December 2007

New Vietnamese Province celebrates

GC35G questionsq aand Learning english hhopes MAGiS08 labouring away p3 Asia prepares p10 p11 JesuitsJesuits inin EastEast AsiaAsia andand OceaniaOceania Snapshots from the region

Delegates meet Birth of the Vietnamese Province In preparation for The growth of the Jesuit enterprise in our Asian 35, delegates from the Assistancy met region was highlighted by the 50th anniversary in . This new initiative enabled of the refoundation of the Society in Vietnam. them to reflect together on the key issues At the same time, Vietnam became an independent for the Congregation, and also to come Province. Fr Kolvenbach attended the celebrations jesuits to know each other better before the in Ho Chi Minh City. in East Asia and Oceania Congregation begins.

Editor Andrew Hamilton SJ Graphic design Maggie Power Jesuits in East Asia and Oceania is published two times a year by: Jesuit Communications Australia, 326 Church Street, Richmond, VIC 3121 Australia. ACN 004 238 948 in association with: Jesuit Conference of East Asia, PO Box 1264, Quezon City, Philippines © Jesuit Communications Australia 2007. To order copies of Jesuits in East Asia and In the steps of Ignatius Oceania contact: Jesuit Communications As part of their Assistancy Tertianship, the Australia. PO Box 553, Richmond, VIC Jesuits participating undertook a pilgrimage 3121 Australia. to Ignatian sites in Spain and Italy. The pilgrimage Unsolicited articles, photographs and letters are welcome. Requests for helped them to imagine in fresh ways the life permission to reprint material from the of Ignatius and the great themes of the Spiritual magazine should be addressed to Exercises that are so tied up with his life. The editor, Jesuits in East Asia and Oceania, PO Box 553, Richmond, VIC 3121 Australia. Tel: +613 9421 9613 Fax: +613 9421 9600 Email: [email protected] This magazine is copyright. Apart from fair dealing for the purpose of private study, MAGiS08 in the Assistancy research, criticism or review as permitted The MAGiS08 programme is moving under the Copyright Act, no part may be to the stage of experiments. These reproduced by any person without written are opportunities for young adults to permission. Enquiries to be addressed to reflect on faith in a different environment Teaching in Dili the publisher. Responsibility for editorial content is accepted by: The publisher, Jesuit accompanied by Jesuits. Experiments The Colégio de São José in Dili is still seeking Communications Australia, 326 Church Street, will be held in the Philippines, Indonesia, land to build a new school. In the meantime, Richmond, VIC 3121 Australia. Cambodia and India. three scholastics are already teaching there: Agus Tanudjaj and Eugene Koh from Malaysia Printed on Impress Satin using wood fibre from sustainable forests. Elementally chlorine free. and Bert Boholst from the Philippines. They join an already international community.

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Six hopes for the Congregation

