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IF YOU open the pantry of any Korean household around the world, it is not unusual to find stacks of SPAM stored away, waiting to be cooked in a steaming bu dae jji gae* or fried up in a kim-chi fried rice. The beloved processed meat is an important facet of the Korean culinary experience: not just because of its compatibility with the cuisine, but also because of SPAM’s relationship with the U.S. military throughout World War Two, during which America had a strong presence in Korea. South Korea’s affinity with SPAM tells an interesting story about the nation’s post-war development and prosper
Culture
Ester Shim
2018.12.02 18:52
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DURING THIS summer vacation, I had a part-time job at a café franchise specializing in milk tea. Throughout my daily six-hour shift, I received more than 100 orders and alldrinks were served to the customers in disposable items. Drinks were poured into disposable cups, the tops were sealed with vinyl, the cups were then put into paper holders and served to the customers in plastic bags with straws. However, on the first day of August, a lengthy instruction came from the headquarters. It read that from the next day onwards, customers staying at the café must be given their drinks
Culture
Lee Chae-wan
2018.11.04 21:14
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SEARCHING IS the first mainstream thriller featuring an Asian-American lead, but it is heralded for its unprecedented casting because it never particularizes his race. This hints at a more normalized onscreen diversity, and even if this film is not the panacea to undoing all institutional racism in cinema, films treating race as secondary to narrative might be. Searching for what?Searching follows David Kim, portrayed by Korean-American actor John Cho, as he unravels the sudden disappearance of his teenage daughter, Margot. Audiences watch the film from the vantage point of a webcam as David u
Review
Clarissa Kwee
2018.11.02 21:13
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OCTOBER, ONE of the more creative times of the year. We find ourselves entranced by the eye-catching Halloween makeup, the riveting costume designs, and the spooky illustrations posted on social media. This is a time in which boundaries in creativity do not exist. Say hello to Inktober, an art challenge that encourages both artists and non-artists to draw one ink piece per day for the entire month of October. A once simple concept that has now turned into a global trend, Inktober is more than a quirky challenge, as it has the potential to free the mind from its normally constrictive bubble. In
Culture
Kim So-yeon
2018.10.03 00:08
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“I DRINK to make others interesting,” said Ernest Hemingway. But what if you are holding a book in your hand, and reading it while drinking? With the liquor, it will make books even more interesting than they already are. Books and liquor may appear as an unconventional combination but there are bookstores which have introduced the two together. Welcome to “book pubs,” where reading books becomes more fascinating with the effects of alcohol. BOOK&PUBBOOK&PUB and red wine share similar vibes: they are both classy, modern yet surprising. The bookstore is classy as it does not openly reveal itsel
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Lee Chae-wan
2018.09.02 12:08
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HE WAS a man with humble beginnings, one who kickstarted his memorable career with a simple, five-minute short film. He was a man with a vision, whose stories would sweep over the globe for their beautiful artistry and tear-jerking storyline. He was a man who, after countless days of solitary endeavors, succeeded in creating one of the most breathtaking movies of all time. This man is Shinkai Makoto, the director of the world-renowned animation: Your Name. To commemorate his long journey and enormous success, the Shinkai Makoto Exhibition: From Voices of a Distant Star to Your Name has launche
Review
Kim So-yeon
2018.09.02 11:59
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“INVENTOR” WAS ranked as the top dream job among Korean children in the late 1990s. Students were eager to create their own inventions and receive recognition by their teachers and peers. But as time goes on, the disturbing truth is that this prominent yet behind-the-scenes profession is less emphasized because more economically stable occupations such as doctorsand lawyers are encouraged by our society. To remember and thank our inventors, Korea has selected a day to acknowledge their contributions. May 14 marks the 53rd Korean Inventions Day, a day to recognize the inventions that have made
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Lee Kyo-jin
2018.06.04 20:32
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YONSEI UNIVERSITY museum, at first glance, is just the art on the walls. It is the dimly lit artifacts of Go-Jong’s sword and the Sam guk yu sa memorabilia, a National Treasure. It is the soft music that soothes visitors. But with a deeper look, Yonsei Museum is also its caretakers, the individuals that manage and support the gallery space when no one is looking. As the final article of the “Museum Special” series, The Yonsei Annals offers insight into some of the jobs at the Yonsei University Museum. Curator: Yoon Hyun-jinThe Annals: Could you please introduce yourself and your job at the mus
Culture
Kim Min-jung
2018.06.04 20:24
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DAY BY DAY, we make new memories and write our stories as we move from one place to another. Among the many places where people come and go, hotels are where transitions occur the most. Some people may be on their way out after a nice rest and others may be coming in to make new memories. Yet because of the hotel cleaning services and facilities, we never get to hear the story of each and every person. When we enter the newly checked-in rooms, we are welcomed with clean sheeted beds, shiny bathrooms, and brand new furnishings. However, we remain unaware of who stayed in the very same room or w
Review
Lee Kyo-jin
2018.05.09 15:01
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AMONG THE skyscrapers, palaces and Korean BBQ restaurants that surround the streets of Seoul, it is impossible not to notice the abundance of couples, either holding hands, wearing eerily similar clothes, or sharing a perfectly-marketed sweet at a café. This is all part of a trend that can be found across the city, with items that are specifically designed to be shared with your significant other. Clothing stores offer matching clothing pieces, from shoes to couple rings that commemorate 100 days of a relationship. Korea’s couple culture features not only outward displays of relationshi
Culture
Andreas Pavlou, Fabiola Torres
2018.05.07 22:15
