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By Anne Hilty

Including women in the workforce makes good business sense.

It’s time once again for the prestigious Jeju Forum for Peace and Prosperity, May 29-31, to be held at Haevichi Hotel & Resort in Pyoseon. Under the theme of “New Waves in Asia,” this year’s Forum is shaping up to be the best yet.

One of those “new waves” is the rise of

women – in business, government, and elsewhere. The current era, frequently referred to as both the “Asian Century” and “Women’s Century,” is already seeing the rapid ascension of each – which places Asian women in a unique position.

Korea’s election of its first female president, H.E. Park Geun-hye, is a prime example. Her achievement has received extensive coverage by world media – and brought about her inclusion in Time Magazine’s celebrated annual list of “The 100 Most Influential People in the World.”

Other women in the Asia-Pacific region have also risen to positions of political influence throughout the years, currently including President Yingluck Shinawatra of Thailand, Burma’s Aung San Suu Kyi, Prime Minister Julia Gillard of Australia, and Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

Additionally, as identified by Forbes’ “Asia’s 50 Power Businesswomen,” a growing number of women in Asia have taken the helm of organizations both Continued on page 3

Gender equity equals growthPhoto by

The Jeju Weekly4th Anniversary

May 2013

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http://english.jeju.go.kr/

Jeju World Natural Heritage

A treasure Island for all seven billion of the world’s people.The world comes to Jeju, Jeju goes to the world

Now everyone is invited to Jeju

Nature, humanity and culture in harmonyA global village that is a beautiful green paradiseJeju offers you a moving and healing experience2010 UNESCO World Natural Heritage

“Triple-Crown” Winner2011 New7Wonders of Nature2012 World Conservation Congress2020 Global Environmental Capital City is on the horizon!

Still Building an international city

By Darren Southcott

It is my first year, but it is now four years since The Jeju Weekly was born. With the help of Grandmother Seolmundae, here’s to four more!

A lot can happen in four years! Many things that were on the horizon in 2009 are now in full swing and Jeju has grown immensely, in many directions. 89 editions have passed and only She knows how many articles.

Looking back at that first edition, it is evident how things change, but things stay the same. Publisher Song Jung-hee asked back in May, 2009, “Why are there no bus schedules and route maps in English?” I overheard the same thing asked only last week.

In that opening editorial, Song set out her goal for the paper: to turn the city’s slogan - Free International City - into “a reality for foreigners.” But, as Rohit Talwar told the Weekly a couple of weeks ago: “a slogan is a promise.”

But Jeju’s slogan is more than a promise, it is a legal entity: “The Special Act on Jeju Free International City” was promulgated in January, 2002. It is what people are told when they arrive at the airport and what they are reminded of when they leave. It is drilled home.

At The Jeju Weekly, we probably owe our existence to this Special Act, as the slogan gave impetus to projects previously unrealizable, or unimaginable. It continues to be the Jeju Weekly’s goal to contribute towards Jeju as an international city, in whatever guise that may be.

It is not an easily achievable aim and Jeju’s

international residents have mixed views about whether the paper has so far succeeded in giving the community a voice.

New Zealander Alister Martin believes the newspaper is little more than a “tourist brochure,” while others feel the paper needs more independence if it is to truly represent international residents. There is also a feeling that the paper is too teacher-centric, neglecting the majority of non-Koreans on Jeju: migrant workers and international spouses.

Despite these notes of caution, the majority of feedback was positive. American Tom Summers says, “It's a branch not only [within] the Western community, but between the Korean and Western communities.” Another American, Connor Rafferty, says, “...It's mostly pro-Jeju, but I assume that its mandate is to be pro-Jeju. Plus, it should be pro-Jeju. We should all be pro-Jeju. Jeju is interesting as hell.”

I agree: “Jeju is interesting as hell” and I hope our stories reflect that. While ideally the paper would be a fifth estate within Jeju official media, the reality necessitates a balanced approach - between critique and celebration.

Over the next year, although I will doubtlessly be found guilty of “repping” Jeju - and that is a good thing - I will also strive to make the Jeju Weekly the voice of the international community, taking a critical stance on the island’s status as a Free International City and providing a forum for Jeju concerns.

Jeju is unique in Korea in having an English community newspaper and the platform it provides is available to all. We thank you all for your support.

Message from Governor Woo Keun-min

Congratulations to The Jeju Weekly on your fourth anniversary!

The Jeju Weekly is the global representative newspaper of Jeju Island. It is distributed to 60 countries and accessed from 176 countries online. I hope it expands its horizons further so that it is enjoyed all

over the world and it becomes one of Jeju’s beloved newspapers.

Jeju Island is a treasure Island for all seven billion of the world’s people. This year the number of foreign tourists is already up 40 percent and over 1 million tourists per month are visiting Jeju Island. Ten million foreign tourists also visit Korea and It is becoming more important to offer diverse high-quality content to tourists.

Blazing a trail for this new era, The Jeju Weekly has been creating unique Jeju content that can be shared and touched by English speakers the world over. I appreciate all of the work you have put in over the last four years to report on Jeju’s diverse attractions. I truly hope that The Jeju Weekly will continue its success.

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Continued from page 1 public and private. In Korea, this includes Kim Sung-joo of Sung-joo Group and MCM Holdings AG, who led President Park’s election team; Romi Haan of Haan Corporation; Hyun Jeong-eun of Hyundai Group; and, Lee Mikyung of CG Entertainment / Media.

Lee Boo-jin (Hotel Shilla and Samsung Everland) and Lee Seo-hyun (Cheil Industries and Cheil Worldwide), daughters of Samsung titan Lee Kun-hee, who were recently named on the Forbes Billionaires List, are considered rising stars.

Jeju Forum, showcasing trends of the region in matters of economy and security, will launch this year’s event with Special Session 1: “21st Century: ‘Asian Century’, ‘Women’s Century’ – Achieving Full Economic Potential Through Gender Equality.”