Can we be Realistic? Can we be Accompanied? hierarchy—are not happy Cann we bbee ShShort?ort? By sspeakingp of being TheThe bbest of with the changes. They miss We wwouldould notnot likelike rrealisticeal I am a GGeneral something important in us. GCGC35 to become cconfessingon my CCongregationon We must ask: Is it enough to ananothero exercise age.age. Old. But I is ttheh ‘event of be happy with our life and in patience.p cancan ststill remember ththee hheart’. People with improving our service A CCongregationo GC34.GC34. FonFond,d humorous and ppray,ray, tthink,hink, ddiscern, and ministry? todaytoday ddoesoes notnot need to be challenging memories. But the change, exchange, are freed so long. Neither does it have hero of the day was Patience, from positions, are led to I hope that in GC35 we to do the work of the whole by a long shot. encounters, live for a few begin to reflect openly on our Society through its ordinary weeks in the middle point religious life. The Society Government. Nor is it a Just imagine. A gathering of between the Kingdom of panacea for all the problems will then be re-created for our 220 Jesuits decides to tackle God and the joys and sorrows we face. A Congregation 46 topics, work on them of our world; between the times. Not only the services is a place for discernment for three months, produce Cross of Jesus Christ and the we offer, but the quality of and decisions. It can 26 Documents and solemnly Cross of humanity, hearts the personal and community help the whole Society handle and approve 416 filled with the shared hope of witness to the Church and the to grow in the Spirit and Complementary Norms. the Resurrection. world we give will be touched. the apostolate. Next year we will be close to 230 members. I hope that this happens to I believe that this process So my final hope is the whole . is so deep that it will carry that we will be so clear I hope that we will be into GC36. about the purposes of the I hope that those who do not realistic about what a GC Congregation, and so focused can do well, what it cannot, go to will monitor and Can we be Practical? A GGenerale in our work, that we can and what it should leave to follow events closely, with the CongregationCon serve the Society and the same willingness to change the new Father-General and tatakeske place within Church within a reasonably and be led by the Spirit of our his team. a wewell-tried short time. Lord. The GC will succeed if ffrframeworkame that Can we be transparent? it continues in the life of the reflectsreflects the prapracticalc wisdom TransparencyTrans has Society and all its members of centuries. But these becomebeco more and communities. limitations and rules make difficultdiff in our small its going slow, heavy and world.wor Yet our GCs I know that this is a very very impractical. havehhave aalways started by big hope. acknowledgingacknowledgin honestly where We live, and our younger we are going wrong, what is Can we be Creative? Jesuits will inherit, a world missing in our lives, what has I havhave an elusive of very rapid change. New been distorted or wounded of feelingfeeli that technologies and forms of our spirit. sosomethingm communication make a importantimp in our great difference. We shall I hope that the Commission rereligiousligio life needs use some but will not feel on the State of the Society attentionattention anandd iis not getting it. free to use others. presents to us a clear, honest We have certainly changed, responded to new calls, new I hope that the coming and courageous picture of challenges. We are basically GC prepares for future where we are and what does happy with that. We feel called Congregations by giving not fit with God and God’s to the core of our vocation, the new General and his call to follow Jesus. where only God, and Christ and his Mission count. Council the freedom to This is the necessary discern and to choose the beginning. But others—significant best ways to prepare and among laypeople and the to run them.

3 JesuitsJesuits inin EastEast AsiaAsia andand OceaniaOceania Pathway to a Province

Jesuits have come to and left Vietnam because of When Saigon fell to the were jailed, Jesuit life would expulsions. Vietnam twice benefited when Jesuits Communist army in 1975, still continue. were prevented from going to other lands. A fierce 80 Jesuits worked in Vietnam. persecution in Japan led to the arrival of the first Of these, 57 were foreign For ten years there was Jesuits in 1615. Jesuits preparing in Macao for the born. Anticipating that no space for ordinary Jesuit Japanese mission were instead sent to the kingdoms foreign would community life. Jesuits worked of Indochina. They came first to the southern kingdom soon be expelled, Fr Arrupe in the army, in schools, in of Vietnam, and later to the northern kingdom. immediately sent Fr Nguyen factories and labour camps. Cong Doan to Vietnam as Novices lived at home, and The most notable power in China, Jesuits were mission Superior. visited their novice master in was Alexandre de Rhodes expelled. A few years later secret. Not surprisingly, few who devised a romanised the Society was asked to help This third expulsion shaped of the Jesuits who joined the script, complete with marks the church of South Vietnam. subsequent Jesuit history Society between 1975 and 1990 to distinguish the six different The country had been in Vietnam. The Jesuits overcame this disruption to tones. This is the basis for divided a few years earlier. continued their work, hoping continue to live as Jesuits. the modern Vietnamese As a result many Jesuits who that the Alexandre de Rhodes script. Although he was had prepared themselves for centre would be a place for subsequently expelled from the Chinese mission came to dialogue. But in 1980 the Vietnam, Jesuits remained in Vietnam. The founder of the Society went underground. Vietnam until the Society was Mission was Fr Ferdinand Fr Doan, with six other suppressed in 1773. In all, 53 Lacretelle. He bought a house Jesuits, was jailed and later Jesuits worked there. in Saigon, later to become the sent to a re-education camp. Alexandre de Rhodes centre, He remained the public After the restoration of the and also began the Pontifical face of Jesuit leadership. But Jesuits, many Provinces sent College of Pius X in Dalat. In a succession of Superiors missionaries to China. But 1960 he opened a novitiate, was secretly drawn up to when the Communists seized also in Saigon. ensure that even if Superiors