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CONSIDER THE people of Korea as parts of one shared cultural puzzle; where would the pieces identified as gyo-pos fit? While the word, by definition, refers to those of Korean heritage residing outside of Korea, it evolved overtime to carry a loaded connotation; it is often used in a pejorative way to convey stigmatized ideas of those who lost touch with their ethnic culture. To some, the term is a simple identification of one’s background. But to others, it is a discriminatory slur. Breaking down the different aspects taken into account when identifying a gyo-po, as well as examining the impa
Culture
Claire Fox
2018.05.07 22:11
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TWO YEARS ago, the Academy Awards—also known as Oscars—gave its heaviest trophy to a gay boy who grew up in a drug-ridden neighborhood. Seven months later, a female director’s motion picture starring a female protagonist became the most profiting original superhero film for Universal Pictures. This January, a two-hundred million-dollar picture based on Africa swept the world and people are still recovering from its charm. The films were met with avid acceptance around the globe and became a testimony against the fixed formulas for a film’s acceptability. These three films are the b
Culture
Lee Ha-eun
2018.04.11 21:42
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MARCH. IT marks the beginning to a new academic year. New to school, Shinchon, class, adulthood, whatever it is, we are all stepping into a new situation. You will struggle; there will be hard times. So, for this issue, The Yonsei Annals introduces you to some pop cultures that can better aid you in the course of your new adventures. Movie: Wonder Directed by Stephen Chbosky, Wonder is based on a novel written by R.J. Palacio. August (Auggie), the main character, was born with ‘mandibulofacial dysostosis’—a medical facial deformity. He had to undergo many surgeries and, consequently, was
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Kim Min-jung
2018.03.17 12:08
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PEOPLE IN South Korea no longer have to go all the way to the crowded zoo to see adorable animals. These days, people are able to easily take a 20-minute bus ride and go to cozy cafes to enjoy a cup of tea while petting cute, furry animals. Sounds fun and simple, right?However, while people comfortably enjoy their time, many seem to neglect the harmful conditions for both the animals and customers in the “miniature zoos.” It is time to think about whether it is fair to repress rights of animals for our pure pleasure. What are animal cafes?In South Korea, pets are usually not allowed in cafes a
Culture
Ko Eun-biy
2017.11.13 20:45
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HAVE YOU ever spotted a mysterious red-vested figure standing in front of the exit of a busy subway station of Seoul, waving a red magazine in the air and giving the warmest greetings to the passerby? These figures are the vendors of The Big Issue, one of the most prominent social enterprises that offer the homeless, disadvantaged, and underprivileged people with the opportunity to reconstruct their lives through the sales of street magazines. Like this, social enterprises are transforming the way conventional business models work. Business is no longer just about earning money. Rather, it is
Review
Shin Ye-sun
2017.11.13 20:39
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“Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, today is a gift from God, which is why we call it the present” by Bil Keane. As this popular saying suggests, time is precious because it cannot be bought. And so are people around us. Because we are so used to having them around us, we often forget how lucky we are to have them. Sometimes, I mistakenly believe that my beloved family, friends and lover will never leave no matter what. But the following selection of poems reminds me that I, or all of us, should always be grateful of those we love and not take them for granted.Still My Sister River S
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Lee Kyo-jin
2017.11.12 23:31
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THE NATURAL cycle of the life on earth grants many things in our world: the rise and fall of the sun, the birth and death of organisms, the ebb and flow of the seas, and…menstruation. Equally as natural as the cycle of the heavens, the workings of the ecosystem and the movement of the waters is female menstruation. Despite its perfectly natural state of being, however, menstruation has long been regarded as an inappropriate matter for public discussion. Seen as the symbol of impurity and contamination, menstruation stands with a long history of neglect and disdain. Even to this day, the
Culture
Shin Yesun
2017.10.16 21:12
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DO YOU have less than ten hours left to cram the entire Eastern Civilization textbook? Are you retaking World Philosophy and do not feel emotionally prepared to face Aristotle? Do you find yourself incapable of writing a paper without staring at Facebook? Lo and behold,The Yonsei Annals is here to give you a list of inspiring movie characters who overcame the most tormenting times of their cinematic lives. Whiplash (2015) Directed by La La Land director Damien Chazelle, Whiplash traces the relationship between Andrew, an aspiring young drummer, and Fletcher, an instructor whose training method
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Lee Ha-eun
2017.10.16 20:59
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AFTER YOU step out onto exit number 1 of Anguk station, you will find European-style cafes and expensive “traditional” keychains on the way to the Seoul branch of the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art (MMCA). Although traces of the old royal promenade are barely visible, the MMCA stands as a modern palace of its own for lovers of contemporary art. This summer, MMCA brings the first retrospective of the globally renowned conceptual artist, Krzysztof Wodiczko to Seoul. Take the long escalator ride to a wide space in B1 to meet one of the greatest living artists of our era. In Front
Review
Lee Ha-eun
2017.09.03 22:39
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REMEMBER THE Fridays when you came back home with a group of friends, gathered around a DVD player, and munched on a bowl of snacks? What were you watching? Were you a fan of mysteries? Science documentaries? Or were you also one of the chick flick addicts? Chick flicks usually refer to romantic comedy films about love between a guy and a girl. The term initially was used to describe erotic movies, but now the Oxford Dictionary defines it as “movies that appeal to young women.” Gary Martin, the author of The Phrase Finder explains that chick flicks’ specific appeal to women only started in the
Review
Kim Min-jung
2017.09.03 18:58