The keynote speaker of this highly anticipated session is Ms. Freda Miriklis, president of the International Federation of Business and Professional Women.

Miriklis, elected president of BPW International in 2011 and a member of the organization’s international executive board since 2005, is from Australia, where she is an investment adviser, Fellow of the Financial Services Institute of Australasia, Designated Trading Representative with the Australia Secu-rities Exchange, and Master Stockbroker with the Stockbrokers’ Association of Australia.

In this Special Session, Miriklis will present the economic prosperity to be gained by including women equally in the workplace, and the political and social benefits of full gender equality. She will highlight ways in which equal partner-ship between women and men enhances the function and profit not only of business but of the professional world as well, including public and private arenas.

Miriklis previously visited Korea as a keynote speaker of the Global CSR Conference 2011 in Seoul, sponsored by UN Global Compact and hosted by Global Compact Network Korea. CSR, or Corporate Social Responsibility, is an increasingly powerful trend in the global business world. Miriklis also visited Jeju at that time, in preparation for the BPW International triennial congress to be held here in 2014.

Tangential to her participation in Jeju Forum, the BPW International president will launch the “Korea in Action: YES for WEPs!” campaign, in partnership with UN Global Compact and International Organisation of Employers, and their Korean representatives, Global Compact Network Korea and Korea Employer’s Federation respectively. This dynamic initiative will exhort Korean CEOs to sign a pledge in support of “Women’s Empowerment Principles [WEPs]: Equality Means Business.”

The Women’s Empowerment Princi-ples, a joint initiative of UN Women and UN Global Compact, were enacted in 2010 by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon. Moon, from Korea, delivered the keynote address to Jeju Forum in 2009.

These 7 principles are: (1) Leadership which promotes gender equality; (2) Equal opportunity, inclusion, and non-discrimination; (3) Health, safety, and freedom from violence; (4) Education and training; (5) Enterprise develop-ment, supply chain, and marketing practices; (6) Community leadership and engagement; and, (7) Transparency, measuring, and reporting.

BPW International, founded in 1930,

has become one of the world’s most influential networks for the empow-erment of women, with approximately 30,000 members in 95 countries on 5 continents. The NGO has consultative status with the United Nations, partic-ipatory status with the Council of Europe, and has made the WEPs a top organi-zational priority. Approximately 800 influential women from across the globe are expected to attend the 2014 BPW International congress, which will take place here on Jeju Island as hosted by BPW Korea Federation.

The lead Special Session of Jeju Forum 2013, according to Miriklis, “will give participants a look into the future – a future in which women and men work together to create peace and prosperity throughout the Asia-Pacific region and across the globe, a future in which the women of Asia, in this ‘Asian Century,’ have an instrumental role to play.”

Dr. Hilty is a cultural psychologist

from New York who now makes Jeju Island her home. She is a member and 2014 Congress Coordinator of BPW International.

May 29-31, 2013Haevichi Hotel & Resort, Jeju, Korea

Photo courtesy

Jeju Forum ProgramWednesday May 29[13:30-20:00] Registration[14:00-15:20] Special Session I: 21st Century: ‘Asian Century’, ‘Women’s Century’- Achieving Full Economic Potential through Gender Equality[15:40-18:40] 10 concurrent sessions[19:00-20:20] Welcome dinner

Thursday May 30[8:00-20:00] Registration[9:00-10:20] Three concurrent sessions[10:30-11:30] Opening Ceremony: Keynote Speeches[11:40-12:40] World Leader’s session: "New Waves in Asia"[12:40-14:00] Lunch[14:00-18:40] 15 concurrent sessions[19:00-20:20] Official Dinner

Friday 31 May[8:00-18:00] Registration[09:00~10:10] Special Session II: ‘Meeting the Legendary Investor Jim Rogers- After the Financial Crisis, the World Economy and Successful Investment’[10:40-12:00] Five concurrent sessions[12:00-13:20] Luncheon[13:20-18:00] 16 concurrent sessions[18:20- ] Closing Ceremony & Farewell Dinner

For a detailed Jeju Forum program with further information on speakers and sessions, please visit www.jejuforum.or.kr

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Jeju supports East Timor neighbor

By Darren Southcott

Korea is in many ways the poster child of international aid. Post-civil war, the country was among the very poorest in the world and between 1945 and the 1990s received a total of 12.69 billion in aid from the international community.

Now the 15th strongest economy, Korea stopped receiving World Bank assistance in 1995 and was only removed from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Official Development Assistance (ODA) recipient list in 2000. By 2010, Korea became the only ever country to graduate from ODA recipient to donor within the OECD.

ODA is normally provided through central government or specialized agencies such as JICA (Japan Interna-tional Cooperation Agency), or CIDA (Canadian International Development Agency). In Korea this role is fulfilled by KOICA (Korea International Cooperation Agency), which now has priority pro-grams in 44 nations worldwide, provid-ing approximately two thousand volunteers. Ban Ki Moon believes the country is now a “l ighthouse for developing countries.”

Jeju shares Korea’s history of develop-ment assistance and aims to be a ‘lighthouse’ in itself. Governor Woo Keun-min said:

“We, Jeju Island, have received inter-national aid in the past. As a member of the global community, Jeju has a responsibility to seek out others in need and help them,” said Woo.

Jeju began its ODA program in 2012, contributing 10 million won to dig Abyssinian wells in two regions of Cambodia. This was a joint project with Jeju Gukhwawon, a local NGO. In another non-ODA project, the Kim Mandeok Association constructed two schools in Vietnam, donating them to the local authorities.

The current 2013 project targets East Timor and is the largest to date. Ko Bong gu, Deputy Director of International Relations, explained further.

“On March 15 last year we established a cooperative partnership with KOICA to exchange information in the field of ODA and consultation alongside central government, but this project is led by the Peace and Cooperation Division of Jeju Special Self-Governing Province,” said Ko.

