantial benefits branching out from the reading of online newspapers, that the number of

those reading printed newspapers has persisted in decreasing drastically (especially after the advent of Smartphones) in the past few years. Countering pro-prints, online readers argued that it is not important how something is read, but just reading it is good enough. In fact, for them, online newspapers are much more convenient than their printed counterpart; first and foremost, several newspapers are available for reading on the internet. For example, with just a few touches of the finger, one can read multiple articles from different newspapers, allowing readers to compare a broad range of newspapers and thereby acquiring a diverse range of views. There are advantages resulting from hypertext, automated searching and the availability of back numbers too. This means readers can easily search exactly what they want to read without wasting time flipping over a barrage of unwanted printed newspapers. For example, if the reader wants to simply read the entertainment section, they may do so with little difficulty when reading online newspapers. These are just some of the features that readers highly rate about internet newspapers. It is the reason why so many readers have now simply switched to online newspapers, with applications downloaded on their mobiles which permit them to read during their time of transportation. Of course, this

naturally exposes the fact that another major disadvantage of printed newspapers is that it lacks portability. Perhaps most importantly, online newspapers are free of charge. Not that printed newspapers are expensive, yet the general convenience of being able to access it anytime, on the phone or the computer and the troublesome nature of having to pay a few pennies everyday to acquire printed newspapers is enough to persuade readers to solely use the internet for their daily delivery of news. The trend of using the internet will only increase with the further development of technology. Newspapers will continue to use new features to make the service more convenient for online newspaper readers while printed newspapers need a revolution on a mass scale to come out of the current tunnel. In an age of mass digitalization, such development seems very unlikely in the near future.

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CAMPUS NEWS
College of Social Sciences
Since April 17th, the College of Social Sciences has been inviting students to join the UNAOC (United Nations Alliance of Civilizations) EF (Education First) Summer School Program. With a total of 100 slots available, the applications have been on going until May 31st. The results of accepted students will be announced on July 1st. The UNAOC was founded under Kofi Annan, former United Nation Secretary. This is a great program and opportunity for students of the department to explore the various cultures one can experience in such a group with many student of different origins. With the EF in over sixty different countries, the program aims to expose students to globalization and multiculturalism all under the umbrella of education. The program is only a week long, but definitely will be busy and packed with 100 students from all different backgrounds giving all seven days to discuss individual lives and global issues. It will also be held in Tarrytown, NY where the EF campus will be located. Another great opportunity that adds on to this program is the chance to visit the New York United Nations General Assembly Hall.

College of Business Administration

The College of Business Administration will be holding a special mentoring program on June 3rd. It is not going to be an ordinary mentoring program as it is going to include several graduates of the CBA major as the mentors from all different areas of work such. This will be the meeting of undergraduates to alumni, a very rare and opportune occasion. In order to attend this following program, a form must be filled out in advance due to its high demand by students. The alumni and their jobs are listed on the CBA webpage, but to name a few the work field is quite large, varying from politicians, lawyers, consulters, mayors and investors. This is clearly an opportunity not worth missing. Hopefully many students are able to attend and learn new information and knowledge from the success of the CBAs alumni. For more information on downloading the mentoring form to attend the program and the program events, the CBA webpage has it under their notices for upcoming events.

Miscellaneous/College of Natural Sciences

Spring time is already almost over as the semester is rushing to its end. However, SNU never goes straight to summer without its Spring Festival held from May 14th to 16th. Run by the preparation committee, Chukhasa, there were many different booths and events held all around the main field in front of the student center and the library. Indeed it was a most festive three days with many different organizations working within. One of which, SISA (SNU International Students Association), had different food booths from all over the world known as their International Food Festival. Not only were the booths a great hit, but the events that took place when the sun went down were even more amazing. The last night, Thursday, SNU was entertained by Kpop rap group, Supreme Team. Besides all of the Spring Festival festivities, the College of Natural Sciences held their own mini festival that had a giant slide, trampolines, karaoke and mini booths. The month of May was not just a goodbye to the spring, but a massive Hello to summer 2013!

SISA news
SISA (SNU International Students Association) has been particularly active in the recent months. With the completion of Campus Games SNU (The Conquest) which saw participants involve in Indiana Jones like adventure game inside the campus and compete for the hidden treasure, the SISA Cup, the organization has also managed to organize the International Food Festival (IFF) in some style. With over ten different nations offering a taste of their native cuisine from May 14 to 16, it was an event that drew a lot of attention. Finally, the Andong Cultural Trip from May 24 to 25 marked an end to what was a very eventful month for the SISA faithful.

BY DIANA DAHYUN CHO

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Vaccine for Global Health

BY YOUNGMIN SON, YEUN-IL JEONG
While boasting its majesty of modern architectural beauty, the International Vaccine Institutes (IVI) headquarters building stands at the foremost part of the SNU Research Park just near the SNU rear gate. With its title holding exceptional grandeur, IVI is one of the more special organizations that collaborate with SNU. One could easily guess through the name that the institute is associated with affairs regarding vaccines. But what is it that they actually do? As far as the students of SNU are concerned, there has been speculation about the mysterious building with sayings such as, maybe they are developing vaccines, or maybe they are focusing on spreading vaccines worldwide? The name International Vaccine Institute might give out the impression of an enclosed high-tech facility equipped at the highest biosafety level; and accommodating researchers in biohazard suits, studying highly infectious microorganisms. Although this may be true, IVI is not a corporation that makes revenue from vaccines. IVI was established 15 years ago at the initiative of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) with the mandate to develop and introduce vaccines specifically for children in developing countries. Six Asian countries submitted proposals in response to calls for nations to host an international research facility that deals exclusively with the matter of vaccines for the developing world. It was a very competitive bid, but in 1994 South Korea was designated to be the host country for IVI. Soon after this decision, an interim office opened on the grounds of Seoul National University. UNDP and South Korea conjointly worked on establishing IVIs framework and agreement. The establishment agreement was signed at UNDP in New York in 1996 and thus, IVI was born. Despite the popular misconception of the IVI as an organization that makes and sells vaccines, the role of the institute is a sheer compound of

The International Vaccine Institute, just around the corner of SNU campus.

complexity. For one thing, IVI is not a commercial organization that aspires to generate revenue through developing vaccines for popular diseases. Rather, as IVIs mission statement states, it aspires to discover, develop, and deliver safe, effective, and affordable vaccines for the developing world. In short, what IVI does is fill in the gaps by developing vaccines for diseases that are overlooked by commercial pharmaceutical companies due to lack of economic interest. These are the diseases that no longer pain the developed world but remain a threat in the developing world. IVI is currently focused on diarrheal diseases such as cholera and typhoid. Their latest achievement was a vaccine for cholera that was approved by the World Health Organization (WHO) and is in use by organizations such as Doctors Without Borders and Partners in Health throughout Africa, Haiti, and South Asia. The vaccine research and development, however, is merely a part of what IVI does. It not only transfers the technique to vaccine manufacturers in developing countries, but also works with local partners to proceed clinical trials in order to make sure that the vaccine is safe and effective. IVI also works with partners to make sure the vaccine receives the necessary licensures and approvals (including prequalification by the WHO) to distribute the vaccine to far corners of developing countries. However simple this may sound, this particular part of IVIs work consists of consecutive procedures from clinical trials to generating evidence. During a clinical trial, IVI staff work with the government authorities to ensure that the method of conducting such a trial is ethical and in compliance with the local laws. Generating evidence is a more complicated task that involves organizing statistics and composing evidence on a countrys potential welfare status by fighting off the disease. The benefits of thisa are not only limited to the economy but also the overall national image. A country with high infant motality rate on a preventable disease such as cholera and typhoid only confirms a countrys low welfare . Once the vaccine is approved for production, the IVI provides the vaccine for free to the manufacturers in return for inexpensive. This way, the IVI can ensure that the vaccine will be affordable for the developing countries. IVI is no ordinary institute, as it is the only standing international institute dedicated to the development and distribution of vaccines for third world countries. The influence of IVI continues to expand with the generous support from South Korea, Sweden, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation; allowing IVI to develop multiple programs in countries such as Brazil, Ethiopia, Ghana, Sudan, India, Nepal, and North Korea. The IVI currently has signatories with WHO and thirty-five countries. Even Bill

