The Jeju Life Blog

SOLAR POWERED VILLAGE, DONGGWANG, JEJU, SOUTH KOREA

jejulifeblog — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 13:57:24 +0000

I just wanted to follow up on the solar powered village that has been created on Jeju. An extract from the story:

“On the roof of each of the 40 houses in Donggwang lies a large bed of solar panels. Even the small, local elementary school runs on free electric energy from the sun. The photovoltaic panels produce enough energy to power the entire area. Amidst cattle and fields, Donggwang is a state-of-the-art renewable energy village.”

If someone would like to take up the story then please contact us. We’ll provide whatever assistance we can.

This is another mark on the landscape for ‘renewable Jeju’, especially when linked with the new bio-fuel factory opening in fall.

In other JL news, the July issue is available from El Paso and Bagdad. Shortly to be everywhere else. Seogwipo from Wednesday morning (Vetro Coffee first, then Gecko’s and Barrista).

July Issue, Jeju United, Jeju, South Korea

jejulifeblog — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 13:55:04 +0000

This morning took an unexpected turn upon receiving a phone call from our point of contact at the Jeju Tourism Policy Division.

I was requested to provide the files for this month’s issue in order for the department to print more copies. As a result we will be able to keep our distribution locations stocked longer and expand to Seoul. The copies sent there will be directly delivered into the hands of foreigners.

The July issue is due for collection from the printers tomorrow morning. We’re usually out in the first week of the month but things have changed. We’re working a lot closer with Jeju City Hall and Jeju-Si Magazine. So we’ve moved alongside them in publishing dates. Also, they’ve been great to help us with layout and design. Meaning that this should be our best looking issue yet.

In other Jeju Life news, deputy editor Brian Miller spent Sunday evening with Coach Arthur and other Jeju United players. Bonding over darts and pool it seemed to be a great evening. And we’ve come out of it with a very high opinion of the coaching staff behind JU. In fact the win last night actually takes the team into the playoffs.

Kim Oksun, Hamel’s Boat, Photography, Museum of Contemporary Art, Foreigners, Jeju, South Korea

jejulifeblog — Sun, 06 Jul 2008 08:55:59 +0000

Saturday 5th July 2008 saw the opening of Kim Oksun’s ‘Hamel’s Boat’ exhibition at the Jeju Museum of Contemporary Art.

Receiving funds after winning the 2007 Duam Prize, Oksun photographed foreigners living on Jeju, incorporating much of the island’s natural setting into the images.

There was a positive and jovial atmosphere as a chartered bus left Jeju City to make the 3pm opening and at the museum in Joji, Oksun cordially greeted arrivals. Guests then mingled and networked before a ribbon cutting, ceremony.

As Jeju Life has grown in reputation and stature in recent months, I found myself on the list of visiting dignitaries. After being introduced over the PA and bowing to the assembled crowds I donned a pair of white gloves and took up golden coloured scissors. Feeling like a bona fide member of the Jeju press corps, on cue we snipped the ribbon and in guests went to the rooms beyond.

Adorning the walls was Brian the fighter to Dawn the dreamer, Sara the morning star and Danielle the dancer. People who I know personally had become works of art.

For 40,000 won you can take the exhibition away with you in a book that is worth every bit of the asking price - containing not just exhibition photographs, but all of the foreigners photographed in the process of putting the project together. As a coffee table souvenir it’ll stay with me wherever I’ll be in the future. And with Oksun’s signature on my page (’Jim the editor’) it’s that little bit special too. A favourite image from the book has to be Peter Di Marco sitting with three elderly grandmothers on a couch. His clothes and long legs are quite the opposite of the worn, sullen ladies.

The exhibition homecoming was attended by many of the foreign Jejurati, including Rhymes with Jeju posters: Eugene Craig Campbell and Sherrin Hibbard. Jose I. Diaz, a colourful Spanish cafe owner in Sin Jeju, was also in attendance with An HyeKyoung, owner of Art Space C.

It was surprising to see such a cross section of nationalities represented (Spain, Russia, Puerto Rica, Germany, Bulgarian and Pakistan) away from the usual English speaking ones.

The pick of the people crop though may have been Bill, a stereotypical retired pensioner from England who had somehow found his way here through a new Korean wife. Not part of the English teaching machine it was like talking to an elderly uncle. Especially when conversation struck upon the merits of English gardens.

Jeju Life hopes to interview Oksun for the August issue of the magazine. Deputy editor, Brian Miller, will take this up.

The exhibition runs until the 28th August 2008 and is a must see for foreigners living on Jeju Island.