This elevation of Jeju on to the inter-national stage, performing a role more often fulfilled by Seoul, is part of the increasing realization of the island’s free international city status. Like Korea, Jeju has its own history of poverty and officials feel it has a duty to the inter-national community..

“The concept of ODA is to contribute to developing countries and improve the quality of life, living conditions and economic environment. Jeju received [ODA] and now wants to give back, moving from a recipient to a donor...it is time for Jeju to become active and

contribute to society.”The decision to support East Timor was

born from a shared history.“East Timor shares some key historical

experiences with Jeju. Jeju has the bitter experience of being a colony of Japan and then after liberation the tragic 4.3 Incident occurred, leaving a deep scar in Jeju...East Timor was also colonised, by Portugal, in the 18th century and then after l iberation was invaded...by neighboring Indonesia in 1975. It was finally liberated in 2002 after a long war of independence claiming many lives.”

This shared experience of colonization and conflict led to Jeju officials wanting to reach out and provide help to the East Timorese.

“Through the concept of building peace, East Timor was chosen to be a donor recipient and partner to Jeju. As an island of world peace - and with a shared history with East Timor - Jeju selected the country for the ODA project.”

Despite the shared history, the foundation for ODA necessitates a long and thorough assessment of beneficiary

needs. “When we thought about what kind of

ODA would be appropriate the most important point was to consider the needs of the recipient country. Officials from Jeju visited East Timor in 2012, met with East Timorese officials and consulted with KOICA and the Korean Embassy in Dili. We asked them, “what does your government need?”

The East Timorese requested essential medical items from Jeju officials, including suction pumps, stethoscopes, PC-based digital oscilloscope and more. The total ODA value is 60 million won and the procurement will be completed before the team’s visit to Dili in July this year, when further research will be conducted.

A common criticism of aid is the short-termism of fly-by-night projects that serve organizational growth as much as beneficiary needs. Ko says Jeju is in it for the long haul, with this being merely a first step. Their first visit involved consultation with a number of East Timorese ministries where various long-term projects were discussed.

“One ministry [said] East Timor... imports most of its crops [so] they want to receive Jeju’s expertise in the agricultural field through technological transfer. Some experts could train East Timorese in growing tangerines and flowers...Another project is to build a sister relationship between Jeju National University Hospital and Dili Hospital to train doctors in Jeju before they return to Dili to improve services there.”

The transfer between Jeju and East Timor is clearly expected to grow, benefiting both donor and recipient.

“In the long term, we think we need to expand this ODA program, but for the time being we are going to focus on East Timor. Once the capacity of our ODA program grows we can look at other destination countries for Jeju support.”

Photo courtesy

■ Title: “Globalization: In Search of New Policy Directions for Foreign Residents” ■ Date: May 30(Th), 2013 @ 17:20-18:40■ Venue: Basement, 6-D, Haevichi Hotel & Resort, Jeju■ Host: Jeju Special Self-Governing Province Jeju Foreign Advisory Committee (FAC)

JEJU FORUM for Peace & Prosperity 2013

■ Keynote speaker: Han, Hyo-keun(Deputy Director, IOM Migration Research&Training Centre)The Immigration Policy of Korea (The 2nd Basic Plan for Korean Immigration Policy)

■ Discussants:Steven McKinney Sunhwa Lee Beverley von Zielonka (Head of Seoul Global Center) (Jeju Provincial Council member) (Head of Middle & Senior School, BHA)Harold Dale Dean Brown(Native English Teacher) (FAC member)

■ Moderator: Marsha Bogolin■ Participants: FAC members, Seoul Global Center members, Native English Teachers, Jeju residents. etc※ All attendees are welcome

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Reddot design award winner 2013Hallasu

Another wonderHallasu is coming to youJeju Island, New7Wonders of NatureThe world’s treasure Island and guardian of water! HallasuLaunching April 24!

Biosphere status steers development

By Petroc Kernow

Jeju does things in threes: progenitor gods, plenties, lacks, UNESCO World Natural Heritage sites. It even has three separate UNESCO statuses: Biosphere Reserve and Global Geopark are the others.

The abundance certainly muddies the waters somewhat and since the New7 Wonders debacle such titles attract a certain cynicism from the general public; however, these crowns are not bestowed upon all and sundry. Jeju received Biosphere Reserve status in December 2002 and is one of only four south of the 38th Parallel and another four north of it.

Exactly what are Biosphere Reserves? They are: "areas of terrestrial and coastal ecosystems promoting solutions to

reconcile the conservation of biodiversity with its sustainable use." Globally there are 610 of them in 117 countries. (In comparison, there are 188 World Natural Heritage sites over 78 countries.)

For a longer answer we must go back to the UNESCO Biosphere Conference in 1968 and the launch of the Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Programme in 1970. As is clear from the title, the concept central to MAB is sustainable human develop-ment in tandem with environmental protection: this contrasts with protecting pristine nature from human influence. UNESCO calls the reserves, “Learning laboratories for sustainable develop-ment.”

In keeping with Jeju’s love of the ménage à trois, Biosphere Reserves have three functions, mirroring the inter-locking spheres of classic sustainability theory:

Conservation - to contribute to the conservation of landscapes, ecosystems, species and genetic variation;

Development - to foster economic and human development which is socio-culturally and ecologically sustainable;

Logistic function - to provide support for research, monitoring, education and information exchange related to local, national and global issues of conservation and development.

This is broken down within each biosphere reserve to - you guessed it - three zones:

- the core area- the buffer zone- the transition areaThe core zone on Jeju roughly corre-

sponds to Mt. Halla National Park, surrounded by a buffer zone incorpo-rating much of the forested mountain slopes. The third transition area is the

“jungsangan,” mid-mountain areas between 200-600 meters above sea level, excluding areas of urban planning.

