THE Pear Vol. III Issue V www.ulsanpear.biz November 2006 Being Active Singing Rooms Ulsan Grand Park Rock Climbing and more!

Check out our Website! lots of back-issues everything you ever needed to know about living in Ulsan

Cover photo by Deirdre Madden FREE A Guide to Living in ’s Industrial Capital 무료 2 THE ulsan Pear

Hello Pear Readers,

Coming to a new culture is never easy, and it always helps to have something to take your mind off any trouble you might have. Emergency Contact Numbers This month we’re looking at things you can do to keep active and busy. There are places to explore, places to exercise, and places just to have fun.

We’ve also included information about weekly events and speak very slowly, and clearly. clubs here in Ulsan.

Do not panic, ask for English. Hopefully this issue can help you have fun, and make some new friends in the process. Ambulance 구급(Gu-Guep) 119 화재 Fire (Hwa-Jay) One of the more important things to keep in mind is where all these clubs and groups came from. In years past, other Police 경찰 (Gyeong-Chal) foreigners have gotten involved, and by you taking part, you 112 can continue on the tradition of making life a little easier for those who come after you.

1366 Women Emergency CAll On a final (shameless plug) note, if you’re looking for something exciting, fun and interesting, there’s a certain news magazine here in Ulsan that’s always looking for volunteers. 00799 International Operator Until next time,

Kevin Forman Editor-in-Chief 1330 Tourist Information [email protected]

H Ulsan Hospital Emergency 052-259-5000

Law Korean Legal Aid 052-257-4676 ™ the Ulsan Pear Tax Office 052-259-0200 Labour Board 052-272-0009 Established 2004

For more articles on what you Creator: Joel Burslem need to know about Ulsan, out our website at The Editor-in-Chief: Kevin Forman

Editorial Board/ Staff Writers: deirdre Madden www.ulsanpear. biz Ulsan Pear fin Madden Jim Saunders Jason Teale is looking Contributors: michelle Aitchison for mark Brown Peadar Callaghan adamo De Fazio a graphic shawn Hines Chris Linton designer Katy Lockwood matthew Murray Jason Pratt layout Kristi Racz Jeff Young Keith Zufelt writers Volunteer: Cleo-Ra Kim

photogra- Copy Editors: deirdre Madden

phers Photo Editor: Jason Teale

Layout/Design: Kevin Forman energetic Jim Saunders workers

Advertising Sales: Kevin Forman 011.9528.1934 email [email protected]

info@ulsan- Visit our Homepage for Back Issues pear.biz web: www.ulsanpear.biz for info. email: [email protected] THE ulsan Pear 3 Singing Rooms Will Take Your Breath Away Chris Linton the song room maiden to deliver The Ulsan Pear any beverages you might order. Barring your order, she will not It is an anticipated Friday night enter without a knock and a and you find yourself in a common pause. hof, seated around a table nibbling sweet and dry snacks, drinking All song rooms offer a selection non-descript draft beer and of juices and hot or cold coffee. thinking, “This is not right. This It is customary to order cans of is not what I need.” juice and cola for each other but it is not mandatory in any way. Sometimes on a Friday night, one Most singing rooms offer beer is looking for a little trouble. Not too. There are a few which do “Trouble”, but some get up-and- not, but good luck finding them. go trouble: a little bit of shouting, Then, there are the singing rooms a little bit of jumping, a little bit which offer soju and bottles of of the old out-of-the-chair. Sitting whiskey. These singing rooms down is for old folks but it is the inevitably have a side dish menu way to drink in Korea, with one but a side dish is not mandatory. exception. These singing rooms offer a great deal more too. Photo By Kate Montgomery The norae-bang (song room) is where the chairs are a mere One ought to be aware that many ranges from 30 to 40,000 won won’t let kids in but you have to There is a period between 6am suggestion and the flashing lights of these singing rooms deal in plus the cost of a singing room look find them. and 8am where they seem to are for merriment. The song room, women too. The singing room and you will be expected to order I had the experience of taking some close. Some don’t open till noon or singing room, is where you, hostess is a lady of the morning, side dishes and alcohol. She also exceptional students to a singing or later on weekdays but in Ulsan, you and a friend, or you and 10 noon and night in Ulsan. Her accepts tips. The singing room room once. We went at 6pm and a city where blue collar never friends can go to scream ‘murder,’ services at a singing room usually lady is “illegal” but until someone the singing room was stinky and sleeps, they are potentially losing all night long. It is a room which is range from being a lovely looker informs the law of this you need natty but the kids didn’t take any business. Away from Ilsan beach furnished with chairs and a table, who dances with you, sings a few not try to be covert about it. You notice of it. We had a great time, they will close earlier and not open disco lights, a wall of TV screens songs and feeds you grapes to a can walk up to the front desk, drank juice and sang. At 8pm, till afternoon or early evening. and a karaoke machine equipped lovely looker who does all the wink and ask straight out for a just when we were leaving, all the Without any accroutrements de with two microphones and as above and can be paid to take off lady friend TV screens immediately switched l’amour they cost, between 12 and many tambourines. Its purpose her clothes and/or perform other to soft-core porn and made me a 20,000 won an hour. is to give you a private venue to ‘services’. The singing room can be seedy teacher of ill-repute. Though it is sing to vapid, familiar pop songs but not in all cases. It is an activity 100% acceptable for kids to attend [email protected] and dance and act foolishly. Once This is a whole other article, but which Koreans do from infancy to singing rooms, even unsupervised, that door closes, the only one one ought be aware of this service senility. It is for everyone. There one ought to be aware that some that is going to come through is and know that a song room mama are some singing rooms which are adult oriented. 4 THE ulsan Pear Exploring Ulsan Grand Park New Sportsplex Shawn Hines The Ulsan Grand Park main to see the entire park on your first Deirdre Madden badminton, volleyball, or that Contributor gate is located in Okdong, with a trip without tiring yourself out. The Ulsan Pear kick-volleyball the ajushis second gate located near Gongup- Of course, rollerblades, snake play in the parks. The outer ring At the end of the week the tap Rotary close to Samsandong. boards and old fashioned shoes are Getting out and active in Ulsan of this is also a track, used mostly sightseeing itch strikes and many There are two other gates located just as good to get around as well. just got easier. The Ulsan College for inline or roller skating. have to venture out to the rest of at the rear of the park and one A trolley that will take you from in Bangeojin recently added Korea. However, as the month at the extreme far side from the one side of the park to the other a community oriented sports Beyond this is a pond in a wooded progresses and money becomes Samsandong entrance. is also available for a small price. complex to it’s grounds, as part area with a walking path around tight, Ulsan has much to offer with Be ready to pack yourself in, it’s a of an outreach initiative. Located it. At intervals, small wooden little or no cost. The Ulsan Grand This park boasts an indoor tight fit! just inside the main gates, the “lookouts” have been built, which Park is a great starting point when swimming complex, complete community sports fields are free are perfect for picnics, and at both the pocketbook is a bit short. with a lane pool, kiddie pool Taking those leisurely walks is to use, and offer a variety of ends there are sheltered benches. a great stress reliever, as well. choices for sports buffs. There happens to be a nice path There are even frogs in the pond, that will help your body become The lower field is an artificial- though with the interest that they healthier through pressure-points turf soccer pitch, complete with spark in young boys, we’ll see how on your feet. This sounds nice, stands and a walking/jogging long they last. It’s a peaceful place but in practice it can be rather track around the outside. While to go for a stroll and unwind. painful. That’s Korean traditional this can be crowded with toweled medicine for you. and visored ajummas during peak As with many places in Korea, hours, it’s relatively empty early in there are a fair number of other For those who have children, this the day. While it may be difficult people using these facilities. If park offers plenty for them as well! to play a full on game due to other you can go during off times, you’ll There is a driver’s training course users, it’s a great place to go and find it easier to take advantage of that allows kids on bikes to learn kick a ball or throw a disc around the place. During peak times, how to drive, complete with a for fun or practice. bring a lot of patience, as it can traffic officer for those less likely get busy. to learn the rules of the road. Near The upper area, just past the the rear entrance of the park is a bathroom facilities, is a rubberized [email protected] playground and nets the kids can surface meant for basketball, climb in, and a bouncy-area.