Gates acknowledged the significant role of IVI in his blog saying, South Koreas leadership on aid is crucial in areas like health and agriculture, where they received assistance for years and now have built up a lot of expertise. For example, the International Vaccine Institute in Seoul is one of the strongest vaccine institutes in the region. I met with the IVIs leaders and heard about their plans to help research centers in other countries build up their capacity. Thats part of the virtuous cycle of development assistance: as a country makes progress, they pass the benefits on to their neighbors. For those living in a less fortunate environment, asingle vial of vaccine is a matter of life and death. The developing world struggles to keep their children alive from preventable diseases. The IVI feels that the vaccine per se is an effective intervention in terms of protecting the health of the people living in countries where health care system, sanitation, and hygiene cannot be provided regularly by the government. Ms. Deborah Hong, the Head of Communications and Advocacy of IVI says, in order for those people to be free of these diseases (such as cholera and typhoid), it is necessary that general infrastructure be improved so that they could obtain better sanitation and clean water. It is for this reason that the people at IVI not only focus on developing vaccines but also aspire to raise public awareness on the malaise of the situation of the developing countries. Today, with IVIs growing interest on public affairs and raising awareness, the IVI has opend up internship opportunities for SNU students in their communications sector through the SNU career development center. We want to break the mystery of IVI as an organization that does something with vaccine research, says Ms. Hong. We are also about reaching out to the world, letting people know about what we do--inspiring people to believe in what we do. The IVI, one of the most prestigious organizations in the world is just around the corner, searching for motivated people with inspirational talents. If you are interested in contributing to the world, do not hesitate to visit the IVI. Your small step to the IVI can be a big step for the world. (For more information about the internship opportunity at IVI, refer to career.snu.ac.kr).

Ms. Deborah Hong, the Head of Communications and Advocacy of IVI welcomes SNU students.

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focus to be solved instantly with the introduction of CLS would be unrealistic.

SNU Liberal Studies amidst the Turmoil

BY JUNGHYUN BAEK

Professor Han Kyung-Koo, Dean of CLS

n March, Yonsei University announced that it would close its Open Major program and make a new major called Global Convergence. Hankuk University of Foreign Studies also made its decision to close their Open Major program and to open a new program, Language & Diplomacy. As suggested by its name, Open Major programs at various universities allow students freedom to choose their major with little restriction. Most of the universities that have established law schools and been forced to close their undergraduate law programs, opened Open Major programs instead in 2009. However, the sudden announcements for discontinuance of such programs at many of the universities have brought about a chaos among the students. In 2009, Seoul National University

(SNU) also established a law school and had to close its undergraduate programs at the College of Law. Absorbing the quota set for the College of Law, SNU opened the College of Liberal Studies (CLS). It is quite similar with other universities Open Major programs on one hand, yet very different on the other, as suggested by its distinct name, Liberal Studies. After the abolishment of Open Major programs at many of the universities, the future of the SNU Liberal Studies was at the center of attention among many of SNU students. Long story short, it seems that the College of Liberal Studies is not going to face a sudden abrogation. Many who argue that the Liberal Studies program is unsuccessful, point out that majority of the students enrolled in CLS end up majoring in the

already existing degree subjects, especially Economics or Business Administration. Indeed, the data provided by the CLS official webpage shows that 334 out of 851 students opted to major in either Economics or Business. The biggest reason behind such a phenomenon is probably a realistic one. Danny Youm (CLS, 10), who is majoring in Business Administration, suggests that many students feel that if they do not have at least one major in Economics or Business Administration, it will be harder for them to get job once they graduate, though he doesnt agree with the idea. Professor Han Kyung-Koo, the recently appointed dean of CLS, admits that heavy leaning toward some majors was expected, considering the reality of South Korea. He adds that expecting such

It should be noted, however, that leaning toward economics or Business Administration is not just for CLS. In fact, finding someone from other departments who choose to doublemajor in Economics or Business Administration does not require much effort. Yang Soyun (CLS, 10) points out that as most CLS students choose two majors, a CLS student majoring in Economics or Business Administration is the same with someone choosing such fields as a doublemajor. Inconsideration of this point has led many media to ill-report the statistics of CLS. Professor Han asserts that in the case of SNU CLS, leaning toward some majors is not that severe compared to other universities. Also, it is being alleviated as time goes by. One of the biggest differences between other universities Open Major programs and SNUs Liberal Studies is that SNU CLS allows its students to design their own majors. Only 40 out of 851 students, however, have chosen to do so. By looking at usual high school students in South Korea, the question over the small number of students choosing to design a major can be solved. Sang Oh Kim (CLS, 12) says that CLS students can

be roughly categorized into two groups, one, those who applied for the possibility of exploring different majors and two, those who applied for the Individual Course Design scheme. Since a typical Korean high school student rarely gets a chance to think about different majors in universities, it seems quite obvious that many who apply to CLS are in the first category. For the people who were initially interested in the Individual Course Design scheme, hardships arise. Sang Oh Kim points out finding an advisor, scarcity of related classes, and a concern for having an unconventional major as some of the difficulties in designing a new major. Yang Soyun adds that having to study alone without peer support in the same major is also a problem. It is noteworthy that it is not the scarcity of information or help from the faculty that is hindering the students from pursuing Individual Course Design. Sumin Kim (CLS, 10) mentions that the information on student-designed majors is clear and easily available. In any case, the department office is always helpful in answering any extra questions you have. She adds that there are Individual Course Design courses, Major Fairs, and Mentor-Mentee programs. All the students who have been interviewed for the article seem to be very satisfied with CLS. Sumin Kim thinks CLS is very open to considering the problems that student experience with its systems and revision if necessary. Indeed, the issues and difficulties faced with many of the early students in CLS has been considered and many were adjusted. Yang Soyun says that making too many liberal education subjects a requirement made it difficult to

develop the basics for my major. For the students admitted in later years, however, such problems have been fixed and the required liberal education subjects are much less than before. The motto of CLS is to foster leaders who can contribute to humanity by developing comprehensive thinking and problem solving skills, through the enforcement of broad and deep general education, and the completion of the curriculum designed for students aptitude. To achieve the goal, CLS requires students to take Volunteer Social Service before graduation, which is quite rare in other SNU departments. Also, by requiring students to take liberal education classes in various subject areas and by socializing with CLS students with umpteen majors, CLS students are developing their broad and in-depth knowledge. Professor Han believes that CLS has gone through a cycle with four years history and a few graduates. He plans to look back at its past, evaluate its accomplishments and endeavors, and to strive for growth and advances of CLS.

College of Liberal Studies, Located on the Third Floor of Building 220

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Gathering Together for a Worthy Cause

Why search so far for ways to contribute when there are social issues here in the university? - Dokyung Ko, Gachimoa project manager
BY BORA LEE

Hoofers in SNU
BY DIANA CHO

The Dongari Life:

n the corner of the first floor of Gwanaksa dormitory 918, blue boxes filled with clothes and books are lined up against the wall. On the wall there is a poster adorned with the drawing of a basket that reads, Your action makes a better world. The boxes, called Value Baskets and the poster are all part of the project Gachimoa, known in English as Gather Together. Gachimoa is a joint effort by Seoul National University Enactus, a business dongari, and the Gwanaksa Dormitory Student Council that collects used clothes and

books from residents of the dormitory and sells them at a low price. Every Wednesday, the donated items that have been cleaned and washed are sold in front of Cafe Gran in Gwanaksa. The average price is 4000 won. Clothes that are not bought are then donated to Otcan, a non-profit organization that delivers clothes to people in developing countries. Another interesting feature of the project is that every step of it is recorded and displayed on its Facebook page as a promise for transparency. The Gachimoa project originated from the simple observation that many clothes and books are gone to waste in the beginning of the year when the dormitories are emptied out. From this small observation, a project that brings together volunteers from every corner of SNU and that contributes to the recycling of materials was born. As a celebration of this, the profit of the project is used in support of future Gachimoas. On the side, the Enactus team operates Gachi Idea Moa which is a contest that receives ideas for social contribution. For worthy ideas that can make a difference, the money made from sales is given so that the idea can be made into reality.