There are notable exceptions to this neat zoning, however. The valleys of the Yeongcheon and Hyodoncheon are classified within the core zone snaking all the way down to the estuary on the Seogwipo coast and incorporating the islands of Beomseom, Munseom and Seopseom. The coastal areas thereabouts are also the only maritime regions included within the buffer and transi-tional zones (see map on page 7). These zones necessitate tailored management approaches.

“Within the core area, only research and monitoring are permitted; however, as tourism is long established here it is allowed to continue, although it must not be expanded. In the buffer area, more tourist activity is allowed but this is also regulated,” said leader of the Biosphere Reserve and Global Geopark Team, Ko Kil-Rim.

Jeju’s Biosphere Reserve status is up for assessment and the results will be announced by UNESCO on May 29 of this year. Research was undertaken by UNESCO last year and the decision was made March 21-23. Although it is not a foregone conclusion, “I don’t think there will be any big problems,” said Ko.

In contrast to World Natural Heritage or Geopark Status, Biosphere Reserves are governed under what is known as ‘soft law.’ This has attracted some criti-cism as there are no ‘hard’ (enforceable) laws to govern their status, instead relying on declarations, local laws and regulations, if any exist. Localities, therefore, have more freedom in governance than under the other titles. The Jeju government, says Ko, is supportive of the World Heritage Team managing the Reserve.

“Although there are no laws protecting the Biosphere Reserve, the local Continued on page 7

Photo Courtesy

Congratulations on The Jeju Weekly's Fourth Anniversary

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The Korean shrimp in a whale fight

By Ivo Spanjersberg Darren Southcott

In affairs of the sea, the People’s Republic of China has discovered its new economic power has given it a lot of weight in the game of advanced maritime border chess. It is a development that has not gone unnoticed by Korea and Japan, who have responded with moves of their own.

China lodged a claim with the United Nations Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf (UN-CLCS) on Dec. 15, 2012, stating its continental shelf in the East China Sea extended beyond its territorial limits under Article 76 of the Convention on the Law of the Sea (UN-LOS). UN-CLCS is engaged when a party to UN-LOS claims continental shelf boundaries “200 nautical miles from the baselines from which the breadth of its territorial sea is measured.”

China’s claim now laps at the Okinawa Trough, in Japan’s southwest. Not wanting to be outflanked, on Dec. 26 Korea reporting to UN-CLCS that it had doubled its own 2009 continental-shelf claim. A three-month appeal window slammed shut in March and Korea’s claim will be on the Commission’s New York agenda this July.

“The continental shelf in this report is extended by at least 38 kilometers and at most 125 kilometers toward Japan compared with our preliminary report submitted in May 2009,” an official from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade told the Kyunghyang Shinmun.

Korea’s territorial claim now extends far southeast of Jeju Island, overlapping w i t h C h i n a ’ s c l a i m b e t w e e n

While the claims of China and Korea clash, they also push into the territory of Japan’s Okinawa Islands.

Although the Korean and Chinese claims may intuitively seem excessive (see map), they are both founded in interpretations of international law: Paragraphs 3 - 6 of Article 76 of UN-LOS. The official lodging of the complaint also ensures a stronger hand at the negoti-ating table. A foreign ministry official said:

“The trilateral negotiations will not be easy since it will be difficult to yield even one centimeter. It took China and Viet-nam 30 years to agree to an exclusive economic zone (EEZ) in the early 2000s. It will be difficult to find a solution other than through long-term negotiations and political decisions.”

The Korean claim comes on the back of a lingering dispute with China over Ieodo (Socotra Rock), a submerged reef approximately 80 nautical miles south-west of Jeju. The Korean government has built the Ieodo Ocean Research Station at the reef and claims it is the Ieodo of Jeju myth, the spiritual abode of dead fisher-men and haenyeo.

The Korea Herald reported this April that the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries could permanently station researchers at Ieodo Research Station, “as a way of strengthening the country’s control.” Korea also plans building ships capable of actively patrolling the waters around the submerged reef.

Until as recently as 15 thousand years ago Japan, South Korea and China were connected by land and one could walk between them without wet feet, while even a walk to Taiwan was a serious option. Despite the water rising with the

end of the Ice age, China’s claim to UN-CLCS implicitly recalls this, claiming the seabed is still “the natural pro-longation of [its] land territory.”

Since Jeju is the land nearest to the

contested area one might think that the people who make a living on the sea would care more about the current conflict. “We don’t really fish so far out at sea,” one fisherman from Moseulpo, the part of Jeju closest to Ieodo, said. “We mainly fish in the coastal areas. It is the Chinese who actually do fish around Ieodo.”

This he did not mind, and neither did the other fishermen. “We rarely see the Chinese fishermen, and usually it is after a storm has blown them off course towards Jeju. We pick them up, help them, and often they go back to China as soon as possible.” One fisherman said laughing: “As long as the Chinese don’t claim Marado or Gapado, we are fine with it.”

Not so the navy, however. Their ongoing construction of a new navy base at Gangjeong is at least partly based on Chinese claims on Korean maritime territory. From a national perspective this encroachment is likely to result in real effects on Jeju, whether the locals like it or not. Yonhap reported in January of this year:

“The continental shelf in the East China Sea is believed to be rich in natural gas and oil deposits.”

While the Iedo patrol boat is sure to find safe harbor at the naval base at Gangjeong, the base itself is sure to strengthen Seoul’s hand when seeking to enforce any resource claims in the waters south of Jeju.

As all sides await the UN-CLCS recommendations this summer, it’s far from “checkmate.”

Continental shelf claims in East China Sea

Korea

Korea~Japan Joint Development Zone

200 nautical milesfrom China

200 nautical milesfrom Japan

200 nautical milesfrom Korea

China

Japan

Korea’s 2009 claim limit(preliminary report)

Limit of continental shelf claim submitted by Korea

Limit of continental shelf claim submitted by China

Okinawa Trough

East Sea

Yellow Sea

Image by

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The final frontier, under the sea

By James Hill

Space may be the final frontier on TV, but here on Earth it’s under the sea. With only 10 percent of the ocean having been explored there are literally millions of undiscovered species and places to espy; the ocean floor is undoubtedly the site of the next great exploration.