4 Jesuits in East Asia and Oceania

By 1990 Jesuits had more As part of the planning CELEBRATING AN EVENTFUL 50 YEARS freedom but still needed to they named pastoral priorities. live cautiously. These were to form Jesuits, to On July 14 the Vietnamese Jesuits celebrated the fiftieth anniversary The priority of the mission preach God’s word, especially of the Jesuit return to Vietnam and the birth of the Province of was now to ensure that in remote communities, to Vietnam. Two thousand people came to an outdoors mass in the Jesuits were well formed form people in faith, and to front of the Hien Linh Church. for their ministry. Studies engage younger Vietnamese His Eminence, Jean Baptiste Man, Cardinal Archbishop of Ho Chi in philosophy and theology intellectually. Minh City, concelebrated the Mass with Father-General Peter Hans began in Vietnam. Young Kolvenbach and about eight archbishops and bishops. During the Jesuits also went abroad Relationships with the mass, Fr Nguyen Cong Doan who had been the first superior of the to study. Because they Government of Vietnam have Vietnamese region after 1975, and is now Assistant of the region, now had more pastoral become less difficult. In 2004 read the decree instituting the new Province of Vietnam. opportunities, the Jesuits the Government publicly In the Decree, Fr Kolvenbach said: ‘I am very pleased to of the region also met twice recognised the existence of formally establish the Vietnamese Province of the Society each year to plan. the philosophy and theology of Jesus on the 50th anniversary of the second presence programs. In 2006 the of the Society of Jesus in Vietnam. This new Province is Government returned the established under the special protection of St , Alexandre de Rhodes centre the greatest Jesuit missionary in Asia.’ to the Society. Jesuit growth Fr Kolvenbach encouraged the Jesuits of the new Province, in Vietnam is evident in the thanking especially their parents: ‘We honour you for your love 89 Jesuits who began their and generosity in giving us your beloved sons to the Society formation between 1993 of Jesus. Without your generous offering and collaboration, and 2006. the Society of Jesus would not be present today since the last foreign Jesuit had left the country thirty years ago. From expulsion has 134 of your children and members of your families make up come growth. the present Vietnamese Province of the Society of Jesus.’ The new Province is rooted in native Vietnamese soil.

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Asia in General Congregations

General Congregations deal with matters that concern the whole Society. But our Asian region can be detected in past Congregations. Sometimes we see it in the decrees, but more often in the delegates who have taken part.

Usually General Congregations meet to elect a new Father-General. AfterAfter thethe SocietSocietyy was rerestoredstored Until recently news and people travelled slowly. So the Congregation was held travel became less arduous. arduous six months after Fr General’s death. Even so it was impossible for distant Delegates from overseas Provinces, Jesuit regions to send delegates. But sometimes procurators responsible for especially from the United States, joined conductingcon mission business were in Europe the Congregations. Missionary continents, duringdur Congregations. The procurator for including Asia, were represented by the thethe Indies was present at the first General Assistants and CongregationCon that elected Diego Laynez. delegates of the Provinces that sent WhenW General Congregation 7 (1615) missionaries there. electedelec Mutius Vitelleschi, the Procurator General Congregation of GoaG was present. Nicolas Trigault, the 25 (1906) responded ProcuratorPro of the Chinese mission, was also favourably when admittedadm to the Congregation. Nicolas had Pius X commended travelledtrav to China through India in 1607, and an intellectual mission returnedretu to Europe in 1612. In 1618 he left to Japan. General forfor CChinahina again, where he travelled as a missionary through the country. He was Congregation 30 a powerful advocate for the missionary strategy of . (1957) renewed He begged the Congregation to request the Emperor of China to allow the the support. Jesuits to preach the Gospel in China. Wisely the Congregation left the matter to By the beginning the judgment of the local Jesuits. But it praised the zeal of the missionaries and of the twentieth promised them the prayerful support of the whole Society. century, the Society Alexandre de Rhodes attended the ninth and tenth General Congregations had grown rapidly, (1649 and 1652) as Procurator for the Province of Japan. He had travelled and missions were to in 1620 and worked there for ten years before being expelled. flourishing. Vice AfterAfte he left Vietnam he went to Macao, Provinces and fromfrom where he returned to Rome in large Missions were permitted to send 1649.1649 He was thus able to attend two delegates to General Congregation 28 GeneralGene Congregations. He later worked (1938). From the Asian region came in PPersia.e representatives of the Batavia Mission, the Japanese, Philippines, Chinese, Wuhu and Shanghai Missions. The Visitor to the Chinese Missions also took part. The Australian Vice Province was also represented for the first time.

