Korea Life Blog - A Hero? of the Korean Night
Sometimes after reading an article in the paper, I scratch my head and then laugh out loud. Take a look at this outrageous piece of news found in today's Korea Herald.
Client visits police at 3 a.m. to report alleged brothel
A 34-year-old man, only identified by his initial, P, visited the Gangnam Police Station around 3 a.m. yesterday to report that a massage parlor in Nonhyeon-dong was providing sex to its clients, police authorities said.
According to the investigation report, the man phoned the local police station before entering the massage parlor and told the authorities there that when he called again within a few hours, police should enter the parlor and make a bust.
When the man called after approximately two hours, police authorities could not enter because the doors were locked from the inside, an officer at the Gangnam Police Station said.
Realizing that police authorities were not going to make the bust, the man took pictures of its facilities, hostesses and the services they provided with his cell phone camera. In addition, he took evidence from the site and hid it in his socks before personally visiting the police station, officials said.
"The massage parlor should be punished and closed down for breaking the law and for running an immoral and unethical business, he said. I also knew that I would be punished for going and partaking in the activities at the massage parlor, but I had to do what was right."
The man also added that if at all possible, he would continue to help the police authorities crack down on underground prostitution rings.
(shong@heraldm.com)
By Hong Seo-rim
Yes, every once in a while, a true hero is born, going so far as to partake in dubious sexual activities (and willing to continue to do so), snap secret photos, and stuff "evidence" into his socks all in the name of morality and justice. (I don't know about you, but I can't help wonder exactly what "evidence" he stuffed in his socks.)
On a side note, it's comforting to know that all you apparently need to do if someone reports you for a crime is to lock your doors.
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written by shawn matthews
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Korea Life Blog - Ninja Teacher
I get a kick out of this collection of Ninja Teacher comics made by Dinah Brown and posted on Pusan Web. The comics are an interesting depiction of the on-going life and struggles of an ESL teacher in Pusan, Korea.
This one above is one of my favorites. Note the drawing of the Korean scenery in the above right corner, hills and highrises. I love the drawing of the extremely loud and annoying, relentless, ever-present pavement crusher. Also I enjoy the typical classroom scene at the end.
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written by shawn matthews
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Korea Life Blog - North Korea Invents Special Drink
I keep coming across this same article in which North Korea claims to have invented a drink that benefits frequent computer users:
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) -- North Korea, one of the world's poorest countries, claimed it has invented a drink to ease a health threat few outsiders would associate with the country: computer fatigue.
Computers are a rarity among the communist country's hunger-stricken 22 million population. Visitors say the Internet is available only at a few hotels in the capital, Pyongyang.
Still, North Korea's official KCNA news agency said last week that the drink, invented by the Institute of Plant Resources, was tested on computer users, and the "results show that the eye and mental strain has considerably been reduced."
The drink, which ingredients have been extracted from "fruits of a tree," has a "good odor and sweet and sour taste," it said, without giving further details.
I think the dubious drink, extracted from the "fruits of a tree" would be a great success in South Korean PC bangs where people at this very moment are playing Starcraft, Diablo, and Warcraft 3 at obnoxiously loud volumes and to extreme excess.
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written by shawn matthews
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Korea Life Blog - Hongdae Club Night
The last Friday of every month is "Club Night" in Hongdae, Seoul. For a one time fee of 15,000 Won, or about $12.00, you can go into all the clubs that participate. You pay at the first club you enter and they give you a wristband and a ticket for a free drink. The upside to the event is it's an extremely popular time to go out, party and dance until the early morning. The downside is that all the clubs are extremely crowded, literally jammed packed and it's difficult to dance and very hot. But you can escape the clubs and hang around outside, drinking cheap beer from the convenience store and meeting new people.
An average shot of people on the street in Hongdae. The mass confusion, the pulsating energy, the decision on which club to hit.
Another shot of the streets outside. There are throngs and throngs of people out and about.
Behind the bar at Hodge Podge, one of the more popular clubs amongst foreigners. Just standing there I became saturated in sweat. Just looking at the scantily clad bar girl, I became staurated in sweat. Whoa!
A shot of my friend, Chad from Texas. Despite his shaved head, he's not a GI, he's tired of telling people.
Sure is crowded. That foreigner is thinking, "It's getting hot in here. I wanna take off all my clothes..."
If you get too hot and the drinks become too expensive (a beer will run you 5,000 won or more in a club), you can go outside and cool off, stop at a convenient store and buy a few beers and drink them outside. There is no ridiculous open-container law here.
Another shot of Hodge Podge. It was so crowded. All I could do is hold my camera up and snap blindly.
Drinking beer and dancing the night away. There's that foreigner again. He appears to be having fun, yet seems a little perplexed and overwhelmed. That's right, because it's 4:30 in the morning and look at the place...
Everybody put your hands in the air. Oh yeah, feel the techno beat pulsating and throbbing through your very soul!
What can I say, yet another shot. Things are getting intense. The music is kicking in hard. Just have a good time and forget about those whiny students that give you a headache every day.
The Korean flag hangs on the wall of the club, people dancing, laughing, drinking. Ah, welcome to Korea!
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written by shawn matthews
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