Smooth Sailing Ahead or Rocky Waters?: A Look at U.S.-Korea Relations in the 21st Century

By Michelle Kwon

Photo taken by The Brookings Institution

At a 2013 Georgetown University dean’s symposium, former Minister of Trade Bark Tae-ho highlighted South Korea’s three trade-related goals: revitalize trade and exports with the United States, increase the number of free trade agreements South Korea enters into, and secure continued market competitiveness via foreign investments. This three-pronged approach provides Korea the increasing momentum to secure its position as a leader within the Asia Pacific, and pursue a greater, more aggressive trade policy agenda in the 21^st century[1]; a successful conclusion and reception of the United States-Korea Free Trade Agreement (KORUS FTA) represents the first necessary step in helping Korea achieve its short-term and long-term goal. 

Lessons with Gum Gang: Prayer

One of the major aspects of my time with Gum Gang was looking at the importance of prayer to his and his clients’ lifestyle. Even many different people followed different faiths, from Buddhism to ancestor worship to Christianity, everyone who visited Gum Gang’s home took the time to pray. During this time Gum Gang taught me the many values of prayer to how we think, how we interact with each other and how we choose what is important to us.

Below is another excerpt from the e-book I am currently working on, detailing Gum Gang’s methods and advice for prayer. Prayer is different for each person, but this can form a solid base for anyone who feels that, in the hustle and bustle of modern life, they may have forgotten how to pray.

Lessons with Gum Gang: Su Chon Gua

A large part of the lessons I’ve learned with Gum Gang don’t just come through the knowledge of the remedies themselves, but different approaches to cooking them that can save time, money and keep up health on a budget. One of the most important benefits of traditional knowledge is the fact that it is made to be an accessible and affordable alternative for the sake of minor health problems. For example as someone who has dealt with allergies since the age of six, drinking this recipe called Su Chon Gua can clear my sinuses and help me breathe easy without needing antihistamine. However I have met Gum Gang at times when my allergies were so bad he saw antihistamine as necessary. These remedies provide a different approach to varied levels in our health problems.

Su Chon Gua is not so much an exclusive Mudang remedy as a traditional Korean recipe. On the other hand Su Chon Gua can be hard to come by outside of the occasional traditional restaurant or tourist trap. Additionally, these brews of Su Chon Gua might not be as potent as the remedy version as an effective batch can taste quite strong. People like Gum Gang keep this remedy in connection with its older purpose as a “poison that removes other poisons.” This concept was frequent in East Asian traditional medicine and was thought important in various ingredients from ginseng to dog tongue. The idea is that by putting a small amount of certain elements into your body that it will process out, you will encourage other poisons which we ingest on a regular basis to leave the body as well.

Lessons with Gum Gang: Homemade Remedies

A large tub of Umeshu – preserved plum juice with healthy side effects

As much as a shaman performs or gives counsel to help others, their attachment to well-being and tradition touches many different parts of daily life. One of these is in diet and remedy, taking as much care with what we put into our bodies as what we do with them. Healthier people make happier people, and in turn a better community. As a result understanding traditional medical knowledge was and still is a large part of the role that Mudang play as social guides. Just as 1+1= a bigger 1, proper circulation and staying active throughout the day play a large role in how we live our lives, and in turn the quality of work we produce. These easy recipes  address different long term afflictions that may not be easily (or cheaply) answered through modern methods.

Whether or not one puts stock in these recipes, they also represent an important aspect of tradition and culture that figures like Mudang preserve. These different natural remedies were used to heal in ancient Korea, remnants of an older way of life that we can learn from and cherish. These remedies don’t just represent something we can use today, but also display a way of thinking that we often pass over in modern life.

K/O/R/E/A/N

By Dorry Guerra

Sixteen half-Korean individuals I have thus far met, interviewed, and photographed. 

What is Kongchŏn?

