A big beagly day: The story of Beagle Rescue Network Korea

A big beagly day: The story of Beagle Rescue Network Korea

A Beagle Rescue Network volunteer guides the blogger to a beagle shelter in the central part of South Korea. Many of the dogs come from laboratories. It was beaglemania at the Beagle Rescue Network’s shelter in Nonsan, South Chungcheong Province, when I visited in July 2019 with longtime animal volunteer Jeong Buyun. A magical place…

After Korea: Professor Ted Wallin from Syracuse, New York
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After Korea: Professor Ted Wallin from Syracuse, New York

After teaching business in Seoul and Hong Kong for many years, retired Professor Ted Wallin mentors and encourages students at Syracuse University. There’s a catchy song about train safety that takes me back in time, back to Professor Ted Wallin’s marketing class at Sejong University in Seoul.  Professor Wallin taught in the Sejong-Syracuse MBA program…

Powering through: Self-taught photographer Adam Czelusta
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Powering through: Self-taught photographer Adam Czelusta

Adjusting to a new country can bring huge amounts of stress. But Adam Czelusta powered through and built a life here — and an art career too. Adam Czelusta and I first crossed paths around 2014, when we both did some work for Groove magazine’s 100th edition. I got to interview human rights champion Yiombi…

House of Sharing update, part 3: The whistleblowers

House of Sharing update, part 3: The whistleblowers

The House of Sharing is a residence south of Seoul for elderly survivors of Japanese military sexual slavery. It’s supposed to be a refuge and a center for activism. But staff members have made disturbing allegations about the organization that runs the House of Sharing. It’s taken some time to put together this third post…

House of Sharing update, part 2: Reaching the world
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House of Sharing update, part 2: Reaching the world

Every Wednesday, activists gather in Seoul to support the survivors of Japanese military sexual slavery. But counterprotesters gather nearby, calling the movement a fraud and denying the victims’ testimonies. A Japanese expat and longtime ally of the grandmothers explains what’s behind the denials. On Wednesday, May 5, protesters gathered outside the former site of the…

House of Sharing update, part 1: A survivor speaks
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House of Sharing update, part 1: A survivor speaks

Korea’s elderly survivors of Japanese military sexual slavery continue to fight historical revisionism. How can we support them? One of the grandmothers shares her thoughts in a Zoom interview. “I was not paid when I was in the comfort station in China,” said Lee Ok-Seon Halmeoni. “That’s why I didn’t have any money to buy…

The cats of Yongsan, part 2: Doing the most good
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The cats of Yongsan, part 2: Doing the most good

A Korean charity collaborated with Korean vets and US military personnel to neuter about 200 feral cats at the soon-to-be-former Yongsan Garrison in Seoul. What will happen when the base closes? (Continued from part 1.) Despite its increasing popularity as a humane, effective way of controlling feral cat populations, trap-neuter-release has its detractors. Cats get in…