The growth of Jesuit ministry in Asia after the Second World War is reflected in the number of Provinces and Missions that sent delegates to General Congregations. The growing number of delegates who were locally born also tells of growth.

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AtAt GGeneraleneral CongregationCongregation 30 (1947), (1947) delegates camcamee Assistancy delegates from the Philippines, Japan, Bambang Triatmoko, Benedictus Indonesia Australia, Indonesia, and the Chinese Missions. Chae, Joon-ho, Mathias Korea This Congregation instituted THE FACE OF ASIA IN CONGREGATIONAL DECREES De Luca, Renzo the new Assistancy of India/ Japan General Congregation 7 EastEas Asia, which was divided Huang, Daniel God will stir up the kingdom (of China), watered once of old with his in 11962. Over the following Philippines blood and make of it a fertile harvest soon ready to be brought into his eighteigh years the Assistancy King, Geoffrey Australia barn. Nor will he allow these burning hopes and desires of Ours to be incorporatedinco more and more Lee Hua, John wasted by vain effort. They should be convinced that their sweat is the missionsmis until it took its China seed of Chinese Christians. Decree 86 presentpres shape. By the time Magadia, Jose Cecilio of GGeneral Congregation 34 Philippines General Congregation 25 (1995),(199 delegates came from McIntosh, Robert The Most Holy Father (Pius X) strongly commended to the Society its the Philippines, China, Vietnam, Korea ancient mission in Japan, and specially the establishment of an institute Korea,Kore Japan, Indonesia, Nebres, Bienvenido of higher studies in the region that it had cultivated. Wherefore the Philippines Australia,Aus Malaysia, Thailand, General Congregation by unanimous vote professed itself fully prepared Nguyen Cong Doan, Joseph to undertake both the works as offered, both out of regard for the andand Hong Kong. Assistant special obedience involving missions that is due to the supreme pontiff Nicolas, Adolfo by reason of our Constitutions and also in memory of Saint Francis President of Assistancy GrowthGro of Jesuit ministry Xavier, apostle of Japan, and the many martyrs of the Society who Priyono Marwan, Agustinus iinn AAsia is also shown in the Indonesia poured out their blood in the region for the name of Christ. Decree 6 ooriginsrig of delegates. Raper, Mark OnlyOnl two of the seven Australia General Congregation 30 delegatesdele to General Riyo Mursanto, Robertus The Congregation determined that the Vice-Province of Japan must CongregationCon 28 from Indonesia continue to receive help in the future. Decree 25 theth future East Asian Sumita, Shogo Japan The Congregation created a new Assistancy of India and East Asia, Assistancy were born in Tan Cheong Kee, Lawerence and gave to Our Father authority to divide that same assistancy and to the region. At GC31—in Malaysia-Singapore establish others in Latin America and Africa. which Fr Arrupe, the first Vu Quang Trung, Thomas It was already foreseen that the Assistancy of India and East Asia, just Vietnam General with an intimate established, would before very long have to be divided, both because knowledge or our region, Korea of the swift development of political affairs and those of the Society in was elected—four out of China Asia, and because of the different characteristics of India and East Asia, Japan thirteen were locally born. as well as the variety of practical matters that had to be dealt with. By GC32, held in 1975, the Decree 56 proportion had changed Vietnam dramatically. Eleven out of Philippines General Congregation 34 Malaysia-Singapore twelve delegates were born Jesuits in Asia and Oceania are engaged in the struggles of the poor Indonesia in the region. This pattern and indigenous peoples for justice. Especially in Asian countries where Christians are a small minority, they dialogue with other cultural and held also for GC33 (1983) religious traditions in an effort to put the Gospel in touch with Asian life and GC34 (1995). Australia and to bring the richness of Asian culture to the living of the Gospel. Servants of Christ’s Mission 18