O
However the bigger objective goes beyond a mere short-term student project. Gachimoa attempts to become a testimony that difference can be made within the boundaries of a university, that there is no need to travel to find ways to contribute. Small observations made in ones own environment can lead to small changes that with time become a movement. A movement - that is the final touchline. The Enactus team does not expect the Gachimoa project to end after a few months or years. Rather, after laying the foundations, it plans to make a dongari within Gwanaksa that can continue the work even after the Enactus team moves out. It will be the dongari s task to see the project become established as a tradition in the dormitory. It is just the beginning. The words Your action makes a better world doesnt sound so hollow or cliched now.

n Tuesday, May 14th, the open area in front of the student center was crowded by many spectators for two specific reasons. First, our schools Spring Festival officially started and many students came around to see all the food and drinks being sold along with the fun and games that were available. Second, there was a surprise flash mob for all to see. Many of the spectators were extremely curious as to what large group of people came together out of nowhere dancing and spicing up the festive atmosphere with the tunes to Koreas Kpop pride, Psys newest hit song, Gentleman.

This group of dancers were all from the student dongari known as Hoofers in Seoul National University or simply H.I.S. for short. It is the only street dancing dongari available at SNU and consists of several dance genres ranging from hip hop, girls hip hop, breaking, locking, popping, waacking, krumping and house. Consisting of an average of two hundred new applicants a year, the dongari has clearly made its mark within the SNU society through its quantity and of course, quality. Being a prominent dance dongari, it has not only succeeded in achieving popularity within the school, but has branched out to joining in on collaborations

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Students enjoying the food and weather during the SNU 2013 Spring Festival

with other street dancing dongaris all over Koreas universities. As it is connected with the main collaboration organization called the UDC (University Dance Community) for street dancing university dongaris, many students are able to be exposed to the culture of street dancing and also meet many different people with different backgrounds from the various universities- all under one purpose. Sunghoon Choi (Dept. of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering 12), the current president of H.I.S., had much to say about the dongari. He personally stated that any member in any dongari would feel, just as he certainly feels towards H.I.S., the enthusiasm of doing a profound passion towards, in this case- dancing. He reasons this to be because it is doing something you love with other people who enjoy it as much as you do. What he also said was that street dancing itself is not a very common interest people have, so it is in fact rare, but because it is rare, the few who do enjoy it, enjoy it very much and become quite a tight family together. An important aspect of H.I.S. is that it is not solely the dance that is performed on stage that matters. Indeed, dancing is meant to be shown off as a talent, but H.I.S. spreads in many other ways as a means of service and simply to bask in the family-like atmosphere the team has as a whole. In relation to the wider atmosphere H.I.S. exposes its members too. This past April an outside and off-campus activity known as the Union, another street dancing collaboration, was held. As a member myself, I genuinely experienced a broader perspective towards street dancing and was able to see the tight relationship other dance teams had amongst themselves. It was really a new type of experience and it was a great way to see show and tell all of our talents. As Sunghoon Choi is the current president, through collaborations, leaders of all the street dance dongari are privileged to meet each other as well from different universities and discuss matters concerning each of their teams. He explained that it also expands leadership horizons along with meeting other leaders in order to discuss upcoming collaborations and happenings. Also, like any dongari H.I.S. doesnt just dance, but has a set of specific rules and regulations in order to maintain

stability. Being a larger dongari in comparison to other dongaris within SNU, it has a very concrete system in which the leading generation as wed call it, all have a specific responsibility to follow. It takes a lot of work to keep the group organized, but its all under good will when the group comes together. The hard work always tends to have a great outcome especially during the performances and shows. As an entertainment group, H.I.S. participates in the freshman camp held in February in order to welcome incoming SNU freshmen and participates in other activities the school often asks to help out in. Sunghoon also said that anyone who enjoys dancing or even has the slightest of interest in street dancing or what not, may start off dancing alone, but this never adds up to the delight of dancing within a designated group. H.I.S. is where he found his place of refuge in the midst of all the dancers alike, and is what inspires him to continue on. Many say that when entering university in Korea, there are three points that must be achieved to determine success as a student: establishing a relationship, getting decent grades and accomplishing ones self in a dongari. Like Sunghoon states, there are many places of refuge within the dongari of SNU just as he had found his in H.I.S., only one of the several. It is our job as students to find the right one and immerse ourselves into the active communities of dongari life.

Ever Get Tired of Youthhood? A Look into SNU 2013 Spring Festival
BY EUN HUR

T
The H.I.S. family gathered together after their show in November 2012.

he Spring Festival is definitely the event all SNU students look forward to during the school semester amidst the class assignments, extra-curricular activities and work. With the title marked as Ever Get Tired of Youthhood? the SNU 2013 Spring Festival (opened from May 14th to 16th) was organized to not only provide a festive environment for the campus students,

but also question the various burdens and responsibilities our youth beholds and offer an opportunity to relieve the strains associated to our bound problems. As it can be noticed in the Festival Committees letter in the newly introduced festival magazine, the motto of this years Spring Festival was taken a considerable drive from SNU professor Nan Do Kims self-

development book Youth Hurts. Published in 2011 by SNUs College of Life Sciences consumer department professor, the book took off with great popularity reaching 1 million sales. The supportive messages towards the young adults in their 20s that seemed to appease the various difficulties they inevitably embark on had earned great social agreement and inspired many readers. It is also easy to say that the

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The Fun and Ugly : Campus Fair

BY CELINE JEONG HYEON MOON
This year SNUs Spring Festival was executed under the title Ever Get Tired of Youthhood? Many students gather around the stage before celebrity guest Supreme Teams performance on the finale night of the festival.

book initiated the trend of mentoring in Korea. Now that 2 years have passed since the numerous accolades the book has received, Youth Hurts is beginning to receive criticisms as well. The criticisms, which is taking a surprising exponential rate, is not confined to Kims book, but rather to the national discourse of understanding the hardships the particular demographical sector is experiencing. Compared to the previous generation who tended to disapprove the youth as a problem-child, Kims perception is rather prospective. Critics state however, that by default, the mistakes and problems that are inevitable at any stage of life is merely delineated by the trend that they call, Theory of Youth. Furthermore, instead of actively searching for a method to overcome the obstacles-a proper solution- the trend brings about a side effect that obscures the nature of the problems youth face. According to the Theory of Youth, every problem tends to be replaced by personal or emotional issues of the young individuals themselves, portraying the evidence to how society has yet to discover the essence of the sufferings of young people. In accordance to the newly themed Spring Festival, more students participated in the festival even during the daylight. One event that could not be missed in this years festival was the Necessity to be Shaken 1000 Times to be an Adult. The current trend of youth mentors and self-development books (SNU professor Nan Do Kims Youth Hurts being a primary exemplar) almost always mention or emphasize the need to be hurt, face obstacles, and be shaken. Taking a jab at this current discourse- which is also the title of Kims sequel book released last year- the Spring Festival opened an event in which participators were lended pedometers to

attach to their clothing. Those who reached exactly a 1000 steps after spending time in a restrained area were granted a semester scholarship. Other than this sharp message towards the students, the diverse events held during the festival was largely similar to the ones presented previously. The International Food Festival by the SISA, various outdoor games, and the trampoline were maintained once again to the students delight. Moreover, 12 student campus clubs, also known as dongari, including dance dongari Honddoni, Let Me Start, GoAheaD, Jasmine, Spin and Morphine, performed during the last days closing ceremony. An outdoor karaoke event was held in the middle of the central lawn where a singer who receives a perfect score earned promotion tickets to restaurants, adding on to the excitement of the festival. The sole celebrity guest invited to this years Spring Festival was the male hip-hop duo Supreme Team consisting of members Simon-D and E-Sens. Even with the minimal number of celebrity guests performing on campus stage (SNU festivals previously invited at least one celebrity per day of the 3-day-long festival), numerous SNU students and fans of the duo attended the finale, finishing the festive 3 days in the most youthful, energetic and vibrant manner. The SNU 2013 Spring Festival Ever Get Tired of Youthhood? attempts to leave the Theory of Youth behind and questions why youth in the 20s is perceived to be a stage filled with complete agony, while leaving the responsibilities of society unresolved. What this eventually succeeded to express was the simple message: everyone, whether currently confined by society or not, needs to escape from their pain and difficulties, and enjoy the fun that is always out there.

