One Circle Community

Almost two years later, with thousands dead and counting, the ongoing conflict in Syria has become a microcosm of political tensions in the Middle East and an unsavory reflection of the world at large. Against the backdrop of the Arab Spring and the complicated politics of the region, this film seeks to explore the Syrian conflict through the humanity of the civilians who have been killed, abused, and displaced to the squalor of refugee camps. In all such conflicts, large and small, it is civilians—women and children, families and whole communities—who suffer at the leisure of those in power and get caught in the crossfire of the hegemons. When elephants go to war, it is the grass that suffers! In May 2012, director Iara Lee participated in a press delegation to the Turkish refugee camps housing Syrian exiles, where she interviewed those who have been most affected by the bloody conflict. Some who fled to the camps identify as militants, others are committed to nonviolent tactics, and many more are just trying to live in peace without repression. Each may have his or her own opinion about the decision of some actors to take up arms, or about whether the international community should try to topple the regime. Ultimately, however, any understanding of the Syrian conflict and its costs should be rooted in recognizing the humanity and suffering of these refugees. This film is one effort to do just that.

While many are familiar with Western-stye yoga practice, including physically challenging postures and relaxation techniques, few have heard of Yin. A term coined by Western teachers over the last few decades, Yin describes a style emphasizing deep stretches and passivity, or surrender, rather than exertion. Yin represents a departure from the Western athletic model, slowing down the mind and body, offering a path to deeper connection to the quiet spirit within, and physically supporting the joints and connective tissues, rather than building muscle. It counter-balances active physical routines of any sort. We will discuss the concept of Yin [versus Yang] in our lives, its application in yoga practice, and the benefits of Yin practice. A short Yin practice consisting of a few relaxing and easy poses will be offered for those interested in sampling Yin. Because Yin is a passive practice, it is appropriate for all levels of experience and physical fitness. Tanya Roberts is a Western trained yogini from just south of Seattle, Washington, USA. In between yoga trainings throughout the world, she has spent the last year teaching Yin, and other yoga classes. She is now in Seoul and currently teaching Yin yoga at SPACE.

Peter Wilson will give a talk on cycling around and outside of Seoul. A guide of some routes and highlights. Focusing on the mental, physical and spiritual benefits of cycling - how it integrates with awareness / mindfulness. He will also deal with potential hassles and ways around them. Peter is a teacher from New Zealand. He first started riding in Seoul around 2006. He started riding seriously in Seoul in 2010. Last year he rode with a friend to Busan. He is trying to be a more mindful and charitable person.

I will explain a side of Yoga that most people, including certified yoga teachers, do not know. Namely the fact that yoga is not just an exercise, nor just meditation, and is also not something mysterious or mystical. Yoga is a very concrete and practical science that, when properly understood and interpreted is the science of life. To be more precise, it is the science of the control of life. The second sutra of the first chapter of Patanjali says, “Yoga Citta Vritti Nirodha,” which means “Yoga is the control of the vrittis up to the level of the memory”. This means that through the practice and study of Yoga you can come to the point, first of all based upon conscious awareness, that you can control your urges and tendencies, including your (primal) instincts. Because most people have no control over these, they find themselves ending up in trouble or conflict, with themselves and with the world around them. Yoga Citta Vritti Nirodha means that you develop the ability, mainly based upon consciousness, to anticipate your reactions, and as a result you have the option to abort the reaction before it manifests if considered destructive, or to let it go through and manifest when deemed proper and constructive. To understand the above, which is rather complicated, I would like to start explaining the meaning of the word Yoga and its practical implications in the complex modern world we live in. In addition, I’d like to explain the chakras and their functions, because that is very much related to our emotions and desires. And most importantly I’d like to explain Shiva (Yin) and Shakti (Yang) energies and how they govern our being in daily life. When there is a balance / harmony between the two energies, life really starts to take off, because growth and development really take place when there is harmony. You can see this in children growing up, but also on a macro scale in countries: when there is peace, not only does the country start to prosper, but all the individuals living in it. When there is lack of harmony (conflict, war etc), development comes to a standstill or regresses, and people fall back on lower instincts and lose touch with the divine. ABOUT RON For his outstanding work to spread real Yoga in Korea Ron was awarded Honorary Membership of the International Yoga Federation and the World Yoga Council worldwide organizations with more than 450,000,000 Yoga practitioners under its umbrella. Not long after, Ron was appointed secretary of the IYF representing Korea for the organization. He currently runs the Magic Pond Yoga School at World Gym (Yoido). For more information visit www.rajayoga.co.kr

Cultures of Resistance (CoR) is the name of both a feature documentary and an activist network. Worldwide, people from all walks of life are finding creative ways to oppose war and promote peace, justice, and sustainability. Culture—including film, music, and food—is fertile terrain for this struggle. Education that nourishes a critical mind and fortifies the soul is just as essential. The Cultures of Resistance feature documentary is a production of Caipirinha Productions. Directed by Iara Lee, the film highlights the work of artists, musicians, and dancers throughout the world who are working for peace and justice, and are re-conceiving resistance as a fundamentally creative act. The Cultures of Resistance website seeks to get audiences involved with the activist groups and campaigns featured in the film.