Jeju offers a unique location to dive and is home to a burgeoning diving industry. Potential divers don’t even need years of intensive astronaut training - merely a few days on an open water scuba diving course and you’re good to go.

The two main currents - fed by the cold North Pacific and the warmer East China Sea - create remarkable conditions as the two battle it out for dominance around Jeju, bringing warm waters from June until about November, and colder waters for the rest of year. Plants native to both flourish in the sea around the island, while the types of fish vary according to the season.

The real draw of Jeju, however, is its soft coral gardens and dramatic under-water rock formations. Hidden away in sheltered basins and alongside rock walls are breathtakingly beautiful coral forma-tions that would make Nemo weep for joy. The majestic rock formations rise and fall underwater just as dramatically as on land, with great cliffs dropping away to a dark abyss edging alongside colossal jagged rock pinnacles.

The seascape never disappoints. Neither does the wildlife: from large flounders (cue Little Mermaid music) and giant jellyfish (up to several meters long in some cases) to the minuscule slug-like nudibranch that the keen and observant, if rather slow, diver may find, no two dives are the same. As diving instructor and Jeju resident James Barker put it: “In my five years of diving I haven’t once come across as many soft corals as I have here. The same goes for its rich diversity of nudibranchs which make it a top spot for macro-diving.”

All this, as well as the relative lack of

accessibility of good diving spots on the rest of the Korean Peninsula, make Jeju very popular for diving enthusiasts. The diving industry is largely focused around Seogwipo, where the first dive shop opened in the 70s by Korea’s first PADI Dive instructor. From those humble beginnings has bloomed a whole industry, with 30 thousand people diving off Seogwipo a year, while perhaps 10 thousand others go to other sites on the island.

But it’s not all been rainbows and butterflies. Last year, following a tragic accident, the coast guard suspended all diving activity from boats. Ralf Deutsch, owner of the Big Blue 33 dive shop in Seogwipo, which caters to most English-speaking divers, said that previously the dive shops had been chartering local fishing boats to take them out to the dive sites offshore. This arrangement wasn’t technically legal, but as licenses were not available under Korean law, it was the

best they could do. Following the accident, the coast guard issued a blanket ban.

“I could understand their position. They felt things had to be legal. What I can’t understand is the way they went around it. They were shutting us down from one day to the next. It would have killed several shops without the association,” said Deutsch.

But that has not stopped the divers and the Jeju Dive Shop Association, which represents virtually all the shops on the island (32 at last count), is back with a bang. It represents “a necessary step for the industry on Jeju”, according to Deutsch.

By the end of June, the association plans to have three custom-built, fully equipped and diver-friendly boats in operation for use exclusively by diving shops. These feature such basics as a rear platform and ladders to allow for diving from the boat, indoor seating and full underwater protections for divers, as well as luxuries like sun decks and padding.

There are also plans to expand the number of dive sites by setting up dive platforms on permanent barges out in the harbour to provide alternatives to the islands off the Seogwipo coast. One is already being refitted, while another bigger one should be ready later this year.

So, if you’ve ever considered trying diving, or if you’re already certified but have been putting it off, this is the year. Diving on Jeju has never been better, or safer, than it is right now. The next great exploration could well be yours.

Popular dive shops

Big Blue 33, Seogwipo CityCost: 115,000 won for two dives in the Seogwipo Marine Reserve with equipment.Contact: Ralf DeutschTel.: 064-733-1733

Ocean Tree, Seogwipo CityCost: 110,000 won for two dives in the Seogwipo Marine Reserve with equipment.Contact: Simon HanTel.: 010-3136-0710

Continued from page 5 government are aware of the restrictions and they consult with the team on development projects. We also work alongside them; for example, they requested research be carried out on the Yeongcheon which was carried out by Mt. Halla Research Institute,” said Ko “There are also Jeju special laws to protect the environment, such as the restrictions on Jeju stones and soils being removed.”

When Biosphere Reserve status was first received, despite the pride with which Jeju’s UNESCO triple crown is now paraded, there was initial resistance due to fears that development would be blocked on the island. Kang Min-Suk of Jeju’s World Natural Heritage Depart-ment doesn’t see continued development as problematic for environmental protection.

“I don’t foresee any threats to Jeju’s status in the near future as Jeju has very tough laws compared to other provinces.

New development is tightly controlled,” said Kang.

Man and the Biosphere implies the harmonization of conservation and development and Jeju officials are currently planning to use UNESCO status as a vehicle for sustainable development and to benefit locals.

“We are looking at ways of using UNESCO as a brand for Jeju products. For example, we will be marketing Jeju organic mushrooms under the brand and also increase the development of ecotourism. There are plans to select an eco-village to develop as a center of ecotourism and sustainable develop-ment. We are in the consultation process now for this,” said Kang.

The aim of these projects is to bring the benefits back to the Jeju people and integrate the economy with the protec-tion of the environment. Kang felt it brought other benefits, too.

“Since being recognized internationally, an international consciousness has been

fostered among the Jeju people. We now see Jeju as part of an international community and a place to be protected

for all,” said Kang.The results of UNESCO’s reassessment

will be announced on May 29.

Photos courtesy

Biosphere Reserve Zoning

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08 May 2013Culturew

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Matriarchal cultures:the Minangkabau and Jeju

How Liquor Stinks!

By Ok-kyung Pak

My first contact with Jeju was when I came to visit my mother, who decided to return to Korea and settle, leaving behind Canada where she had lived for more than 40 years. It was during that visit in 2011 that I came to hear about Jeju’s fascinating so-called “matriarchal” family structure and the strong jeju women. I told myself that there must be a reason why I was brought to Jeju, other than coming to visit my mother.