7 JesuitsJesuits inin EastEast AsiaAsia andand OceaniaOceania

In bondage abroad

When Jesuits from In poor nations, the when workers arrive, their immigrant workers in the social ministries human story of forced passports are held. They course of his work. He in Asia have met, migration usually begins are forced to pay for their describes their conditions. they have described when an agent visits a poor travel expenses by working religious conflict and area. He promises people without wages. They are ‘Many employers hold back globalisation as two profitable work overseas, poorly housed, have no migrant workers’ wages for three of the three greatest offers to arrange their access to medical care, and months after arrival or at the shared concerns. fares and visas, and to look are fined unjustly. They are end to cover their expenses. They The third was the plight after their accommodation without papers or redress. might also hold back wages for of migrant workers. when they arrive. a month or two as punishment Nguyen Van Cao, for missing work or for speaking Sometimes promises formerly director of JRS out. When workers die, it is are kept. But more often in Australia, met many also common for the employer

Above and near right: Nguyen Van Cao in Malacca Far right: Ando Isamu in Nairobi

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MMigrantigrant wworkersorkers iinn AAsiasia

A feature of our region is the presence of migrant workers. It is estimated that somev 80 million people leave their own nations to find at least temporary work. Some 20 million of these are found in Asia, and it has been estimated that two million Asians leave their country each year to work abroad. RAFFICKED They usually move from poorer nations to wealthier nations. So, workers from Indonesia, Vietnam, T Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and the Philippines are found in Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, Australia and other nations. Some come with visas, others irregularly. Both men and women come, the latter often employed The early Jesuits established for house work or in the sex industry. a house in Rome for prostitutes. Ignatius defended it against There are economic benefits for both nations. Migrant workers provide cheap labour for development. slurs, because prostitutes were They also send back foreign currency to their own nations, and help development there. Of 93 billion so vulnerable and exploited. dollars world wide, some 23 million returned to Asian countries.

They are also vulnerable. Because migrant workers contribute so greatly to their economies, the Ignatius’ heart would have governments both of the sending and receiving nations are unwilling to regulate conditions tightly. gone out to Kit. She was born in Ando Isamu describes the situation in Japan. Burma. At seven, she was sold into Thailand, where she spent ‘The most basic human rights of the people are grossly violated and legislation to curb her childhood as a household the influx of foreign workers is in real conflict with the needs in Japan for young workers slave. At puberty she was sold to raise production and to come to the help of an increasing grey population. into prostitution in Bangkok. She The numbers of Catholics that had remained steady (around 420, 000) for many years have was never allowed to leave her now jumped to near one million due to the workers coming from Brazil, the Philippines workplace. and Peru. Every Sunday, I help out in a diocesan parish, where we have about 90 Catholics After some years she was in the morning Japanese mass and, usually over 300 Catholics (most workers are from the trafficked to Malaysia. She had Philippines) in the early afternoon English mass. This continues for more than eight years to work in a brothel for board already. There are few Jesuit working directly and exclusively with migrant workers. But and lodging. Then she was sent many meet them in their work in prisons, in parishes and in their pastoral outreach.’ on a false passport to work in Australian brothels across the main cities. When her agents thought her no longer useful, to refuse to send their wages to a long way from their work. Because their employers hold they anonymously told the police their families.’ They have to walk eight or ten their passports, too, they are that she was working illegally. kilometres to do the shopping afraid to travel.’ That saved them the cost of the Cao also says that many on Sunday. This means taking return fare. Immigration officers workers find a much more a day off. Some live in places If Jesuits are to help detained her, and found she had difficult situation than the like dormitories of 120 or 600 migrant workers, we must no record of citizenship. She agents led them to believe. people; others live in shipping first to try to understand stayed in detention for more than He continues: containers or in any shelter they the problem, and then to two years. can make. build up a list of people ‘Some newly arrived workers involved in meeting it, At first she first wanted only are lucky. They inherit It is often hard for Catholic studying its reality and to end her life. But as she met equipment and utilities from workers to attend Church, effects, and working across asylum seekers and workers who the returnees. But some live because they live so far away. Provinces to heal it. respected her, she recognised her own intelligence and self-worth. She was permitted to stay in Australia, was welcomed into the home of one of the teachers in the detention centre, and began tertiary studies that would prepare here for a career.