For a few thousand won, you can walk through a butterfly garden, Photo By Kevin Forman full of exotic plants and thousands of butterflies. Additionally, you can Construction on the park and a wave pool. Also within the go to a petting zoo, complete with began in 1996 with a donation building are two water slides, one sheep and goats and another walk- of 100 billion won from the of which lets you travel down on thru with little cute chipmunks SK Corporation that was later an inner tube. This is where all the running around. donated back to Ulsan City. It whooping and hollering comes is 3.6 million square meters of from as you walk by the complex. The Ulsan Grand Park is a great sun, sidewalks, and things to do, place to spend a leisurely day to for Koreans and foreigners alike. Within the Ulsan Grand Park, get some exercise or just people Each year 2 million people enter you can rent bicycles for 3000 watch. What’s more, it’s free! through the gates to see what it won per hour; using your ID card has to offer. as collateral. This will enable you [email protected] Photo By Deirdre Madden THE ulsan Pear 5 Aqua Fantasia : Water Fun at Tongdosa Jim Saunders without having to worry about ter cannons and even a lazy river The Ulsan Pear unattended possessions and/or (though admittedly it’s rather wet money. bland). You can take a ball along Bobbing up and down in the wa- to shoot some hoops in one of ter, the waves kept crashing over Unfortunately it is almost impos- the pools, too. me, again and again. Yet thanks sible to take a dip without wear- to my life preserver I managed to ing a life preserver, available for Further, all of this has been built stay a-float, lolling onto my back hire (6,000won), and wearing in a beautiful mountainous ex- for a while until they became less a cap of some sort (4,000won). panse. While queuing for a slide powerful. Seizing the opportuni- You must wear these in order to you might find yourself gazing ty to swim ashore, I did so and swim, slide and laze about and dreamily at the vista, your eyes promptly plumped myself down there are no ways to circumvent continuously drifting up to the onto a conveniently placed sun- these rules. summit of the mountain in the lounger. The wave pool at Tong- background. do Aqua Fantasia, a mere sixty The park’s centrepiece is its wave minutes away from Ulsan, had pool that intermittently produc- Though autumn is upon us, well and truly worn me out. es waves of a decent size to enjoy, there are still just enough warm but it is the six water slides of days to get out and enjoy both Admission to Aqua Fantasia various height and excitement Aqua Fantasia and the Fantasia is a tolerable 32,000won, but that really provide the entertain- amusement park right next door. once through the main entrance ment. The cream-coloured slide Great for families, it provides everything is paid for using offers the steepest/fastest/great- an opportunity to once again your locker key that is initially est experience, along with the get out of the city into an area charged with money (at the desk green and yellow that morphs of natural beauty and have some next to the changing rooms). It into a bowl in which you spiral great fun in the process. is an ingenious and convenient down until popping out at the system that allows you to get bottom. There are, of course, Getting there: Buses 1723 (start- on with having fun in the water the standard kids pools with wa- ing in Samsandong next to the bus terminals, making notable stops at the Gongeobtap and Shinbok rotaries) and 345 go direct to Tongdo while the more frequent 1703 will get you part of the way to Eonyang. Transfer here or take a taxi to complete the journey. Keep a lookout for the multicoloured Ferris wheel that’ll let you know you’re close. By car from Ulsan take the Gyeonbu expressway until the Tongdo interchange. From here follow signs for Fantasia. Please note that some additional, de- tailed, research may be required with these directions to ensure a smoother journey. Photo By Jim Saunders [email protected] Photo By Jim Saunders 6 THE ulsan Pear Experience Variety at the Hyundai Arts Center hall. Here you can watch special By Kevin Forman The Hyundai Arts Center is musical or dramatic performances. The Ulsan Pear directly across from the Hyundai The hall is also used to show Department Store in Bangeojin. current movies if there is no live It’s often said that Bangeojin is To get there by taxi, just to be taken show scheduled. 현대 a village compared to the main to Hyundai Yae-sool-gwon ( 예술권 areas of Ulsan. However when it ). You can call (052)235- The third floor has the comes to finding something to 2100 for more information, and administration office (good for do, the area features a myriad of also visit their website at http:// making reservations) and the way options. One of the best places www.hyundai-artscenter.co.kr. to the racquet ball courts. With to go for activities is the Hyundai Unfortunately, the website is only four courts available, it is not very Arts Center. in Korean. important to make a reservation. Racquet ball can be played from The Arts Center, as the name With all the choices available, 5:30 am to 9:00 pm. A monthly states, was built by Hyundai. the Hyundai Arts Center is a membership costs between 35,000 It opened in 1998, and since great place to go to relieve some won and 50,000 won, depending that time it has been providing boredom or stress. on the range of playing days and recreation and entertainment times that you desire. [email protected] to the citizens of Ulsan. The Arts Center is comprised of two separate buildings, joined by the basement parking lots, and by a patio on the second floor. Photo by Kevin Forman Ulsan’s only ice skating rink is on the first basement floor. Although with various times to play. Also time that they are not accepting the rink is small, and has concrete in the basement there is a tea shop new members. The first floor also pillars in the middle, it’s real and a Korean food restaurant. houses an internet café, a small art ice complete with a zamboni. gallery, and a coffee shop. The rink is open to everyone for Moving to the first floor, there is a free skating Monday to Friday large bowling alley. With 16 lanes, The second floor is where you can from 10:00 am to 9:00 pm. On the alley is open from 9:00am to find the gymnasium. Two of the Saturdays, Sundays and Holidays midnight. Each game costs 1800 more popular sports played there there are three free skate sessions won, or 1,000 won for children; are badminton and basketball. 10:00am to 12:30 pm, 1:00 pm to shoe rentals cost 500 won. Getting The gym can be rented for around 3:30 pm, and 4:00pm to 9 pm. If your bowling shoes is easy and 50,000 won an hour. It’s a little you have your own skates it costs quick, as there is a nifty vending expensive, but for most sports 2,000 won, and 3,000 won if you machine . Also on the first floor is you need a big group anyway, so need to rent skates. There is a an indoor climbing wall. The wall the cost can be spread around. ping-pong room located on this is 14.5 metres high, but according Reservations must be made in level as well. They have monthly to the information centre, you need advance. The second floor also fees starting from 40,000 won, a membership, and it seems at this houses the entrance to the concert Photo by Kevin Forman THE ulsan Pear 7 plastic hammer. your left, downstairs in a sprawling underground complex. Bored? Play some games! Club Alice is open 12pm-1am. Katy Lockwood restaurant. The assistants come and Settlers of - An increasingly The cost is 1800 won per hour per So rustle up some people and head Matthew Murray set it up for you. They usually speak popular game where you collect person. You also receive a Club Alice down for some fun at Contributors some English, but will use hand resources and try to build a big coupon for every hour you are there Club Alice…and free toast! gestures and examples to show you road and settlements. It can be a bit and when you have 25 you get a [email protected] Ah, the PCBang, home of students how to play. You can also buy ice tricky the first time you play, but 5000 won voucher for the movies, [email protected] playing Maple Story and adults cream or soda and they have free once you have the rules down it’s a food or whatever. To get there, walk looking at porn; fun wholesome self service toast! Unfortunately you lot of fun. They also have Cavemen down the main walking street of activities that you can do by have to leave the soju at home. of Catan but they won’t let you play Seongnamdong (old downtown), yourself. But what if you want to that for some reason. just past the McDonald’s. It’s on play a game with *gasp!* other The selection of games is vast, with Below is a list of games you can find in various board game cafes. people? Well you can always go to over a hundred games to choose Pop Up Pirate! For pure hilarity, a board game bang (room). from, so there is something for give this a try. Dead easy (push Jenga Take it Easy A board game bang is a large everyone. They have the classics swords into a barrel containing a Jenga Xtreme You’re Bffing pirate and hope he doesn’t pop up), Jeaga (Truth or Dare) Tme is Mney but good for a quick laugh and Rainbow Timber Bluff some embarrassment. Uno Stacko Cartagena Tumblin Monkeys Quoridor Acquire - This involves founding Tumble Blokus companies and buying and selling Pop Up Pirate Chicken Cha Cha Cha shares until you have a lot of money. Topple Gouda Gouda Mergers! Stock trading! Deciding Lord of the Rings The Bucket what your company makes before Ghost Labyrinth it gets bought out (damn you Zertz Acme Plungers!) There’s a bit of Phoenix Villa Palette math involved so stay away if you Crazy Chicken Trans America don’t like that. This game is also Tally Ho! Ticket to Ride bad for people who don’t like huge Balloon Cup Samurai corporate conglomerates and will Odin’s Ravens Manhattan hate themselves for doing well. Heave Ho Top Secret Spies Ceasar and Cleopatra Clue 2003 When they bring out your game Babel The Simpsons Clue you are also provided with a large Photo By Katy Lockwood Bing-O-Cards Monopoly plastic hammer for whacking the Verflixxt Carcassonne loser (or at times, the losers from Auf Aches Acquire room with comfortable tables and from your childhood such as chess, other tables). They also have a toy Jumpin’ Monkeys Settlers of Catan chairs where you chill out, enjoy Monopoly, Jenga and Uno but box full of masks for other challenges Ding Settlers of the Stone Age the rowdy atmosphere of young they also have heaps of other games losers can do, like wearing a chicken Halli Galli City and Knights of Catan Koreans and play board games. too. mask and entertaining other tables Jungle Speed I’m the Boss The surplus supply of young with a chicken dance. and helpful assistants avoids any Lord of the Rings fans can play The Great Dalmuti Barbarossa DaVinci Code awkwardness about where to sit or LOTR Risk and LOTR Chess We recommend getting an alien Pig Pile ADEL what to do. and quite possibly Pop Up Pirates mask and having your loser friend Uno The Traders of Genoa LOTR. Unfortunately for fans creep up on and scare an innocent Galloping Pigs Pueto Rico They bring you a menu which of the Game of Life, it’s only in Korean, or even better, get the afro Mamma Mia Princes of Florence has pictures of the games you can Hangeul. wig and make them do a Saturday Once Upon a Time Formula choose from and you order a game Here are a few of the games we Night Fever dance and then get Lupus in Tabula Risk - Lord of the rings just like you would order food in a played at Club Alice in Shinae: whacked for their efforts with the

