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MY WEEKLY routine starts with the Eastern Civilization lecture in Veritas Hall A of the Yonsei International Campus (YIC). Sitting for the class among many bright minds of Yonsei might be something I would have desperately longed for last year as a high school student, but not anymore. The echoing of the professor’s voice and the solemn atmosphere of the lecture hall exert pressure onto me as if it’s trying to press out the last breath of air out of my body. Am I the only one who can’t focus? How do people around me have the drive to compete in this endless race, when I realized that everythin
Opinion
Jo Beom-su
2018.11.03 17:10
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SEEKING MENTAL health care remains one of the greatest taboos in South Korea. However, the modern and fast-paced society is suffering from a chronic “flu” through various forms of mental illnesses. There is a silent prohibition against the association with these conditions. This anomaly stems from the fraudulent notions that mental illnesses reflect one’s lack of sociability or predisposition to violence. The South Korean Medical Service Act and the Ministry of Health and Welfare strive to increase accessibility to mental health consultations, yet their efforts have gone astray. The juxtaposit
Opinion
Hong Jee-seung
2018.11.03 17:02
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LIKE MANY Korean mothers, my mother is extremely overprotective. It was only fitting then, that my mother would accompany me to assist with “settling in” when I decided to go on exchange to South Korea. It would be my first time visiting my motherland. Before I arrived here, my main source of Korean culture were the Korean dramas my mother and I would watch together, and for as long as I can remember, we’ve wanted to visit a jjim-jil-bang. For the uninitiated, a jjim-jil-bang is a large, public bathhouse that is a common part of the Korean cleansing regimen. I had visions of us perspiring in t
Take a Break
Esther Shim
2018.11.02 21:25
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THE ADVERTISING industry is one of the most sought-after career fields among university students. However, getting into advertising is very competitive and choosing to dive into that competition requires a great deal of certainty in one’s decision. Choosing a potential lifetime career can be daunting, especially to those who do not have any first-hand experience or knowledge in their desired fields. For those who truly want to pursue a career in advertising or are merely curious about the field, *The Yonsei Annals* met with Yoo Byoung-ook, the Creative Director of TBWA Korea, to gain insight i
Career
Kwon Young-sau
2018.10.03 19:49
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UNDER THE principle of *if the citizen questions, the government answers*, the *Cheong-wa-dae* (Blue House) launched an online public petition system to celebrate the 100th day of President Moon Jae-in’s inauguration. With the initiation of this new platform, the Moon administration has attempted to implement prompt and unfiltered communication between the nation’s citizens and Blue House officials. BackgroundThe right to petition has always been written in Article 26 of the South Korean Constitution: (1) All citizens shall have the right to petition in writing to any governmental agency under
Opinion
Hong Jee-seung, Kim Peter
2018.10.03 19:27
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BECOMING THE Mayor of Seoul was not an easy journey for Park Won-soon. Having been arrested for his role in democratization protests, expelled from university, but eventually turning the tables around and becoming a successful human rights lawyer and civil activist, Park has led a life nothing short of adventurous. Emerging victorious in the recent local election in June 2018, Park became the first mayor of Seoul to serve three consecutive terms. With a four-year extension in office, Park plans to continue the work that he began in 2011. In an interview with The Yonsei Annals, Park shared his
People/Yonseian
Jo Beom-su
2018.10.03 19:19
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ISSUES CONCERNING the division of the two Koreas and their reunification have always been unapproachable for me, as I lived abroad throughout my adolescence. I was oblivious to the inerasable scars that the division had left on Koreans, and its tremors still reverberating throughout the contemporary society. However, the repercussions of the separation struck me recently after watching a heartbreaking video on the reunion and almost immediate separation of family members from North and South Korea; these families were sobbing at the fact that they are unlikely to see each other again in the fo
Travel Diary
Lee Chae-wan
2018.10.03 00:20
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“AND ALL at once, summer collapsed into fall...” For some reason, so did we. This quote by Oscar Wilde poetically describes the transition from summer to autumn, the sweltering hot air turning chilly. Before we knew it, we had grown used to the heat, enjoying our summers, savoring the glow of the sun caressing our skin, and feeling free from all kinds of burdens. But now, with the changing winds and the darkening atmosphere, we can’t help but feel a little depressed at the fact that the warmth will no longer be with us. Wilde used the word “collapse” in his quote, and rightfully so. Somehow, i
Voice on Campus
Kim So-yeon
2018.10.03 00:15
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TIME IS running out—this desperate thought sends your heart racing; you must find a way to get out of this locked room as quickly as possible. This is the joy of an escape room, an attraction that offers a thrilling experience that other indoor activities cannot. All rooms have a theme and participants are introduced to the guiding story prior to entering a room. Once inside, they must obtain hints and solve riddles to complete the goal of escaping the room. For those that enjoy an active and engaging activity deviating from the typical routine of meeting up with friends at restaurants a
Take a Break
Lee So-jung
2018.10.02 23:46
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REMEMBER WATCHING a striking high-quality video on Facebook of celebrities performing at Akaraka*, or searching up the highlights from the Yon-Ko games on YouTube? Chances are, these breathtaking videos are products of the Yonsei Video Arts Center (YVAC), a student-run organization that is responsible for recording the official events of Yonsei University. The production of YVAC, however, goes beyond the recording of school events: it also engages in the creation of a diverse spectrum of videos, ranging from reality shows to movie reviews. In order to gain more insight into the organization’s
Behind the Scenes
Yang Ji-weon
2018.10.02 23:34