s the cool breeze starts to heat up, there goes the bucket list for the upcoming summer, starting from May: going for a hard core diet for the summer, watching movies with lovers, planning for a trip to Europe during the break. It is extremely exciting just to think about the list. However, if you are a college student, one of the lists has to be holding a jangteo, the campus fair, (often called joojeom in other schools). With the white cotton tents spread all around the central space inside the campus, students from each major set out the food and prepare different kinds of exciting game for all to enjoy. Starting from May and until the first one or two weeks of June, the festive events go on. Primary locations for the fair include Jahayeon (in front of the Building 73), in front of the central info systems and technology building

(Building 102), the Haebangteo (space among the Humanities buildings), and so forth. The campus fair started establishing itself as one of the major student activities on campus in the 80s essentially to provide financial support for the social movements for democracy back in the early days. It was from the 90s that it started to become a huge part of campus life, selling all sorts of things, including food and Korean alcohols. The profits are now mostly used to run various activities of each major. Campus fair is also held to tighten up the bonding between the members of the majors, as well as the rest of SNU students, or to raise fund for donations. For each fair, each major usually earns about 700 dollar-profits, some managing to profit up to 2000 dollars. Held every semester for such purposes, campus fair is not

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The Campus Fair : by the international students at SNU

The Campus Fair : by the student body majors of SNU

always welcomed by everyone. Many say that it has become degenerated. First off, it creates too much mess and noise. Some of the staff who manage campus sanitary complain that students often skip the cleaning-up part after they hold the fair and leave the mess behind. Many of the students who use the main library and a lot of the graduate students also grumble about how noisy the fairs can get. Others carp that the alcohol bottles lay around all over the campus. They also complain that those who drink alcohols during the fair vomit at campus corners during the daytime, which is quite an unpleasant scene to witness. Also, it bothers those who are not so much interested in the fairs. There are heaps of things to be taken care of to hold a single fair: getting the permission from the school dean for alcohol sale on campus, ordering the food and other preps, carrying them, organizing them, cooking and so forth included. Because it is an event held by each The ugly side of campus fair - the messy major as a group, even scenes even during the day

those who do not wish to be included are given certain task to be responsible for. Moreover, the school fair makes it tough for the effective postal work. There are large amounts of posts delivered and sent, into and out from the campus everyday, including TEPS-related materials, that have to be carried right to the front of the campus post office by trucks. However, because the school fair tents are blocking all the paths, the trucks go through a hard time getting to the office. In addition, professors are full of complaints about how students often miss classes because of the school fair. Students are busy either getting ready for or standing at the tent or visiting different fairs to enjoy the vibe. Such high energy and elevated atmosphere make students want to stay outside under the great weather with friends, instead of going to classes. Many of the students interviewed (who shall stay anonymous) themselves admit that school fairs do encourage them to skip classes. It is highly joyous for students to open up their fairs and create the friendly atmosphere. The money has good uses as well, so the fair might as well continue to exist. However, it shall be of great importance to remember that the campus fair does create some disturbances to others in big and small ways. Just a little bit of caution and a bit of consideration for others will certainly be a huge help to keeping the school fair stay enjoyable and toleable.

GPA Sniping in Foreign Language Courses- Chinese

BY KYEONGHWAN KIM

hen one sees a course named Elementary, one would probably imagine the course to be basic in content, and the students of the class to not be proficient in the subject. However, this was not the case for Lee Soo In (Dept. of Chinese Language and Literature 09) when she took her Elementary Chinese 1 class. She was surprised to realize that out of 20 students in the class, only 5 were beginners and others were already quite fluent. This is not a unique case that happened only in her class. It happens in almost all low-level language courses. Many students take courses that are below their actual level. The problem with this is that because grades are given on a relative scale, the proficient ones take all the good grades and the real beginners, who take the class that correspond to their level, end up with low marks. Because grades are so important these days, the fear of getting a low grade makes it hard for students to start learning a new language, and it fails the schools purpose of providing a variety of elementary language courses. Due to the increase of pre-learners such as foreign language high school graduates or international students, and the growing tendency for students to get good

grades at whatever costs, this problem is getting more and more serious. Unlike English where students get assigned to courses according to their TEPS scores, there is no concrete restriction on taking elementary courses for other foreign language courses except for a note saying not recommended for high level speakers in the syllabus. As Chinese is currently the second most prominent foreign language in SNU, interviews were done on a normal undergraduate student, a professor and a foreign language high school graduate who are all related to elementary Chinese courses. When I found out that there were so many fluent speakers in the elementary course I was angry, says Lee Soo In when asked how she felt in her Elementary Chinese 1 course. She recalls that as time went by more and more students revealed their true abilities. It isnt easy to distinguish experts from beginners in the start because the class material is too easy to judge upon and sometimes competent speakers intentionally hide their capabilities. Out of five beginners four dropped out and only one stayed until the end. Although she was not a total beginner, as she only had little knowledge of Chinese she also considered

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Lee Soo In, Department of Chinese Language and Literature 09

dropping the course several times. What made her more frustrated was the attitude of the lecturer. Rather than appreciating beginners on their improvements, the lecturer simply praised the high level speakers for their competence. She says that in this environment even if she tries her best it is impossible to get good grades. She was an eager student determined to take all the language courses in school but a series of these incidents have made her lose this enthusiasm. She stresses that this problem is violating the students right to learn. In the long run, the most important thing would be to change the grade-oriented attitudes of students but at the same time systematic measures should be taken first to ensure students with right to learn. Professor Lee Mi Kyung (Dept. of Liberal Education) has been teaching Chinese at SNU for years. She asserts that it is not moral for high level speakers to take elementary courses for the purpose of getting easy As.

Her explanation is that although some of the pre-learners do need to look back on elementary stuff, most take the easy courses just to get good grades. These students come to class pretending to be bad. This not only makes it hard to lecture but also harms other students. This cannot be justified, she emphasizes. When asked if the Chinese Literature department will take any action towards the issue, she declined, Although this matter comes up in every seminar we have, its not a problem that can be handled in a department level. The school has to step in. Some school level measures she suggested include making it mandatory for foreign language high school graduates or international students to start from intermediate courses, and assigning students according to their test scores of SNULT (school provided language test) just like English courses do. She urged that the current situation of lecturers trying to do something individually is not enough so the school should look into this problem and come up with a solution. How would the accused think about this problem? Choi Jong Sung (Dept. of Geography Education 12) is a Daewon Foreign Language High school graduate (Chinese major) who took Elementary Chinese 1 course last year. He frankly admitted that he took the course in order to get an A+. Grades are too important these days to miss this kind of chances. When asked if it does not seem unfair, he countered Why is it wrong to take a course that you are good at? No one blames a good mathematician for taking a math course right? He also

pointed out that the class material for elementary courses actually are elementary, just like its name, and beginners are not at a disadvantage in terms of the course material. It would be problematic if the courses are set to suit the level of proficient students but its not. The teaching and testing are all done on the basis of elementary stuff. Solving the problem of GPA Sniping by proficient speakers is not easy. It is hard to distinguish whether their purpose really is sniping and even if it is, whether it is right to restrict them from taking elementary courses. Furthermore, if an action is taken in language courses should other areas such as math implement the same measure? Complex as it is, numerous suggestions arise but none seems to satisfy everyone and until now nothing is being done. The need to solve this grave problem just keeps on growing as more and more students suffer, but so far no one seems to have a solution.