Green Printing 8 THE ulsan Pear Stop climbing the walls and start climbing the Rocks! Deirdre Madden to use a lot more chalk to keep of the gym). The other style is 40 000 won per hour for use of bouldering is quite difficult, The Ulsan Pear your hands dry. Some hard core Bouldering, which does not the space (basically you rent the there are areas for people of involve a rope. Generally you place for yourself), but if you have all levels, too. Byong-Ho is an scramble around on lower, more a few people to split the cost, it’s amazing climber who is very overhung climbs, and moves can not too bad. helpful and friendly. be both upwards and sideways. The other gym in Bangeojin is The Bouldering gym in The floors are padded so that called Choi Byung-Ho Climbing falls don’t hurt. Okdong is small and out of the Center. It is located not far from way. The best way to find it is Ilsan beach. From the intersection There are currently three to email Jacek (jacekg2004@ of the main ring road and the yahoo.com) and get him to climbing gyms in Ulsan; a Ilsan beach/Subway road, head bouldering gym in Okdong show you where it is. The fee is up the big hill for about 3 blocks 20 000 won a month, and it’s and two climbing/bouldering or so. It will be on your left in gyms in Bangeojin. The gym open pretty much all the time. the basement. There is a huge If you need to climb when it’s at the Hyundai Arts Centre in restaurant above it. Bangeojin is members-only and not open, you can get a key to the place. they are not currently accepting The gym is quite large, and new members. They also charge mostly for bouldering. While the Climbing is a very friendly sport. Experienced climbers are always happy to share beta (climber slang for information) with new climbers, and the only competition is between you and the rock, or wall as the case may be. Whether you climb indoors or out, you’ll meet helpful Photo By Nicole Shirray people who will show you the ropes (pun fully intended).