I am an anthropologist. It so happens that I studied another matriarchal (or matrilineal) society in West Sumatra, Indonesia in 1980-81 and 1986: the Minangkabau people. Although I knew very little of Jeju Island, I noticed an interesting similarity between Jeju society and that of West Sumatra, Indonesia.

A peculiarity of these two societies is their matriarchal family structure, where women “control economy” and are often heads of the family (although other Confucian patterns of family structure appear present in Jeju - see Jeju Women’s History (2010) by Yang, Young-Oh).

Historically in Jeju, women were providers of the family, earning a living through diving in the sea. In West Sumatra, women provide for the family, but through rice cultivation - women are

owners of the rice paddies and land is inherited from mother to daughter, through the matriline.

Another fascinating aspect of these two societies is their origin myths. Both societies have female mythical ancestors - Seolmundae Halmang in Jeju and Bundo

Kanduang in West Sumatra - that are highly revered and occupy a central position in symbolic and cultural repre-sentation. Both Jeju people and the Minangkabau have male ancestors - called half-gods in Jeju and mythical kings in West Sumatra.

Published literature on these two societies largely neglects to explain the meaning of these male ancestors, although their existence is recognized. In the case of the Minangkabau people, I provide an explanation in my publication (see footnote), but I have not yet come across any attempt to explain Jeju’s male ancestors in the literature.

However, I see a similarity in the role of the male ancestors of both societies. In myth and in history, their role has been to link to the “center” - being the mainland Silla Kingdom and China (Jeju), or India and Macedonia (the Minangkabau).

A third fascinating aspect of these “matriarchal” societies is the process of modernization and its affect on women, who used to play key economic roles and be the backbone of society.

In Jeju, young women no longer wish to continue diving, which is hard labor. Among the Minangkabau, women no longer wish to work in rice fields under the hot sun. Both societies are struggling with the “transformation” of their societies as the evolving place of women and their symbolic representation marks

a shift in society’s identity and the autonomy of women.

“Gender equality” is now one of the central themes of global development, the result of a long history of struggle in many societies. Jeju and the Minangkabau, both of which had a foundation of “gender equality” - equal rights, equal access to resources and opportunities - should not loosen their grip on this hard sought dream, which many societies are struggling to obtain.

Based on my Indonesian experience and knowledge, there is much for me to learn about Jeju Island and its people, as well as to contribute to the desire for a better future for this rapidly changing island.

Further reading: “The enigma of male ancestors among the Matrilineal Minangiabau of West Sumatra”, in Nicole-Claude Mathieu (ed), A House without a Daughter is a Dead House: Person and Gender in matrilineal and\or Uxorilocal Societies (in French)., 2006, Paris: Editions de l’Herne

Ms. Pak is currently Ph.D. Research

Associate at the University of Montreal, Canada and also at Jeju National University. She divides her residence between Jeju and Montreal, Canada. She lectures on Jeju identity and gender relations in Jeju and Sumatra at the Peace Island Summer School at Jeju National University.

Published by Jeju Special Self-Governing Province and Jeju Cultural Center

The following is an excerpt from 'Myths of Jeju Island,' a collection of Jeju's mythical stories of goddesses

An ill-tempered Halmang took a top seat in the Hwangdarigwe grotto palace in Sanggwiri Village. She turned Kang

Harubang (grandpa in dialect; here, it stands for a male god) her husband out of the interior chamber and put him in a servant’s corner. [“gwe” in the Jeju dia-lect refers to a shadowy grotto-forming space at the side of a rock.]

The Hwangdarigwe is a thickly wooded, shaded area surrounded and covered by camellia trees and other evergreens. It’s a constantly dusky shrine even in the hot summer. Seated inside is the grand-

mother of the Song clan, while Kang Harubang her husband, is located in a servant’s corner near the entrance. Before they sat separately in the “gwe,” the devout villagers used to pay tribute to the couple for their souls.

On a sunny afternoon, Kang Harubang was taking a walk to the seashore. Just then, he saw a diving women’s net full of conch, abalone, and other fresh marine products that looked like they would be

good with some rice wine.“I feel like having a bowl of rice wine,”

he thought, then drank some with the fresh seafood the diving women offered him.

When he got back, Song Halmang complained of her husband’s fishy smell. They were complete opposites as far as their taste in food was concerned.On another afternoon, Kang Harubang Continued on page 9

Photo courtesy

Photos courtesy

09May 2013 My Jejuw

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Getting Jeju’s heritage on the big screen

By Darren Southcott

Update: This interview was conducted on April 23. Rositano has since reached his $4000 target, but donations are accepted unti l May 22 at www.kickstarter.com

Giuseppe Rositano is an expat docu-mentary maker living on Jeju Island. His groundbreaking documentary “At Search for Spirits on the Island of Rocks, Wind and Women” is in the final production stages and he is crowdsourcing to raise the funds to ensure its release. He feels it is a project that is of value to us all.

“People should donate to promote a different type of mythology that is not one of the major mythologies. They are just as complicated and valuable as the Greek myths and they tell us a lot about the human condition. The Greek myths surely inform our lifestyles and I think it is valuable to be able to watch and hear someone telling the [Jeju] stories,” said Rositano.

Rositano has lived on Jeju for seven years and decided to make the film when his interest grew in a belief system that was “being played out right under

everyone’s noses.” That began a journey that has resulted in 600 hours of footage of storytelling and shamanic practices across five Jeju villages.

“I am currently still editing, fact-checking and raising funds...We have over 600 hours of footage but...I’m not allowed to touch anything anymore. I went filming again yesterday, but I’m trying to stop that,” he said.

600 hours have been whittled down to two and another 30 minutes need to be shaved off.

“It wasn’t so hard because each village has a story and a structure. The hard part is the two hours to an hour and a half, because you become attached to what you shot. That is harder than the rest,” said Rositano.

When the filming started Rositano was new to filmmaking and it has been an independent project all the way through. One of the toughest experiences was the reaction to the preview screening of his work.