A campaign poster in Wŏnju for a candidate in Saenuri-dang, Korea’s conservative majority party. (Author’s own image)

It’s election season again in Korea! Campaign posters have gone up all over and candidates have begun meeting with voters in earnest. Local politicians are up for election this year, which includes city and provincial council members and city mayors. It’s an exciting time to be in Korea for a researcher of gender and politics, since this year is the first election after the inauguration of Korea’s first woman president, Park Geun-hye.

There’s a lot to look forward to in this year’s elections, but first we have to get through the kongchŏn stage of the pre-campaign process. For those unfamiliar with Korean politics, the kongchŏn causes a great deal of confusion. Bewilderment is a natural reaction given that the process differs by party, region, and election year. I will try to deconstruct the kongchŏn enigma, and hopefully it will help readers to understand some of the current events in Korean politics regarding the elections.

Lessons with Gum Gang: 1+1

Gum Gang, a Mudang whom I often work with.

“Does 1+1=2, or does it equal a bigger 1?”

During my time in Korea, I have spent much of my time living with shaman. One of the shaman I am closest with goes by the nickname of “Gum Gang.” Gum Gang lives a life dedicated to healing and helping others as a Mudang, though in many ways he breaks the classic mould of what a Mudang is. Gum gang mixes the traditions of ritual and possession with the importance of diet management and herbal remedies, ancient costumes and settings with acupuncture and massage work. More than anything, Gum Gang seeks to be an active mentor, friend, adviser and healer to his clients beyond the classic performer/fortune teller archetype. This is the first in a series of blog posts in which I will share lessons I have learned living with Gum Gang, some physical, some spiritual and some just good for practical everyday life.

Statement on the Sewol Tragedy

The world’s attention has turned to South Korea after reports of the Sewŏl ferry sinking on the southwestern coast of the peninsula on the morning of April 16, 2014.

This tragedy hits close to home, and we at Wireless Peninsula stand in solidarity with the passengers’ families as the search continues for the missing. We are thankful for the safety of those who were rescued. However, in our celebration of those who have been rescued, we also remember the deceased and their families as they cope with the loss of their loved ones. Rescue personnel are doing their best despite difficult conditions to find passengers that may still be inside the ship, and we maintain our hope that the remaining passengers will be found alive.

We encourage you to stay up to date on events as they unfold by consulting international news sites as well as Korean domestic reporting. Please keep those involved in the rescue effort, as well as the passengers and their families, in your thoughts and prayers.

English-language editions of Korean dailies:

Arirang News – Chosun Ilbo – Donga Ilbo – The Hankyoreh

 

The Great Charade of Democracy: Minority Parties in Korea and the Kongchŏn Reform Debates

An enduring debate among Korean politicians has been the utility and fairness of the kongchŏn, or the Korean committee-based party candidate nomination system. The system is generally considered to be unfair, to the point of being downright corrupt. With each election comes renewed discussion of how to change the system. Newspapers and the political parties ask: Would primaries be a better option? How open should the primaries be? To what extent should the general public be involved in the candidate nomination process?

Despite their longevity, the kongchŏn debates prove time and again to be merely political spin.

The Shaman of Jeju island

Gimnyeong Beach, a beautiful view right next to the village I was working in.

A gorgeous island surrounded by turquoise water and volcanic rock beaches, Jeju has become a modern natural wonder with its unique history, cuisine and geographic landscapes. At the same time foreigners of all kinds have taken an interest in the island’s shamanic rituals, often noted for their unique qualities compared to even mainland Korea. While South Korea holds more active shaman than most developed countries, Jeju beats out even massive cities like Seoul in its number of shaman. Their traditions, exorcism and possession rituals have been passed down for generations, developing special attributes that one cannot find anywhere else in Korea. This has led a number of filmmakers, artists, photographers and researchers to document the shamanism of the island more so than any other part of Korea. I felt that for my project both over the year and in the long term, meeting a Mudang of this island would be essential.