Rock climbing is a great sport for climbers will slag gym climbing, For more information on many reasons. You don’t have to but it can be quite useful for climbing in Korea, check out be super fit, you don’t need a lot of learning new techniques and Korea on the Rocks http:// expensive equipment or training for increasing your strength and www.koreaontherocks.com/, to start off, and its a fun challenge, endurance, especially when it’s too an infomative web site run by both physically and mentally. But cold to head to the crag. climbers for climbers. when the weather turns cold, the rock turns colder, which means it’s Gyms usually offer two styles Or if you want to hit time to head indoors. of climbing. Sport climbing is the rock in Ulsan, email done with a rope, either already ulsanrockclimbing@ Indoor climbing is quite different looped through the anchor at the googlegroups.com.There’s from outdoor climbing in many top of the climb (top roping), or almost always somebody ways. For one thing, you can see that you clip into protection as climbing on the weekend. the holds quite clearly, as they you go (lead climbing). Usually are bright colours. The texture of in sport climbing you climb a [email protected] the holds is quite different from fairly vertical pitch, and go pretty natural rock, and you tend to need high (depending on the height Photo By Deirdre Madden

Photo By Jacek Glowacki THE ulsan Pear 9 Tasty sweet treats at the Stohrer Bakery By Jim Saunders The Ulsan Pear

Bakeries in Korea seem to be a rather hit-and-miss affair. A casual glance around your local Paris Baguette or equivalent re- veals a lacklustre number of tasty looking goods on offer that also seem to contain a strange mix of fillings (sweet potato anyone?). And when an unsuspecting pas- try that looks really good spills bean paste into your mouth it can rather darken the day.

Anyone living in, working in and/or visiting Daldong then should make a stop at the Stohr- er bakery. In amongst a cluster of franchised restaurants and bars (McDonalds, Wa-bar et al) it is a shining beacon of real, quality Photo By Jim Saunders baked goods. There is, of course, tomer numbers. It is a work eth- unfortunately eaten oh-so-fast. bean paste but this certainly isn’t ic that shows in the nearly two Further at 1,200won they’re not Paris Baguette and though its hundred and eighty impeccably cheap. But these small, expensive name is borrowed from a famous made products his bakery offers. treats are absolutely delicious. bakery in France this is the ex- There should be something for There’s mocha, macadamia and tent of any franchise relations. everyone to enjoy. rum truffle to name just a few sitting in the cabinet demanding Opened three years ago - having Popular lines include breads, to be tried. only one location – the owner and cookies and chocolates. Sugar head baker Mr. Son Su Dae aims free and rye bread (4,000won) Also be sure not to miss the not to be the best baker, but to are particular favourites with cookie table directly in front of Photo By Jim Saunders give the best quality he can offer. foreigners, the artisanal aesthet- you upon entering. A staff of six develops techniques ics of them being just as good as It’s not a place to stop and fill Getting there: Stohrer is located garnered from his education in the taste. The same can be said Judging by Stohrer’s prices and up on baked good prior to work next to the Wa-Bar in Daldong, a Japan and overseas experience in for the chocolates. its sharply dressed clientele, the everyday, but for that special short walk down the street from France. Having resisted offers to people that frequent the bakery treat there might not be a bet- McDonalds and Dunkin’ Do- supply hotels he really does fo- Sold individually and not much are of a different class. But then ter bakery in Ulsan. Oh it’s open nuts. Telephone: 052-258-0096. cus on quality, rather than cus- bigger than a stock cube they’re Stohrer is of a different class too. 365 days a year. [email protected] Delicious Sunday Dinners at Benchwarmers Deirdre Madden wasn’t very spicy, just tangy. The Ulsan Pear The penne was tossed in a light dressing with sautéed One of the things we miss the vegetables and provided a most while living abroad are the nice compliment to the saucy comfort foods of home. While chicken. Served with a fresh a good jiggae or bibimbap can buttered roll, the meal was be delicious, it’s just not quite more than enough to satisfy what we’re looking for all the my hearty appetite that time. Thankfully, there’s Troy night. and his Sunday Night Dinners at Benchwarmers. I can honestly say I’ve never been disappointed by a Every Sunday, Troy cooks up a Sunday Night Dinner, and for special feast different from his about 8, 000 won a plate, it’s regular menu offerings. From by far the best deal in town. spicy spaghetti to oven roasted chicken with heaps of mashed To get to Benchwarmers, walk potatoes, you can be sure you’re 1 block up from Shigaetap (the getting a generous portion of clock circle) in Seongnamdong home cooked goodness. (Shinae/old downtown) away from Holly’s coffee. Turn left, The meal reviewed for this and head past the Morning article was roasted chicken Mart. Turn right up the alley in a tomato-jalapeno sauce, - Benchwarmers is about 50 with penne primavera on the steps in, on the second floor. side. The chicken was cooked to perfection, melting in the [email protected] mouth, and the sauce, though flavoured with jalapenos, Photo By Deirdre Madden 10 THE ulsan Pear The Pear’s Events Calendar Photo of the Month Free alcohol! Photo of the month is a contest sponsored by Benchwarmers. Each winner recieves a 20 000 won tab at the Bench. Send your best photo of Korea to: [email protected] Artistic shots or photos of the best Konglish signs are welcome as submissions. Wednesday Bingo Sports! Night Mountain Bike Club - UMTBC Jung Every 2nd Sang Young, Samchuly Bicycle between Wednesday at Gonguptap and Taewha Rotaries. 052- Benchwarmers 260-3000