SNU Library Statistics and Future Plans

BY BAE SEUNG HOON

Choi Jong Sung, Daewon Foreign Language High School graduate, Department of Geography Education 12

eoul National University is known for intellectualism, reason, and cadre of elite students that take part in society. However, intelligence seems questionable these days when the average student is seen with smart phones rather than textbooks. While it can be argued that the study session has remained constant throughout last ten years digitalized reformation of social interaction has done little to help the diminishing paperbacks and hardcovers all the same. It is not simple to derive fault as mere students stubborn refusal to read, as many factors are part of this tendency. This article was published with the permission and data courtesy to SNU central library database team. Based on the statistics available on library.snu.ac.kr, the top twenty search words from 2008 to 2012 has not changed much. One exception is that in a longer term search engine was used for examining other online service rather than simple novels or classics. As many of the search engine platforms are outdated softwares it

comes as no surprise that enter search word comes as sixth highest in the six year period. 2010 search words demonstrate that KISS was the most used function on the search engine. Otherwise, RISS was an alternative for students to use on the quickest thesis. Alain de Bottons name was noticable as his fame as author of Essays in love and Status anxiety were often mentioned in interviews with major media firms. TOEIC was mentioned as the last part of the search word, related to the spec that students strive to aschieve for improving chance at job market. Most of the books on the highest read books in 2008 are fictions, ranging from latest to more than a decade old. There is a notable lack of classics, which is not surprising as majority of fictions were composed of fantasy, muhyeopji (Chinese style martial arts fantasy), or romance. Another point is the lack of nonfiction books in fields of philosophy, history, or other genre of nonfiction. Students have rarely used these books as they were deemed as unnecessary aside from relaxing the

mind or studying for specs (a Korean term for specifics, or notable achievements outside of academic fields). Finally, on the most borrowed book list of 2013 Guns, germs and steel was still on the top three. Other books from the past have been continuously burrowed compared to 2008. In a sense SNU students were catching up with the trend and recommended books with famed authors introduced in the media. On the other hand it may be that students just dont burrow other books aside from those recommended by the library board. Roman history by Shiono Nanami and South Han castle by Kim Hoon was still visible on the top twenty, as were many fictions and light reads such as The girl who leapt through time Yasutaka Tsutsui. With much of top twenty best reads with repeated names, it may be suggested that books from library are not often circulated. Despite all of these negative connotations in the declining library resource usage, many students still visit library for different reasons.

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Although the average hour of study room use per day, month, or year is currently unavailable as the system for measuring statistics was implemented only last year, the total user a day is nearly ten thousand. Jo Jin Young of Marketing and planning department has stated, About 3.7 million students and professors alike use this place. With more than 3 million prints and eighty thousand types of subscriptions available, it can be safely said that students are still active in library despite digitalized database that can be searched from domestic environments. We try to keep up to date by following the trend while being backed by traditional means. So far we have been receiving increased funding from last years 11.5 million won to 12.9 million won, but we aim to do more than just increase support; the library administration has so far collected 65 million won out of needed 100 million to extend the building. The aim of library expansion is to improve the function of it on a larger scale. The main goal is to establish Information Commons with nearby construction so that user based environment in the library is instituted while also attracting students to use traditional resources. For instance, study room seats will be increased from 3354 to over 5000 to accommodate larger numbers of students. Research and education as it should, will be the founding idea for this development, followed by cooperative movement in the co-op learning center. Most of all, it will provide a basis for a larger number of students reading in and out of campus. To our dear students: please take care of the library resources for other peoples use as well. This goes for serach engine computers as well, not just books. Keep the deadline as much as possible. Please visit our website for more information before inquiry;

Search word
No 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 Search word Kiss Justice 1q84 Endnote Com DBPIA Falsehood Higashino, Keigo, 1958Contact Miyabe, Miyuki, 1960Onda, Riku, 1964Jstor RISS SPSS Pubmed Alain de Botton Nature Science Kiss TOEIC Hits Pecentage 6,218 11 .9(%) 5,902 11 .3(%) 4,639 8 .8(%) 4,470 8 .5(%) 3,888 7 .4(%) 2,799 5 .3(%) 2,499 4 .7(%) 1,952 3 .7(%) 1,921 3 .6(%) 1,874 3 .5(%) 1,858 3 .5(%) 1,787 3 .4(%) 1,687 3 .2(%) 1,635 3 .1(%) 1,585 3 .0(%) 1,569 3 .0(%) 1,558 2 .9(%) 1,448 2 .7(%) 1,447 2 .7(%) 1,439 2 .7(%)

Popular Search terms

No 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 Search word Kiss Endnote Com .net DBPIA Please insert search word. Higashino, Keigo, 1958Miyabe, Miyuki, 1960Onda, Riku, 19641q84 Falsehood Jstor Education Justice Nature Solar Science Txt Impulsive differential equations Alain d Botton Hits Pecentage 18,323 11 .7(%) 11,862 7 .6(%) 9,268 5 .9(%) 9,213 5 .9(%) 8,904 5 .7(%) 8,399 5 .4(%) 8,063 5 .1(%) 7,813 5 .0(%) 7,785 5 .0(%) 7,536 4 .8(%) 7,432 4 .7(%) 6,004 3 .8(%) 5,984 3 .8(%) 5,919 3 .8(%) 5,804 3 .7(%) 5,653 3 .6(%) 5,622 3 .6(%) 5,547 3 .5(%) 5,409 3 .4(%) 4,972 3 .1(%)

Statistics on the most popularl searched key terms and search words on the SNU library database website.

many sections are recorded with great detail, so if you possess interest it can definitely be helpful. What we still have is the largest storage of literature and service areas of various choices, from literature to philosophy, with much student support in acquisition of new materials and ease of database access. We keep in touch with our clients by maintaining a channel of communication of SNS and have a 24hour return system. We hope that students will be more active in the expansion of library in the future and continue visiting just as much, said Ms.Jo. Its understandable that people do not read much these days with such various forms of entertainment and easily accessible information. Nevertheless, text based medium is still relevant in this day and age as it stimulates the cognitive function by forcing people to imagine the sequences solitarily. Not only does the

mind improve, but with the knowledge and confidence gained books also do make people more sociable and likeable. Perhaps with the expansion of library with much larger number of reserve papers and cooperative models of class, students will once again return to library to enjoy and educate themselves to become better people.

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today it carries the tradition as it used to in the early days, of making and hanging lanterns as a symbol of offering light and wisdom to this world where it is full of suffering and darkness. This year the festival starts off at Bongeunsa Temple on 11th of May, with lantern exhibition, followed by song and dance filled "Opening Ceremony" parade next day. The streets flow with people wearing Korean traditional costume, hanbok, holding colorful lanterns. There are booths where you can get a firsthand glimpse into the rich culture of Buddhism, trying on Korean traditional costume, watching Korean marriage ceremony or even get an experience of making your very own lantern from the Korean traditional paper 'hanji'. It has significant meaning of enlightening your way to your next life and bringing light to the dark world full of flaws. The main most exciting event is the Eouilim Madang parade that starts at dusk, from Dongguk University to Dongdaemun History and Culture Park through Jong-ro street to Jogyesa temple. Seoul streets are brought to life with the people carrying the lights of the thousands of lantern with the shapes of lotus, dragons, phoenixes and fruits. It is an enchanted sight. You can even join in by buying a lotus lantern from the street sellers and enjoy yourself with the crowd. The parade ends with the finale show, at