Kit was lucky someone took an interest in her.

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Asia mobilises for MAGiS08

MAGiS08, the Jesuit programme for World Youth Day, will bring together young She also hopes that over the people from many different cultures. next months, Jesuits in the Assistancy will increasingly Jenni Winters, much life to offer MAGiS08! in the experiments to be held be involved in MAGiS08: who led a group Specifically they bring a richness Asia over the next months. ‘MAGiS08 experiments offer of young adults of culture and community to the Jenni explains: ‘There will young Jesuits in Asia the at a MAGiS08 experiment that is at times new be three experiments in wonderful opportunity of experiment in for Australian young people.’ Asia during December accompanying young adults Cambodia, says 2007 and January 2008. in their faith journey. We need learning was mutual. Stephanie North, a young Like the trial experiment in Jesuits in Asia to be involved ‘The Khmer young adults woman who was part of the Cambodia, we hope these in many areas of the project if had never heard of the word programme in Cambodia, experiments will help prepare we are to realise the for magis before and initially spoke of her own experience: the teams for July 2008. MAGiS08! We need them to there was confusion around ‘On meeting a Khmer person, Then we plan to have up lead experiments, participate the meaning of the word. One you are almost instantaneously to twelve experiments as animators, act as spiritual Khmer young man said to me made aware of your own running across Asia in the companions, to promote and “Oh I understand now—magis, value as a human being. Philippines, India, Cambodia accompany young adults when to discover more for God in my There is recognition that we and Indonesia.’ they come to Sydney in 2008.’ Life. I understand! I thought in fact belong to one another. magis was a place in Sydney.” ’ Regardless of the little they personally have, Cambodians Jenni continues, ‘I was struck give it all to serve the least by the deep understanding amongst them. There is an young adults already had of unspoken acknowledgment that the concept.’ Jenni’s experience the community is only as strong in Cambodia and in the as its weakest member.’ Assistancy has taught her how much young adults from Asia Young Australian Jesuits will contribute. ‘They have so will accompany young adults

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Climbing the Tower of Babel

Jesuits have typically generally shared language Jacobs and Kent Rosenthal Left and above top: English in Korea learned foreign among Jesuits. came to the Suwon novitiate Above: French in Versailles languages. Think of to teach English. Matteo Ricci and of In Vietnam novices have There is national debate Alexandre de Rhodes. regular English classes In Korea many English about whether English But teaching languages and speak English for day schools use the hagwon—an should be made Korea’s is an equally important each week. In Manila the English immersion second language. As South Jesuit task. Scholastics scholastics at Arrupe House village—where students Korea looks east and west to in France, and take an introductory English learn in an English-speaking expand into western markets England, for example, course, and continue to study environment. During and looks northwards to offer language courses later. Those who study in their six week stay Kent North Korea, language is an to Jesuits over summer. Australia spend some months and Greg followed this important symbol of power in English learning centres model. It particularly helps and trade. The need to learn languages before beginning their studies. in conversation, the most is driven by the dollar as well difficult challenge when But it would be wrong to as the cross. Robert Jermain East Timorese scholastic, learning another language. think that scholastics born Thomas, the first Protestant Plinio Martins, who studied in Asia are only students of missionary martyr in Korea, both in Manila and in One of the texts used Western languages. Quang for example, distributed Bibles Australia says, ‘I found was The Name of the Rose by Vinh left Vietnam as a small and preached to Koreans in English hard. The English Umberto Eco. The novel is child after the fall of Saigon. their own language. But he courses in Manila were set in a mysterious monastery He later joined the French also acted as interpreter for a very helpful; the course library. It features translators, Province. This summer with British trade expedition. in Australia was more secret codes, hidden other French scholastics he was demanding’. knowledge and power. a teacher of French to overseas In our Assistancy the Jesuits at Versailles, including main challenge is often to Korea has an English The novices saw parallels some from our region. learn English. It is often the school for the novices to between the themes of the language of commerce and which Australian scholastics novel and the place that technology. It is also the most come to teach. This year Greg English plays today in Korea.

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