Books and Booze Starting between Ultimate Frisbee – Every Sunday 3:00pm Opera Company Literary Discussion Group This month’s winner: 10:30 and 11:00 PM by the Taewha Bridge – for more details presents Don Giovanni Our first book: Saturday Soju contact [email protected] ”Water for Elephants” by Call Troy at 010- November 9th, 10th and by Sarah Gruen Jeff Jordan 9961-7647 for more Paintball – Can organize paintball days 11th Meetings to be Tuesdays at details. for groups of twenty-five to thirty - for 10pm in Shinae more details contact Benchwarmers at at Hyundai Arts Center Everybody welcome Writers’ Group [email protected] email [email protected] McKenzie’s Bar, Every second Thursday, No- call (052) 235-2100 for details. vember 16th and 30th, 10:30pm The Ulsan Ugly Playboy Rugby Team for more details. Share your short stories, poetry, and music. Or are back baby. Anybody interested in join- just come to listen. ing the team contact Benchwarmers at [email protected] [email protected]

Martial Arts Training Rock climbing Have Fun At Tombstone Ulsan Mobis Christmas Formal - Most Saturdays and some www.imasgroup.us Basketball mornings. Ki Muzu Ryu Do Bowling on Tuesdays Want to help plan [email protected] Official Certificates and Home games at Dongchun the biggest Belts Poker on Thursdays Gymnasium on November Christmas party in Running - Hash House Harriers English Language Only 5th and 26th at 5:00 PM, Ulsan? Meet every second Sunday at the For- Certified 5th Degree Black Call Mark at 016-651- and on November 18th and eigners compound in Bangeojin at 10am. Belt Teacher 1209 for more details. December 3rd at 3:00 PM. contact [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] THE ulsan Pear 11 Flexing your intellectual muscles! A Midget Train Runs Kristi Racz receive an email with an Optional Writers’ Group attracts a variety Jeff Young see a lot of people who aren’t Contributor Writing Assignment, geared to of talent from seasoned veterans Contributor Mugeodongers) and the house create a central theme for each to beginners. Some members was full. The bar was jammed Looking for some intelligence meeting as well as provide a topic participate just because it’s fun. On Saturday, the 14th of three deep and it just goes to at a bar? Here we are! Ulsan for those with writer’s block. Some Others wanting to improve October, Tombstone was prove the power of rock and Writers’ Group meets every other assignments from the past include their writing skills will ask for lucky enough to have our roll and the fact that we are Thursday at Bar McKenzie’s in a broad idea such as “Revenge” or constructive criticism and bring first presentation of ‘Midget really starved for live music in Seongnamdong at 10:30pm. a specific style of writing such as copies of their pieces to pass Train’. We have been in this city! an Abecedarian poem. around for written comments. fierce negotiations with Focused around a large table, their representatives for a The second set kicked off at participants take turns reading Although there is no pressure to Meetings last about one hour, long time now and finally roughly 11:45 and the band from an array of notebooks. share, each individual writing depending on attendance, which we were able to hammer pulled out all of the stops. Fiction or non, poetry or prose, style adds a fresh element to the fluctuates between 3 and 12 out a deal and get the tunes They started with their version songs with guitars or just vocals, a group; therefore, new members are members. With material as well as rolling. of “Other Side” by the Peppers rehearsed monologue or theatrical encouraged to read. The group’s member turnout always changing, and continued on with hits improv; members are free to share atmosphere is so friendly and low- no two gatherings are ever the The band consists of Gino like “Fight for your Right to anything as long as it’s new to key that any apprehension should same (even after 4 years running!) “don’t call me Phil” Collins as Party” by the Beasties and the group. All original material is be erased after attending just one the rockin’ lead singer; Dan kept rockin’ with “Blitzkrieg welcome, but each week members meeting. Upcoming meetings are November “not Jimi” Hendrix wailin’ Bop” by the Ramones. 2, 16, and 30. All fluent English on lead guitar; Melissa “yes speakers welcome. she is still sexy without the The tunes were still going guitar” Perret on the funky until the aforementioned The writers group is currently bass and Hyeon Gwang Ho pajama man showed up and looking for a new leader. For or Mitch as the Korean Neil had a shouting match with more information please email Peart scorchin’ the skins. We Mark. Even though we love [email protected]. have been seriously trying to fight for our rights to party to get them into our bar to we knew it was time to shut [email protected] play but we have noise issues it down! (some of you might have noticed the famous pajama The evening was a total man making his appearance success and we want to thank Adamo DeFazio’s Ulsan a little after 1:00) as do our the band and all of the people friends at ‘the Bench’ so this who showed up for a great was a long time coming. evening.