June 2013. Vol. 44

Lotus Lantern Festival

BY TSELMEG CHULUUNBAATAR
The birthday of Buddha, the day Prince Siddhartha Gautama was born, is widely celebrated in East Asian countries, on the 8th day of the 4th month according to the lunisolar calendar. This day falls around the beginning of May in the Gregorian calendar, the modern system that we use everyday. The day is a public holiday in Macau, Hong Kong and South Korea. Although each country has its own way of celebrating, Korea has its own unique way of commemorating the holiday. Buddhism was brought to Korea sixteen centuries ago, and is still practiced greatly. During the Chosun Dynasty it was initially the state religion but was replaced by Confucianism with its introduction from China, then at some point Buddhism was not allowed to be practiced. Because of this, the monasteries and monks moved to the mountains and remote areas. However, there are many of those existing in and outside the city now. Jogyesa temple near Insadong is home to the largest Buddhist sect in Seoul and is the focal point of the annual week-long festival. Religious ceremonies and cultural performances are performed on the third day of the

celebration, around the area. More than hundred-thousands of colorful lanterns have been hung around the streets of Seoul to celebrate the 2557th birthday of Buddha this year. Yeon-Deung Hoe or, known as the Lotus Lantern Festival, has continued from the Goryeo dynasty era to mark the day when Buddhism reached its zenith. However, even

the Jonggak intersection. Hoehyang Hanmadang, the post parade celebration is a Buddhist artist that entertains the audience. The last day of the celebration, 17th of May, the actual day of Buddhas birthday, is closed off with Buddhas Birthday Dharma Ceremony and lantern lighting at Jogyesa and all temples nationwide. The hundreds of lanterns hanging in lines form a sky full of beautiful colors and lights. It is an extraordinary sight despite the bustling crowd around the area. Locals gather to hang their family members names for the good and enlightening fortune for upcomings. Cheonggyecheon stream which runs through the heart of Seoul, is also a must go. There will be lantern exhibition that will continue longer than the festival. If you are lucky, there will be street artists performing, making the atmosphere relaxing for those enjoying their time with families and friends. The lanterns with shape of humans and lotus will shine the stream for you will make a spectacular view which combines effortlessly with the tall modern buildings around. It is a great opportunity that sheds light onto one of the historic and cultural identity of Korea and Buddhism all combined. If you missed the festival this year, make sure to stick around in Seoul next year for the marvelous celebration. You can get more information on www.llf.or.kr

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June 2013. Vol. 44

The Golden Landmark of Seoul

63 Building and the Big 3 Package Deal
BY REGINA HYUN JUNG LEE

Once the tallest building in South Korea, the 63 Building is a sixty-three story (249m / 817ft) high skyscraper situated in Yeouido, Seoul which overlooks the beautiful Han River and the mountains of Bukaksan, Namsan and Gwanaksan. Made of reflective golden material, the building shines in the rays of the sun and is sometimes known as Golden Tower. Since its opening in July 1985, it has remained one of the most popular and iconic buildings of the country, although it is certainly no longer the tallest (the Northeast Asia Trade Tower in Incheon currently holds that title). With the warmer seasons approaching, one of the most ideal qualities about the 63 Building is its location (directions and site information included at the end). Its proximity to the Han River means that it is possible to walk or rent bikes and cycle right along the river in Hangang Park before taking a visit to the 63 Building. A tourist attraction in itself, Hangang Park is considerably wellsought for particularly during the spring and summer seasons for picnics, festivals, cruises and a range of other enjoyable activities. If the prospect of relaxing on the grass, spending time by the river and cycling in warm weather attracts you then no doubt Hangang Park is a great place to go.

The Big 3 Ticket

A recommendable package deal for the 63 Building is the Big 3 Ticket. Currently discounted by 27%, the ticket allows a choice of three between the four following options: the Seaworld Aquarium, Skyart, IMAX 3D and Wax Museum. At the moment, the price for adults (over 19 years) is 33,000Won and for children, 28,000Won (but this is subject to change). For a full list of prices and range of package deals, please refer to the 63 Building official site.

The Seaworld Aquarium

good quality photographs of you and your party by a backdrop of dolphins and life-size (but fake) penguins. These photographs can be bought and framed at the end of the aquarium course. Inside the aquarium a variety of interesting events take place, such as regular Sea Lion and Penguin feeding shows. A glass pathway allows visitors to walk immediately above the sea creatures swimming below, which can be a surreal yet daunting experience! It is also worth noting that there are not only sea creatures on display at Seaworld, but bird and reptilian species too. For a better, true experience of 63 Buildings Seaworld Aquarium, the best idea would be to go and see firsthand the fascinating species residing there.

it has attracted a huge number of visitors and remains an ultimate favourite. It is essentially, the Madame Tussauds of South Korea (Madame Tussauds is a well-known wax museum company that has fourteen branches across the globe). With life-size wax figures of famous celebrities, musicians, painters, politicians and more, 63 Wax Museum is truly an engaging experience. One of the most awe-inspiring works there is the complete set of wax figures of disciples at The Last Supper. Other interesting works would include prominent figures from banknotes, life-size teddy bears and beautifully decorated photo zones. There is also a Chamber of Horror in the haunted section which visitors can pass through (or choose not to pass through) and take pictures with ghosts or Frankenstein in a coffin. The diversity of the waxfigure range is beyond impressive. Mid-way through the Wax Museum course is also a Wax Your Own Hand experience where visitors can create a wax mould of their fingers and paint it afterwards. In addition, towards the end is a superhero section whereby Superman, Batman and so forth are displayed against their

suitable backdrops. The central aspect and best part about the 63 Wax Museum is that photos are permitted with the works. Although it is quite obvious that the figures are not real people, they are good enough to fool some in a few well-taken photographs! Similar to the Seaworld Aquarium, to truly experience it all, the best way would be to go and experience it yourself. (Examples of works: celebrities Michael Jackson, Marilyn Monroe, Leonardo DiCaprio / musicians Bach, Schubert, Beethoven / painters Van Gogh, Picasso, Salvador Dali / politicians Abraham Lincoln, Barack Obama / banknotes England Pound, Korean Won, American Dollar / and many more!)

buildings. Accompanying the view on the right is an art gallery to the left (currently the highest art gallery in the world) which showcases different works across the seasons. Although some of the pieces were impressive, it must be said that they could not outdo the splendid view and many visitors werent paying as much attention to the gallery. Lastly, there is a small cafe and gift shop where refreshments are served and a range of items are sold before visitors can take the final trip back down the elevator to the ground floor. The three wonderful experiences mentioned above are certainly not the only events taking place or the only ones worth visiting at the 63 Building! For detailed information regarding other events, opening-closing times and prices, go to: http://www.63.co.kr.

Skyart (The View + Art Gallery)

The Wax Museum

Occupying the three basement levels of the 63 Building, the Seaworld Aquarium was the nations very first aquarium. With approximately 20,000 marine creatures of over 400 species, Seaworld is a fantastic attraction for both adults and children alike. By the entrance is a photographer who is more than happy to take a couple of

The 63 Wax Museum is by far one of the most entertaining courses at the 63 Building. Since its opening in 2008,

Finally, Skyart is a great way to complete your visit to the 63 Building. What is Skyart? It is the opportunity to get into an elevator and go higher and higher up to the highest (60th) floor of the skyscraper. Here, it is possible to see a truly magnificent view of Seoul and the Han River. Words cannot describe how extraordinary and impressive the view is that can be seen from such a height. Next to the glass windows are telescopes. With 100Won it is possible to see for a few minutes a close up of the people cycling down below in Hangang Park, the cars on the roads and the rooftops of other

By Subway + Free Shuttle Bus Daebang station (subway line1), Exit 6. Take the Free Shuttle or bus no.62 Yeouinaru Station (subway line no. 5), Exit 4. Walk toward the intersection and turn left to walk to the bus stop. Take the Free Shuttle across Sambu APT, 80m away from exit 4. Yeoido station (subway line 5), Exit 5. Take the Free Shuttle or bus no.62 in front of St. Marys Hospital Platform. By Bus Take bus no. 362 / 261 / 5633 / 7611 / 5534 / 62 / 9409 and get off at 63 building.