“The feedback was tough - it was a really hard audience because at first showing...were Jeju’s most famous shrine experts, so really intimidating.”

Rositano, however, took their advice on board and also consults regularly with

established experts, such as Moon Moo Byoung.

“I go to his office to consult regularly - I was there today actually. He believes in a scholarly way of researching these stories and there is one version of the stories.... others say that there are many versions and we should just accept that.”

Rositano went in without precon-ceptions of what he wanted to capture, rather looking to document practices as he found them.

“This is an experiential film - whatever we find, we find. I am not saying I am an authority...My goal was to go there and find what I find, rather than frame it as a preconceived idea. We discovered a couple of things that weren’t in any of the anthropological books...and [one expert] wanted to know where I had found [them], so I think we are contributing somewhat,” said Rositano.

Expert Moon was quoted as saying he would have liked to have seen the documentary cover more of the religious practices in the world now. Rositano, however, feels the film is fundamentally modern.

“The [people] we talk to are still alive and they are in the modern world. I would say it is ultimately modern as it is

what is there right now,” he said.The reaction to the crowdsourcing has

taken Rositano aback and he is well on course to achieve the $4000 target.

“We are already up to 60 percent and we’ve got a month left. It is unbelievable. We are near $2500 now. The funds go towards film festival fees and then towards subtitlers and renting a studio - all the post-production,” he said.

Rositano aims to enter global film festivals to release his film onto the world stage.

“I think we are gona try Toronto because it is a huge one - I am going to aim for the top. The thing with festivals is if you debut at one you can’t at another. The topic is obscure...but we’ll see,” he said.

Rositano said the journey he has been on since he began filming has made him think more about the human condition.

“It has made me think about religion differently - I am not a religious person, but when I see people praying so fervently to such a different type of deity it made me think that there is something within us that makes us religious. I knew this intellectually before, but now I have experienced it,” Rositano said.

Continued from page 8 strolled about the town and found his village buddies feasting on pork. He salivated over the grilled meat.

“Wow, let me have some of that!” he said and joined them in the feast.

He got dead drunk.As he staggered into Hwangdarigwe, he

reeked of rice wine and pork. His wife

shouted at him in anger when he stepped in, declaring,

“How liquor stinks! From now on, you are not allowed in.”

Staring at her blankly, Kang Harubang asked her,

“Then, where can I go to live?”“Over there, stay at the entrance corner

under the wind,” she replied firmly.

After that, the couple sat separately in the gwe to receive villagers.

Though he had been banished from his wife’s side, he was glad because he liked eating the delicious pork and seafood without having to endure his wife’s scorn.

In spite of their separate seating and differing appetites, they produced four daughters.

The eldest daughter was seated under the Yeonpok-ri in Sogil-ri village, the second was seated with her mother in Hwangdarigwe, the third was seated under the Yeonpokri in Jangjeon-ri, and the youngest was seated in Umjaengee, all providing spiritual protection for the villagers.

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10 May 2013Sportsw

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Korean classes in Jeju CityBy Kim Jinmi

At Jeju Migrant Center When: March 4 to July 30Where: 33-1 Seogwang-ro 2-gil, Jeju City. (on the third floor of the new building, which is at the rear of Jeju Intercity Bus Terminal, in front of the public stadium)How to register: Bring your alien registration card (ARC) or passport to the center For further info: 064-712-1141Web: http://www.jejumc.net/

Day schedule:Korean class level Date Time

Beginner class Tue. & Wed. 10:00-12:002nd basic class Mon. Wed. Fri. 13:00-16:00Intermediate class (3rd level) Mon. Wed. Fri. 13:00-16:00TOPIK test preparation class Sat. 09:30-12:30

Korean class level Date TimeBeginner class Fri. 19:00-21:00

2nd basic class (1) Thurs. 19:00-21:00

2nd basic class (2) Wed. 19:00-21:00

Night schedule:

At Multicultural Family Center When: May (for June's schedule contact the center) Where: #248, 5F Asan Building, Jungang-ro (Ido-2dong) (the ‘Lotteria’ building in

Jeju City Hall)How to register: take your alien registration card (ARC) and fill out a form at the centerFor further info: 064-727-2114

Korean class level Date TimeBasic Mon. and Fri. 13:30-15:30

1st level Mon. to Fri. (five per week) 13:30-15:30

2nd level Mon. to Fri. (five per week) 10:00-12:00

Fundraisers’ ping pong paddles By Petroc Kernow

Another week goes by and another successful Jeju Furey event is held on the island. This time it was the inaugural Jeju Furey Ping Pong tourna-ment held at the Kim Mi-yeong Table Tennis Club

in Jeju City.16 teams entered and battled it out for supremacy

on Saturday April 27 and all proceeds went to the Furey beneficiaries, families in need. This was the second Furey event of the year following the darts tournament on April 7. Next up for Furey is the eagerly awaited Beach Volleyball 9 - BVB9 - on

May 25-26 at Hamdeok Beach.In a night of high tension, the doubles continued

until late, eventually running out of time; the semis and final are yet to be completed. In the singles, Stephen Smith won the main bracket, while Max Palus walked off with the consolation bracket.

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11May 2013 Colorful Jejuw

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Green barley on a charming and windy Gapa-do

The 14th Yongyeon Aboard ConcertBy Eunyoung Choi

The Jeju City Government and Jeju Culture Center will hold the “Yong-yeon Aboard Concert” on Saturday May 25. The show at the Yongyeon Suspension Bridge is from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.

There will be seven teams and 230 performers, including: Ansan Munic-ipal Traditional Orchestra, Jeju Pro-vincial Choir, Jeju Municipal Choir, Children’s Choir, The “Silver” (Elderly) Choir, and also special guests.

From 6:30 p.m. there will be a street parade from Gwandeokjeong to the Yongyeon festival site. Chui-ta-dae, a Korean instrumental orchestra, and Pungmulpae, a Korean traditional percussion band, will accompany the parade.