The first set kicked off We hope to do more of these at roughly 10:30 and the events when Gino and Andy crowd ate it up. Playing a return—big shout out to mixed set of old favourites Andy for all of her help—and for old farts like me and noise and time constraints some more recent crowd permitting we will. pleasers, the band started out solid and just kept on [email protected] rockin’! The crowd was an excellent mix of ex-pats and Koreans (it was nice to 12 THE ulsan Pear

both Western and Chinese chess. general’s ‘palace’. The intersections A Time to Play Janggi (장기) of the various lines are where the By Kevin Forman Baduk is a game that is extremely Janggi is played on a board which pieces start and move to. The Ulsan Pear difficult to play well. To achieve a Janggi’s concepts and game has nine vertical lines and ten high professional rank in Baduk is play are much more familiar to horizontal lines. There are also Play is conducted by taking turns The rainy day tradition of playing considered a great achievement. Westerners; it is a descendant of four diagonal lines, two on each moving pieces to the various board games is well known in the Indian game like end of the board that serve as the intersections. You can capture an Western Cultures. Korea is no opponent’s piece by moving one different has it's own popular of your own pieces to the same board games, Baduk and Janggi. intersection. In this aspect it is the same as Western style chess. There 바둑 are 7 different types of pieces, each Baduk ( ) with different capabilities. The pieces are: the General, Guards, Baduk is more commonly known Elephants, Horses, Chariots, to the rest of the world by its Cannons, and Soldiers. The Japanese name, ‘Go’. Baduk was Cannons are notably interesting, originally played in , before as they must jump over another 500 B.C. It spread throughout piece to move. If this condition is Asia and has slowly become more not met, then the Cannon cannot popular in Western culture. move. Baduk is usually played on a Janggi can be difficult to learn, rectangular board, on which there as the two sides (usually red and is a 19 by 19 grid. Players take green) use different styles of turns placing black and white Chinese script to mark the pieces. stones on the intersections of the Therefore a player must be able grid. The goal is to surround an to identify 13 different pieces opponent’s stones with your own, (the guards are the same for both thus claiming territory. When colours). However, after playing a stones are surrounded, they are few games to familiarize ones self removed and used to keep score. with the pieces and their functions, The game ends when both players any decent chess player should be pass on consecutive turns. The able to do well. player with the most territory is the winner. In comparison, Janggi is much easier than Baduk. But both The simple rules belie the games can offer hours of complex complexity of the game. The fun, and give a chance to exercise large board size and few rules your intellectual muscles. lead to a great number of choices with every turn. It is often said [email protected] that no two games are the same. Mathematical calculations support this contention. Photos By Jim Saunders THE ulsan Pear 13 Revive your mind in Seoul City of Violence Korean Michelle Aitchison Travel Guide on Korea, which Migliore or hello apM. Not too Chris Linton ago, and is done Contributor is very informative and makes a far away is Itaewon, where you The Ulsan Pear much better here fabulous souvenir. The famous will stumble across nationalities and there by other If you’re feeling the Gyeongbokgung Palace is a 15 from all over the globe selling “City of Violence” has three directors. need for abundant min walk away; you can see the international goods, and ethnic distinctions which nominated culture, a vibrant changing of the guards every hour restaurants boasting traditional it to this reviewer’s Saturday This is where some atmosphere, crowds and the National Folk Museum dishes to revive those taste buds night. In order as they came of the obvious “Kill of people and a of Korea, giving you a wonderful – you simply pick a country. to me were the movie poster’s Bill” resemblances

lsan neverending list of insight into Korean culture and As for the exciting nightlife in remarkable resemblance to come from, along

sites to see – then Seoul heritage. Two stops on the subway Seoul, the favorite destinations “Kill Bill” (striking blood red with the music, Movie U is an absolute must. and you can find yourself in Insa are Daehangno Street “university on yellow, solid black lettering, done by Bang

f f I took advantage of Dong, my personal favorite. Here street”, Hongdae and Cheongdam samurai swords); it being a Joon-suk. This movie directed by the writer is not to say it is

O Chuseok to experience you can spend hours exploring Dong – for a more fashionable the heart and soul of the array of artisanal boutiques and upmarket ambiance. In each and the main actor who is a bad music. Rather,

t Korea, since it’s more and find the most appropriate of these areas rock, techno, hiphop young martial arts stunt man; it is very fitting, worthwhile if you have gifts for home. There are also tea and jazz enthusiasts gather. it being the only Korean movie usually. It is playful u three or four days to houses in every nook and cranny at my local video store which when it draws c orner O