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RAPID GROWTH has been one of the most representative facets of South Korea for decades. Having forged one of the fastest economic developments in East Asia through the so-called “Miracle on the Han River,” Korea has been at the center of global interest for many years. Not only in the economic sector but also in the cultural and entertainment sectors, South Korea has experienced phenomenal success. The music market, film market, TV broadcasting market, cosmetics market and more have been resulting in the “K-Anything*” syndrome for many years.However, have you heard of K-Musical, or K-Theatre b
Special Report
Song Min-sun
2018.09.02 13:21
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FROM AUG. 18 to Sept. 2 the 2018 Asian Games were held in Jakarta-Palembang. For most athletes, these games are seen as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. For South Korean male athletes, however, victory entails so much more: it entails the opportunity to be exempt from mandatory military service that all Korean male nationals are subjected to. Under Paragraph 11 of Article 68 of the Korean Military Service Act, gold medalists in the Asian Games are exempted from military duty. In the recent Jakarta-Palembang Asian Games, the world’s attention turned towards the result of Korea’s soccer match d
Opinion
Lee Hyun-kyung
2018.09.02 12:27
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DRAMAS AND films that involve historical content repeatedly create controversy over historical distortions in Korea. Take the tvN drama Mr. Sunshine, a series set in Gyeongseong (present-day Seoul) in the early 1900s, as an example. The currently airing show has received criticism for romanticizing a pro-Japanese Korean second male lead as a tall, dark, and mysterious love interest, while also misrepresenting Japan’s colonization of Korea. Public criticism has been so severe that a petition on the official Blue House website was filed against the drama. However, how accountable can you hold a
Opinion
Kwon Young-sau
2018.09.02 12:25
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WHAT COMES to mind when you think of “smart” technology? Smart phones, smart televisions, smart watches, and various other forms of “smart” technology that involve artificial intelligence have all become so irreversibly fused into our lives. Smart technology serves to increase the convenience of life, ensuring that various tasks become quicker and more efficient. With the introduction of driverless technology, smart trains are about to become the latest addition to this industry. Self-automated and ultra-efficient, the driverless smart train has become a symbol of the future of our transportat
Lightbulb
Yoon Young-seo
2018.09.02 11:55
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HAVE YOU ever seen young patrol guards in their fluorescent windbreakers roaming around the campus at night? Carrying a drunk person, accompanying students, and patrolling around with their eyes setting out for any emergencies… These are the members of a Yonsei community that works with the sole objective of making the campus a safer place for all: the Eagle Guard. Established in 2012 and funded by Office of Student Affairs & Services, the Eagle Guard is a student patrol organization of Yonsei University that organizes and participates in daily patrols. The Yonsei Annals met with the me
Behind the Scenes
Kim Min-seo
2018.09.02 11:51
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ALTHOUGH CHU-SEOK is commonly known as the “Korean Thanksgiving,” it entails more than exchanging appreciations to one another and breaking the turkey wishbone. Instead, Chu-seok holds its originality with a unique history, staple Korean cuisine, and traditional customs. This article will give you a handy, introductory guide to the Korean culture of Chu-seok. The first Chu-seok: how did it start? The first historical reference of Chu-seok was made in a chronicle called Sam guk sa gi* where we can find a description of a unique contest that took place during the Sil-la dynasty. During the rule
Take a Break
Yang Ji-weon
2018.09.02 11:46
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THE PAST ten years of my life was spent in the Philippines. For the first few years of my stay in this foreign land, I felt that I belonged only to Korea. As time went by, however, the Philippines grew on me as a second home, so much so that I have come to know the town where I lived in like I did the back of my hand. Then, I returned to Hwagok-dong, the place where I spent my adolescence. I was out of my comfort zone once again. The new buildings that had not been there before made my childhood home even more unfamiliar. I felt disoriented and unstable. So, I tried to make myself feel at home
Travel Diary
Hong Jee-seung
2018.09.02 11:04
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“SPIRITUAL CANCER” is what Pope Francis called it when he warned the South Korean youth about the dangers of materialism on his visit in 2014. Four years later, Korea’s spending on luxury goods and overall consumerist culture has continued to expand. Cities in Korea are full of street clothes vendors, massive underground shopping malls, and public transit stations posted with advertisements for plastic surgery and cosmetics. At a glance, this outwardly affluent, material-based, distinctly competitive society comes across as superficial. However, a deeper social and economic understanding of Ko
Opinion
Claire Fox
2018.06.04 20:52
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AS THE middle of June approaches, cities all over the world prepare for the displays of color and joyful sounds that fill the streets with the upcoming FIFA World Cup. This year’s competition will take place in Russia from June 14 to July 15 with 32 national football teams from across the globe. The title will be disputed in a total of 64 matches in 12 different venues located in 11 cities. The impact of the tournament, however, goes beyond the host nation. Alongside each of these squads are innumerable followers waiting to support them from the benches or miles away. Such is the case for Kore
Take a Break
Fabiola Torres
2018.06.04 20:48
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AT LAST draws the end to another hectic semester of the weekly-18-hour lectures, jam-packed exam schedules, and the never-ending array of all-nighters. Squashed under the heavy load of responsibility and assignments, everyone eagerly awaits the first possible moment to disentangle and bounce away for the summer holidays. In hopes to rejuvenate my weary heart, I impulsively booked a ticket to Chuncheon, a city rich with the days of my innocent childhood. 6:00 a.m.: ITX Train My trip began early in the morning when I took the first train of the day. The only memory I had as a child regarding tra
Travel Diary
Kim Min-jung
2018.06.04 20:43