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June 2013. Vol. 44

Marvels Marvelous Plans

BY HEE KYUNG LEE
Entering Marvel Universe
When Marvel Studios first launched Iron Man in 2008, starring Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark, not many people would have expected what was to follow in coming years. The success of superhero movies was not unprecedented. Well-known superheroes films such as Spiderman (2002) and Batman Begins (2005) had received warm reception from the public. However, these movies accepted one rule as granted: superheroes existed in exclusive worlds. Simply put, people expected Batman to appear only in Batman movies, and Spiderman to appear only in Spiderman movies; they didnt expect superheroes to fraternize. However, Marvel was to set out on an ambitious venture which promised to surpass peoples expectations: constructing a shared cinematic universe between films. The idea seemed fantastic at the time, although the concept was not new to Marvel comic fans. Marvel Comics had been publishing comics based on Marvel Universe for years. Marvel Universe is a shared fictional universe in which most comic book titles featuring characters such as Spiderman, Hulk, the X-men and others take place. The world portrayed in Marvel Universe strongly resembles the real world, with the same geological features as well as the same historical timeline of events. However, into this bedrock of solid reality, Marvel incorporates just enough fictional elements to stimulate imagination. Besides C.I.A. and F.B.I,

there is S.H.I.E.L.D., not to mention countless superheroes and villains. Gods, aliens, magic, cosmic powers as well as extremely advanced technology mingle together to create a fascinating backdrop for sagas of superheroes, who sometimes cooperate and sometimes even squabble with each other. Rich possibilities arising from such crossing-over of characters allowed Marvel to generate stories which captured millions of fans worldwide, and later became the source for the cinematic universe now familiar to the public. All films released by Marvel Studios take place in this shared universe, or Marvel Cinematic Universe, to distinguish it from diverse parallel universes of Marvel comics. S.H.I.E.L.D. and its agents appear in most of Marvels films. Their appearance play a key role in linking separate films by reminding the audience of a universe beyond the world portrayed in the film. Marvel also makes use of credit cookies, or bonus scenes to bridge the storylines of supposedly separate installments. Samuel L. Jackson who plays Nick Fury, the director of S.H.I.E.L.D. (the guy with the eye patch!) first makes appearance in a credit cookie of Iron Man. A post-credits scene of Iron Man 2 showed the discovery of Thors hammer in a crater, which effectively heightened the audiences expectation for Thor. However, such devices did bring on criticism and jibes about how Marvel films always seemed to be prequels to some other movie. This some other movie was The Avengers (2012), culmination in the series of Marvel films including Iron Man (2008), The Incredible Hulk (2008), Iron Man 2 (2010), Thor (2011), Captain America: The First Avenger (2011). The Avengers received favorable reception from the critics as well as from the audience worldwide, bringing in a whopping $1.51 billion worldwide and becoming the third highest-grossing film of all time.

World, the next installment in Phase Two, is scheduled to premiere November, 2013. Alan Taylor, who is well-known for directing HBOs popular series Game of Thrones, has signed on as the director for Thor: The Dark World, so it will be interesting to see how the result will turn out under his leadership. In 2014, a sequel featuring Captain America titled Captain America: The Winter Soldier is planning on release. Unfortunately for fans of Hulk, there seems to be no solo films planned for the character. After the release of Guardians of the Galaxy in 2014, Marvels Phase Two will wrap up with last but not least, The Avengers 2 in 2015. For fans who cannot wait out the long months until November, Marvels characters are now on TV. According to Marvels official website, a short TV series Marvels Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. is scheduled to air this fall on ABC. The TV series will feature Agent Phil Coulson, as well as other S.H.I.E.L.D. agents, which will again expand the territories of Marvel universe.

And Going On After

Then what lies beyond Phase Two? Although the plans are still very tentative, Phase Three includes the introduction of new superheroes with exciting abilities and powers. So far, Antman and Dr. Strange are on the list of superheroes that will make their appearance by 2016. With the addition of new superheroes, the Avengers will return more powerful than ever in 2018 in The Avengers 3. Marvels success with The Avengers seems to have irked DC comics, Marvels rival in the comic industry. In turn, DC is also planning to launch a project of its own to bring its heroes alive on screen. DC comics feature familiar superheroes like Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman in a world every bit as rich and fascinating as Marvels. Man of Steel, a reboot of previous Superman films, will be released this summer. If the box office scores fare well, DCs superhero team, Justice League might also make it to the screen. In all, the coming years promise rosy prospects for fans of Marvel and DC superheroes, as well as for movie fans worldwide. So keep your eyes wide open for future releases!

Opening Phase Two

Spurred on by the success of The Avengers, Marvel is now continuing on to the second part of their venture, titled Marvel Cinematic Universe, Phase Two. Iron Man 3, which was recently released at the end of April, is only the first of many movies to come from Marvel Studios. Thor: The Dark

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June 2013. Vol. 44

[SNU Student Focus]

Perspective from a K-pop Newbie

Despite its modest beginnings, Korean pop music has grown into an international genre. Korean idol groups such as TVXQ dominate the charts in Asia and the Gangnam Style craze of last year show that K-pop is a force to be reckoned with in the global music industry. The Quill interviewed an aspiring musician in the K-pop scene to understand the genre from an insiders perspective.
BY YUN HWAN CHAE

Over a bottle of soju, Edward Kang (Dept. of Architecture 12) lays out his experiences as an aspiring musician in Korea. At first glance, the nineteen year old architecture major seems like an ordinary SNU student. As I ask question after another on Kpop and his experiences, Kang, in his gray hoodie, casually pours a shot of soju and offers the drink. Despite his nonchalant appearance, during his one year stay in Korea, Kang went through vocal training at a music hagwon, received offers to join an idol rock band and pushed through the ultra-competitive audition process of the reality TV program K-pop Star. Throughout the interview, his simple responses reflect a depth of experience as a musician in the Korean music industry.

Originally from Canada, Edward Kang started out his musical career in the live music cafes of Toronto. Alternating between various instruments in a band, his journey has transformed from a rock enthusiast into an aspiring electronic dance music producer in Korea. It seemed odd for a devout rock follower to convert to a genre so drastically different. However, Kang pointed at the creativity and originality of Korean musicians, particularly the duo Leessang, which motivated him to move into Korean music and K-pop. Following the inspiration from Leessang, Kang decided to break into the Korean music scene. Accepted to Seoul National

Kangs Story

University, he occupied himself as a part-time musician and a full-time student. Like many aspiring idol stars, Kang started out as a trainee at a hagwon but opted away from the flashy side of K-pop. Even from the beginning, I wasnt really interested in joining an idol group. TS entertainment approached me for an idol band project but I decided to focus instead on becoming an independent musician. Referring back to his time at the hagwon, Kang explained the commitment and work put into becoming a musician. Its incredible how much effort my peers put in to make it in the music scene. I was fortunate enough to be noticed by the instructor who gave me a lot of support. However, for those who dont have that, its just years of practice. Theres a certain expectation here of working diligently rather than being discovered for your talents. Kangs training then motivated him to audition for the music competition K-pop Star. In front of judges such as the artist BoA, he passed the audition and progressed through the preliminary stages, however, was eliminated in the competition rounds. The nineteen year old stated that the experience marked a shifting point in his perspective towards music. K-pop Star was an eye-opening experience, there were so many talented performers. After the program, however, I realized that performance was not what I wanted to do in music and I took a different direction to develop as a musician. Since his experience in K-pop Star, Kang has redirected his efforts into becoming a producer. Citing artists such as Zedd and Porter Robinson as inspirations, Kang has immersed himself into electronic dance music, a genre that allows the artist more musical freedom and control. He hopes to make grounds in the genre, which he believes is the future direction of music. Furthermore, he has also recently started working with composer Kim Young Min, famous for scoring the soundtrack for the film Wandeuki. After a hectic year in Korea, Kang seems to have defined his musical goals and now directs his attention to producing. Ive focused too much on performance. I want to complete my degree and spend full time as a producer.