play with. Ideally you offering teas with distinct flavours If you are similarly a budget didn’t have someone crying on from the spaghetti would need two weeks in wonderful bohemian settings. I traveller, I would recommend the front or back cover of the western genre g to fully appreciate all fell in love with one particular tea staying in Kim’s Guesthouse. DVD case. and respectably that there is to see house – The Old Tea Shop. It was You will find yourself in a more cool when it lifts in and do in and around such an idyllic little find with it’s family orientated atmosphere and Tae-su (the steely Jung Do- off of the various this exciting Eastern birds chirping away and candles amongst backpackers travelling hong) is a big Seoul cop who soundtrack work receives a phone call that his by Isaac Hayes. We tt metropolis. lit. Their 100-herb tea alongside through Asia – 15,000 won per yummy rice cakes are not easily night breakfast inclusive. www. childhood buddy, Won-jae, was should not get too Upon arrival, I highly forgotten. www.oldteashop.com kimsguesthouse.com You will murdered. Of course, Tae-su weighed down by Ge recommend a trip to the also have the most interesting returns to his hometown to find these comparisons, Tourist Information For more sightseeing, why not conversations with people all his old buddies in various but it would not be Center located in the basement of head to , an whom have such diverse reasons stages of mourning and in a complete review the Korea Tourism Organization open air traditional market where for coming to Korea. I left the various stages of life. However, to ignore them. Building, where you’ll find the you can find virtually anything guesthouse feeling wonderfully life in their small town has most extensive tourist facility in you want. Dongdaemun Market enriched. gotten ugly with the business of This movie is guilty of the the country with information on has a more modern character, turning it into a casino resort. same problems of so many both Seoul and the rest of Korea. since here you will find round [email protected] As with all casinos in film, the other hastily made Korean Here you can also obtain a free the clock shopping malls such as integral big movies. It business is does not down right exhibit a clear dirty. All style or tell a of Tae-su’s straight story. friends are, Like so many in one way others, this or another, movie is not involved with content to the dirty be one kind dealings of of movie and this casino. fails. When the viewer Tae-su does begins to take not accept it seriously, that his friend to get drawn was stabbed into the dead- in an alley by buddy drama petty thugs. developing, He senses a the movie bigger story tosses in a and begins to wacky fight dig into the scene between underbelly of the town. It turns the two heroes and a force out that the whole town is little of break-dancing ninjas, a more than an underbelly. It is baseball team/gang dressed infested with crime and he in uniform with face paint, must re-forge old ties with his sword toting prostitute high school mate and trouble making school girls and others enough buddy, Suk-won (played by the to make it a Fellini hell. director/ writer Ryu Seung- won) in order to get to the A movie can deviate from bottom of the murder. genre all it wants with a story which demands as much and Ho-hum, and you know a director who can pull it off, where it goes… This film has but this ain’t it. No, and thus a pleasing stylistic element. It it does not make my list of is trying, fairly consistently, The 12 Great Korean Movies to achieve a sort of 70’s feel (see past issues). through the music and periodic split screening. But, yes, it’s [email protected] been done. As in, it’s been done and then done again 10 years 14 THE ulsan Pear A Bingo Evening in Ulsan Tombvegas Night! By Jason Pratt proclaimed foosball champion wine.” There is constant catcalling Mark Brown that can be set up if the numbers Contributor is none other than your gracious between the crowd and Troy; as Contributor demand it. It is a cash game that host, Troy. His eastern Canadian victory comes so close, until it can be joined and left at anytime Are you kidding? Did I travel drawl calls everyone over to the is snatched away from you by with games having a 5000 won all the way here from Canada to “Bingo Area” and explains the rules that often recurring ‘O-69’. The The lights are dim. The aroma maximum per bet. Finishing time experience BINGO? Once you for every game. Although they are people who came for a quiet beer of burgers and nachos wafts is really up in the air depending get over those original superficial easy to follow, a few people have came on the wrong night. Cursing through the air. The sounds of on the amount of players playing, impressions, it’s easy to see why to ask questions. Most blame the and loud groans echo throughout sweet rock’n’roll pulsate out of but usually you can count on the Benchwarmers Bar is a crowded special occasion shots. “So, how the room, while ribbing between the speakers. Mindless chatter game running until about 3:00 in place every second Wednesday. does the T game work?” Sighs from winners and ‘non-winners’ fill can be heard throughout, when the morning; mind you we have As you climb up the stairs to the all around you are good-natured the air. Then, the highlight of the all of a sudden you hear “Jimmy seen the sun come up more than entrance, thoughts of old ladies and everyone gets a cheap laugh. night…the Jackpot Game. you lucky %$#@sucker.” Where once. with troll dolls, endless dabbers, The atmosphere is joyful and are you? Where else could you church basements, and all sorts calming, and surprisingly there is The elation of screaming out be but at Tombstone Bar on a A final note, Tombstone will be of lucky charms enter your head. a touch of excitement as the first BIIIIIIINNNGGOOOO in the Thursday evening and Jimmy hosting a No Limit Texas Hold After a slight hesitation at the number is called. “O-69.” As the jackpot game is only felt by one “The River Rat” Yoon has just Em Tournament on Sunday door, you enter the lion’s den. chuckles roll through the crowd as person each night. This game is a caught the six of hearts on the November the 19th at 6:00 p.m. if everyone is back in high school, little tense, but still full of quips river to complete his flush to beat Buy in will be 25 000 won with a The bar is filled with people and jokes. But, when you come my king high straight that I got 60%-30%-10% payout for the 1st, that wouldn’t normally be so down to a few numbers, your on the flop. He takes down yet 2nd, and 3rd place finishers. Sign up excited for a simple Bingo game. heart starts to race and sweat another juicy pot. ahead of time at the bar, though However, this night is something begins to form on the brows of we’ll try to accomodate anyone that is so precious and means so almost every ‘competitor.’ When That’s right folks. The sport of who arrives before 5:30. much to many of the foreigners in the final number is called and the poker is alive and well in Ulsan. the city. It’s a little taste of home. winner jumps up and screams out Every Thursday night starting So get some scratch together, head It doesn’t matter if you have been in glee, there is disappointment around 10:00 – 10:30 a meeting on down and we’ll see you at the gone for years or if you just arrived from the rest of the crowd. The of minds comes together at tables; where fortunes are won and yesterday, Bingo night just has that winner sometimes dances or poses Tombstone Bar in Mugeo lost faster than Jeff’s pants hitting feeling of safe and harmless fun. in some sort of comical fashion, dong. The game is usually Texas the floor at a traditional Korean but they also can’t help but feel a Hold’em but has been known to wedding reception. GAME ON!! The friendly shape of Troy little awkward. That is, of course, change once in a while to dealer’s Macdonald behind the bar until they walk out with a fist full choice. Eight players is usually beckons you in and welcomes you of won. Photo By Jim Saunders the preferred number but a as if you are family. His bright maximum of ten people are able and jovial demeanor can make Bingo night is not about the to sit down around the table, so even the saddest person burst expect a few comments that could money or the winners. It’s about get there early to ensure yourself out laughing. For 20,000 won lead to silence or hilarity; all in the people and feeling that a seat. anyone gets a chance to win at good fun. satisfying sensation of being ten different games, including the back home, even if only for a few The bar does have another table jackpot, which varies from week to As the games roll through and hours. It is an event for everyone: week. The entry fee also includes your nails have been continuously people feeling a little homesick, a free drink; the bar is famous for nibbled on, the winners bask in in desperate need to meet new Write for The Ulsan Pear his Bingo shots. The people all their five minutes of happiness. people, or just looking for a spot around you are open and friendly. Calls of “Bingo man needs a beer,” of comedy on a Wednesday night. A decent conversation is not far echo constantly. At Benchwarmers, This type of Bingo is not only a We kick it old skool away. Then the games begin. to quote the words of the great game, it’s an experience. Lloyd Christmas in the film Dumb [email protected] The resident Bingo caller and self- and Dumber, “the beer flows like [email protected] THE ulsan Pear 15 E di t orial Nothing to do in Ulsan? Jason Teale Once you learn to The Ulsan Pear see, you will notice that there is actually a It is almost winter and the past lot going in Ulsan. few days have had a slight chill in the air. Before you head For those who want to indoors and start exercising your feel more “cultured”, liver, take a look around and see places like the what Ulsan has to offer. Though Hyundai Arts Center the signage may be a bit scary, and the KBS Hall (in there are some genuine treasures Samsan dong) usually to be found in this city. You just have everything from have to get out there and look operas to historical around. plays going on each month. Whenever you come to a new place, it is always hard to get For those want some thing out and just explore new things, with a little more bang, Munsu especially if you have already Stadium not only has world cup gotten into a routine. You know level soccer but a shooting range what is safe and fun for you as well. Photo By kevin Forman and have stopped exploring. It is tough when the senses are Basically, while Ulsan may not bombarded 24-7 by flashing have the flair that Seoul or even Konglish signs that seemingly does, it is by no means a have no relevance to what is boring place to live. It has the inside. events and facilities to support your every need. If, by chance, I would suggest taking a you can’t find what you are closer look. There are tons of looking for, maybe it is about interesting things to do on any time that you start it up yourself given day or night of the week and break some new ground in or weekend. Everything from this great city. board game rooms; singing rooms; learning how to be a K1 [email protected] fighter; to blasting clay discs with a shotgun. Ulsan has it all!