The concert itself begins at 7:30 p.m. with four themes:

1 - Performances under the theme “Meeting the Mountain Spirit and Dragon King” and

Jeju folk song performances, with poetry recitation.

2 - Ansan Municipal Traditional Orchestra perform “Taepyongso Sinaui”, “Haegum Concerto” and others.

3 - Various performances, such as Korean traditional narrative songs (“Chang”), Korean folk songs (“Pansori”) as well as well-known traditional musicians.

4 - The “Yongyeon couldn’t sleep” performance performed by Ansan Municipal Traditional Orchestra, Jeju Provincial Choir, Jeju Municipal Choir, The Children’s Choir, and The Silver Choir.

The festivities are in tribute to Jeju’s mystical Yongyeon, which is a must-see for locals and visitors, alike.

By Kim Jinmi

The ferry left at 9 a.m. in the morning on May 1 from Moseulpo Harbor to Gapa-do (island). The ferry cleaves through the sea into the chilly wind and takes about 25 minutes to reach the island.

Wind and barley fields welcome the guests ariving at the harbor and visitors are immediately introduced to the services available on the island, such as the bicycle rental service and minbak.

It is said the island is convenient for riding bicycles because of the gentle gradient along with its small size, island map and Jeju Olle Trail. The map dis-plays that there are only 134 households on the island, with a population of just 292. Jeju Olle Trail 10-1 is introduced on a notice board, which explains the safety guidlines for walkers.

Gapado has two wind generators with 500 kw capacity which adds a certain picturesque view to the island. This is the Gapado Carbon Free Island Project, which is a pilot project for eco-friendly green island development by Jeju Special Self-Governing Province.

In the sea I could see haenyeo diving with sunbeams hitting the ocean. The wonderfully warm and peaceful scenes were not spoilt by the chilly, strong wind. Some haenyeo dried seaweed on the

rocks and ground; after a curious visitor asked, a haenyeo said the dried seaweed could be sent by post if wanted.

When the southern part of the island was reached, the view took in Sanbang-san, Mara-do and Mt. Halla, which was surrounded by several oreum. Around the fields, a notice board informed that the fields are lying fallow, as it is prohib-ited to use either agricultural pesticides or chemical fertilizer on Gapa-do.

It took only about two hours to walk all the way around the island and in the interior is the charming Gapado elemen-tary school which has only eight students. All the visitors looked satisfied resting in the wind-blown barley, and the sea and sky seemed in harmony. As the small ship embarks again for Jeju, your stress has dissipated on Gapa-do.

Bicycle rental fee information:(from 9:00 to 16:00 every day)Adult (single-seat): 4,000 wonAdult (double-seat): 8,000 wonChild (single-seat): 3,000 wonChild (double-seat): 6,000won

Ferry information:Adult fare: 4,000 or 5,000 won (depends on ferry size)From Moseulpo to Gapado:09:00, 11:00, 14:00, 16:00**For further information call: 064-794-5490

From Gapado to Moseulpo:09:20, 11:20, 14:20, 16:20**For further information call: 011-699-7059

Dolajubang & Dolajumang‘Dolhareubang’ means ‘Stone Grandfather.’

‘Dolajubang’ means ‘Stone Uncle.’‘Dolajumang’ means ‘Stone Auntie.’

The Dolhareubang is the longtime protector of Jeju.Actually, there is only the Dolhareubang on Jeju.

The special aunties and uncles only exist in Pachi’s orchard.

To contact the artist, email greamarts@gmail.com, or connect with “GREAM” on Facebook.

Photo by

Jeju Horse Racing Park perfect for a picnic

By Kim Jinmi

The Jeju Horse Racing Park has got one sand track that is 1,600 meters in length and 20 meters in width. It has two grandstands with a capacity of 6,400 and up to 500 horses race at the track per day. It is not so well know that there are also zoological gardens where visitors

can see various kinds of horses, such one of the biggest horses in the world, the Clydesdale, and the smallest, the Shetland Pony. The Jeju horse is also in the grounds and horseriding is available for children.

Horse and carriage rideDates: April 24 - Nov. 30 (on Wednesdays and Sundays only)Fee: FreeOperating time: 10:30 - 17:00 (Changeable depending on weather conditions)

Further informationPark admission fee: 1,000 wonTransport: Buses taking the Pyeonghwa-ro towards Jungmun or Moseulpo take about 45 min. from Jeju City Intercity Bus Terminal. Get off at Jeju Race Park, or “Jeju Gyeongma Gongwon.”

Information source : KRA

12 May 2013Calendarw

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Community CalendarJeju Education Meetups

Korean-English Language Exchange

Jeju Foreign Language Club (English)

Performance and Festivals

Nanta

A Saturday Walk in the MuseumWith jazz by Lee Jung Sik and Lee Seong Jun

Women divers’ songs and dances to help preserve cultural asset

Exhibitions

Buddha’s smile in Jeju

Beyond Realism exhibition

Jikji and traditional printing culture

Images of the Himalayas

The 5th Solo Exhibition of Choi Mi-Nam

Recreation

Free Movies at Jeju Movie Culture Art Center

http://blog.naver.com/jmoviecenter/

Traditional Jeju Culture Classes

Fesitvals

The 7th O’Sulloc Tea Festival

The 18th Jeju Marathon Festival

Jeju City Announcements2013 Korean Traditional Culture Experience Program

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Following advice to Prevent AI Infection

Jeju City Tour Bus

Seogwipo City AnnouncementsPublic Bicycle Rental Service in Pyoseon-myeon

Seogwipo Astronomy Science Culture Center’s May program

Connecting with The Jeju Weekly

Contacting the Editor

Advertizing

Picking up The Jeju Weekly

FOUR SEASONSThe best skin care in Jeju

Tel: 82-64-744-7682 Email: ejejuchiro@hanmail.net

Spring TeaSummer TeaCheong-cha (Blue Tea)Jeju Black TeaVitamin Green and Black Tea