Kang on K-pop
Why K-pop? For instance, although Leessang claims that theyre a black music group, theres something so distinctively Korean about their music. They rehash and intrepret the genre to produce something completely original and I think that this is true with many of the artists in Kpop. What is the difference between the music scene in Korea and North America? Ive lived in LA for a while and in America, it seems that individual creative expression is the quality to become a musician, however, here that is something to be earned through the training. How do you become a K-pop artist? Its all very organized and structured. Usually agencies are in contact with hagwon and at the recommendation of instructors, they scout for potential artists who then undergo training at the agencies. At least thats what happened with me and TS entertainment. Do you think theres a certain formula that agencies follow in producing idol groups? Formula seems to be a cynical way to put it. There are certain methods and steps taken to train musicians but its a form of education, if you see the group Big Bang, you can see how their training paid off to produce independent and creative musicians like G-Dragon. Like in America, theres a distinction between a musician and a celebrity. You have to realize that many of them arent aiming to become musicians. How do you think people perceive musicians in Korea? The Korean word for musician is gasu and it literally means singer but its a comprehensive term for all types of musicians. So I guess that theres an expectation for all musicians to be able to sing and this forces them to learn how to sing. This is changing though with the term artist being used now. What do you think about the criticisms of K-pop as being eye-candy? People just see the visual aspects of K-pop and it may come off as a caricature of American pop but it is so much more. Now the production quality is on par with artists in the United States.

Kangs work station at home

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June 2013. Vol. 44

Lemon Music & Cafe

BY REGINA HYUN JUNG LEE

ituated right outside exit 2 of Seoul National University Entrance station, there was always something about Lemon Music & Cafe that drew me towards it. Perhaps it was the knowledge that it used to be a music shop, was shut BY REGINAand reopened as down, reconstructed a cafe, or the inviting message sprawled across the front claiming it was the place where records and roasted coffee meet which made me wonder. Either way, I grabbed this opportunity to rate a cafe for the first time and decided to see for myself if it really did entail what the message promised. The first thing I noticed as soon as I stepped in was that on the right hand side of the cafe and on the back wall there were stacks and stacks of records. Labelled by handwritten cards (alphabetically and according to genre) the place had the atmosphere of a traditional record store; something entirely different to the modern record stores you might walk into today. On the left hand side was the cafe part. A woman watching me expectantly, waited to take my order as I read what was available from the blackboard. I immediately observed that the cheapest option was the 2800Won Americano and the most expensive was the Fresh Fruit

Juice for 4500Won. They didnt seem to sell much food (a bagel I think, for 3500Won) so I stuck to something in the middle and ordered a cafe Latte (3300Won). After placing my order, I looked around the place in awe and explained that as I was writing about this very cafe for Quill, the English Journal of Seoul National University, would it be okay if I took a few photos? The answer was no. A little disheartened, I wandered in towards the back of the store. The area itself appeared very small due to the overwhelming amount of records and hardly likely to hold any seating at all, yet beyond a little archway lay a cozy little space with tables, a cushioned bench and chairs. I was even more surprised to find...stairs. These were wooden stairs with a sign of caution to remove shoes before going up. I removed mine swiftly and stepped upwards. These stairs led to another friendly little sheltered seating area with no chairs and floored seating. If you go youll see that the tables are separated into sections by wooden boards, allowing a reasonable amount of privacy. I sat upstairs on one of the seating cushions and observed one of the most valuable features about the place; there were electric sockets everywhere. It is often frustrating to walk into an overcrowded cafe to find

that there is nowhere to charge your phone or plug in your laptop. You will not find this problem in Lemon Music & Cafe. In that sense, I thought it would be quite a nice place to do assignments. The music varied from very relaxing (Fly Me to the Moon sung by Carol Welsman) to upbeat (Party Rock Anthem by LMFAO) although for the majority of the time I was there it was more relaxing and rather mellow. Sooner or later the cafe Latte was delivered to me on a little tray and with no other customers present, I sat alone, taking in the atmosphere. The drink itself was fine; the taste of an average cafe Latte (Im afraid I cannot vouch for any others) and I felt increasingly that there was something very homely about the place. Unable to take any pictures, I wandered back down the staircase and chose to take a closer look at the records. The sheer variety of music on sale stunned me. From modern Korean artists of today such as SISTAR to best-selling pop culture artists such as Michael Jackson, the whole of the right hand side of the store seemed to deal with CDs. Next to this was a section dedicated to musical items such as earphones, guitar tuners, capos and guitar straps. On the back wall were cassette tapes and Original Sound Track records from various television dramas. I must

emphasise that that was not all; to see the vast range of records they sell, I suggest you visit the place yourself. Its called Lemon Music and Cafe for a reason; its a cafe that sells records. I credit the place for being a successful blend of both; its nice to have the option of getting up from your seat and having a little wander around to see what kinds of music they offer. Just being surrounded by hundreds of CDs and cassettes from different periods of time gives the place a positive, timeless feel. If youre searching for a place looking only at taste, then I wouldnt particularly recommend it. However, if youre looking for a nice place to study or a cozy place to chat with the bonus of hundreds of records providing a pleasant atmosphere, I wholly recommend Lemon Music & Cafe to you. The best part was that after a long, intense inspection of the whole cafe and a promise to deliver the finished article, I was permitted to take photos.

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ike every character that we develop over the years due to external influences that defines who we are, the musical environment that we were brought up in plays a key role on how we tend to associate and adhere ourselves to certain type of music. I was no exception. I first listened to Nirvanas Come as you are when I was in grade two on that tiny winamp player and since then, experimented on an array of related genres namely heavy rock, metal sub genres (thrash, power, death, melodic), progressive and eventually got hold of the lighter side of jazz, blues, funk and post-rock. The definition for music for me was purely instrument-vocal based and I grew on to appreciate the work ethic and skill that an artist or a band puts on to produce something worth listening to. So you can imagine my horror when I first got hold of K-pop. You call THIS music? I was under the impression that era of Spice Girls and Backstreet Boys (they recently got a star on the walk of fame) was long gone with the extinction of dinosaurs but looking at what K-pop has to offer, I might have seriously misjudged the situation. The similarities are hard to ignore, although the latter packs much more excitement and vigor with jaw dropping dance moves and plastic girls. But when was music about glamor, make ups and more importantly, dances? Of thirteen years that Psy has been working in the music industry, 2012 was a particularly high year for him. So high

that he could barely keep his feet on the ground. With Gangnam Styles popularity reaching dizzying heights, he was flying around the world, promoting himself, K-pop and Korea. He had become a household name, a horse riding brand name of some sort. Even my grandpa quizzed me on him last time I went back home. His latest video went viral again, garnering a whopping 38,409,306 YouTube views in 24 hours breaking the record set by another equally ridiculous video about catching Kony. Titled as Gentleman, Psy seems to be content in using the same elements that made his earlier release unexpectedly popular; he has a similarly tailored dance move, makes parody of being a gentleman(social issue) and like most K-pop lyrics, the song has an English phrase that makes no sense ( the Wet Psy). Besides agreeing that he has a huge stage presence and that he can come up with moves that redefine entertainment, I put forward the argument that he is not a genuine artist. When producers, song writers and visual directors do most of your work, it is hard to see how an artist can take all the credit for himself. Even if he did come out with the whole concept of the song, it those not make him any different than any track singer. There is also an argument that if an artists music cannot exist independently and needs to be complemented by a video than there is already something wrong with the music. Think about this: What would have been your reaction to the music if you had not watched the video first? Would it still be the same? How would your outlook on the music be? In a recent internet survey completed in behalf of the Quill, 70 percent of the participants agreed that the video played a key factor to its popularity rather than the music itself. This being said, I do respect Psy for what he has achieved and what he has been able to contribute entertainment wise. There is not a single brain cell out there that would disagree that he is after all, a great entertainer. Unfortunately, he is just that; an entertainer. Nothing more.

Editors Perspective:

The Psy Argument

People accuse me of being musically biased. The truth is...I am.
BY ABHAS MASKEY PHOTO BY KYEONGHWAN KIM

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