By Peadar Callaghan sure this issue has highlighted a lot city needs. Second, put together a Contributor of the things that you can do in poster with contact information, Ulsan . If that isn’t enough for you email a bunch of your friends to As I was surfing away in cyber and you are still can’t find what get them to pass the info on, put space, I decided to stop into a your looking for, I have a crazy a note in the Pear events calendar. couple of forums to read some idea. One so off the wall that it Finally set a first meeting and hope posts on Korea. Being the curious just might work. people show up. Its time to shake sort of person that I am, I went off the Fall apathy and as the Nike trawling through the forums and Get off your butt and do it yourself. ad puts it, “just do it”. to my shock, I found that the fair Ask the following question; what city of Ulsan actually has a bad have I always wanted to do, but I’m sure I will hear “but why reputation out there. One of the have never found the time to do would I want more work” hurtling most striking comments being in my hectic, overscheduled life from some lips. Well you were “The Polluted Pit of Darkness, before this? Learn to play the complaining of nothing to do, Hideous to the Extreme, also guitar? the piano? the triangle? now you have something. Second, known as Ulsan” There are music academies it looks good when you are galore. You want to learn another building a resume. For those of Yes, Ulsan is an industrial town language? Find yourself a teacher. us not planning on remaining in with the attendant problems of Miss your university role-playing Korea for the rest of our lives, this traffic congestion, pollution, etc. group, book club, gaming society, is essential. In a previous life as but as for the levels of sunlight and drama group, political discussion an HR lacky, I once shortlisted a so forth, well I will leave that to be group, music society, or art group? guy for an interview only because debated by those among you who Don’t just sit and worry about his resume mentioned he built care about things meteorological. how you can’t find it - go out radio control cars; all the others But the following quote really and create it. In my experince the had been so identical that this guy caught me off guard: “It seems the people who complain about the stood out and got his interview. only thing to do here in Ulsan is go lack of things to do are the very So there’s the selfish motive for to Tombstone or Benchwarmers, people who refuse to do anything you, if you really need one besides get pi$$ed, smoke a lot and have to make the situation better. making the world a better place lame, boring conversations.” for those around you. Now lets run through the ways you Ok, now I admit I like a beer as can create the thing you have been much as the next man, but I’m missing. First, decide what this [email protected] THE ulsan Pear 16 Ultimate Enjoyment in Ulsan! Next Issue: Keith Zufelt itself is pretty basic to pick up. no referee is necessary. Contributor For those not familiar with Ultimate Frisbee, here are some According to World Flying Disc One organized sport that has been fundamentals: The pitch itself is Federation, “the original game a constant in Ulsan, is ‘Ultimate similar to an American Football or itself was invented in 1968 by Joel Frisbee.’ The Ulsan Saucer a Rugby pitch, in that the scoring Silver, who introduced his idea of Launching Ultimate Team (U- area is an end zone. Secondly, Ultimate Frisbee to the Columbia SLUTs), has been playing every it incorporates basketball’s High School student council in Sunday (typhoons aside), down at ‘No Traveling’ rules when in Maplewood New Jersey, USA.” the Taehwa grass soccer pitch for possession of the frisbee. Thirdly, Gaining momentum over the more than three years. like American Football, you can years, “Ultimate is now played by pass in any direction. That is more an estimated 100,000 players in Ultimate Frisbee has, in recent or less Ultimate Frisbee. over 40 countries.” months, experienced something of a re-birth in Ulsan. While Ultimate was made popular in For more information on Ultimate this current growth is likely due the late sixties and early seventies Frisbee, check out www.wfdf. to the ebb and flow of transient by peace-loving, dope-smoking org . For information on Ulsan foreigners, a lot of its success is hippies. As a result, the game Ultimate, contact usluts@yahoo. also due to its consistency. Further prides itself on fair play; all players com . Better yet, come on down success can also be attributed to the are bound by the rules of good to the Taehwa pitch, next to the welcome treatment experienced by sportsmanship. They are expected Taehwa Rotary Bridge some all new players, regardless of skill to play within the rules of the game Sunday afternoon. Games start at level or experience. The veterans and to call their own fouls fairly 3pm in the winter and 4pm in the are always eager to teach those and accurately, to the extent that summer. willing to learn, and the game even in international tournaments [email protected] Welcome to Winter

The theme of our November issue is Wintertime.

How do you celebrate Christmas in Korea? What other holidays do you take part in during the winter? What’s fun to do outside in the cold? How do you keep warm, and how can you get over the winter blues that set in? If you have an idea let us know.

Please send 500 words (and an accompanying photograph) to [email protected] before November 19th.

Photos By Jason Teale