This workshop is specifically designed by JeongMok to help you fast-forward your healing and awakening from unconscious parts of life. In a very short time you can accomplish more than what you would achieve through years of therapy or silent sitting meditation practice. It will help to catalyze a 180 degree turn in your life and personal energy, and will automatically change your perception of yourself and the world around you. JeongMok will look into your energy and let you know the exact thought-forms, beliefs, conditionings and emotions that are blocking your consciousness and sabotaging your inner peace of creative & productive life. Through breathing in awareness & Guided Meditation and JeongMok’s individual guidance, you will be able to: • Access deeper layers of your unconscious. • Heal into consciousness by understanding and transcending your mind and its patterns. • Detoxify your being from suppressed thoughts and emotions. • Purify your body and energy from psychological and emotional wounds that keep your wounded ego alive. • Release perpetuating patterns of pain & suffering from your body's cellular memory. • Break through self-imposed and collective conditionings and find your true inner power for creative, productive peaceful life. • Experience your innocence and inner being. • Get in touch with your essence and potential and be in charge of your own life. • Learn how to be your own friend and master. • Transform stress, loneliness, insecurity, and depression into consciousness and inner joy. • Improve your physical health and become more playful. • Discover what you need to do in order to live your full potential and life purpose. No prior experience is necessary. Please wear comfortable clothing. Yoga mats will be provided, but please bring your own if possible. Donations are welcomed. Jae-Sheen Yu: (Also known informally as “JeongMok” which is his spiritual name given to him by his teacher) JeongMok(an international teacher, healer) was born in South Korea. He began his personal quest and spiritual journey at age 9, under the guidance of many teachers such as BongWoo (Mountain Daoist) & SungChul (Buddhist Master), along with his grandfather and grandmother who, later in life, became a Buddhist priest and a Buddhist nun. After years of focused meditation and introspection in the presence of his spiritual teachers, JeongMok was blessed with many profound experiences that led to the “ultimate” experience of liberation and understanding that healed his suffering from panic attacks, phobias, allergies, physical pains, and the ego-mind. JeongMok travels internationally, offering workshops, healing sessions, and retreats to individuals, children, and organizations. Through his work JeongMok has helped thousands of people move into health and self-empowered consciousness. The private sessions, self-healing workshops, and meditation retreats with JeongMok help people dies-identify from their ego-mind and take risks to live life fully and fearlessly. He lives in North Scottsdale, Arizona USA.

We're excited to have Brian Barry as our March OCC guest speaker. Please read the following article for more details about his path to Temple art and Buddhism. http://koreana.kf.or.kr/pdf_file/2008/2008_AUTUMN_E060.pdf About Brian * Native of Boston, Mass., former Peace Corps Volunteer to Korea * Dharma painter for 26 year, disciple of the late Living National Treasure Master Manbong; works include Korean dancheong on temple doors at Royal Thai temple in Bangkok * Jogye Order's first Honorary International Dharma Teacher * Dharma translator of Dharma talks by Ven. Songchol, Ven. Bopjong, Ven. Ilta and more than 60 books on Korean and Buddhist culture * Received National Order of Cultural Merit in 2009

Since arriving in Korea in 2007 as an English teacher, Mike Durkee has produced a series of over 200 videos on Youtube. "Durkee in Korea," as he is known as in the K-Vlog community, has gained much popularity and has ultimately led to the beginning of his career in filmmaking.

“WE are all connected we are one” Dana will share her experiences living in Korea, and will also discuss how we can integrate yoga and well-being into our stressful and hectic lives. Dana’s colorful history starts in the Netherlands, continues to the U.S. and finally reaches Korea. Dana’s original intention for coming to Korea was to learn the language and spend time with family. Her mixed ethnic background eventually led to a modeling contract, appearances on several Korean programs, and even her own travel show called "Dana's into the World." She worked for Arirang TV as a sports reporter and was also the Creative Director for Global Ad campaigns. FAST FORWARD. Dana established a branch of Yogi Tea Korea from the ground up with a media campaign for social change. “After all this time....I am still working on my Korean.. I hope to make a positive impact on people and their health with the help of a cool yoga get-fit campaign. I really have to credit so many people that I have come across who’ve helped to create this great campaign” - Dana

I will discuss unusual and creative methods that people have used and are using to draw attention to problems and create positive changes in their communities and the world. About Mike My Name is Mike Corcoran, and I am from Washington, D.C. I have a background in creative art, reporting and teaching. For four years I was a sergeant and journalist in the United States Marine Corps. The following five years I worked as an artist, freelance writer, and photographer in Washington, D.C. In D.C., I also worked as a print media designer, a high school advanced placement journalism instructor, and as a teaching assistant in an ESL classroom. Before I came to Korea I worked full-time as a newspaper editor, and staff photographer in Maine. Presently, I teach business English, freelance as a photographer, and work as an art gallery assistant.

"Take your past experiences and interests and transform them into a business." A Korean adoptee, Daniel Gray was reunited with his birth mother in 2008 and she regularly sends him gifts of homemade kimchi, persimmon, and sesame oil. Daniel Gray started his journey in food as the sidekick to New York Times writer Matt Gross when he came to visit Korea in 2007. He has gone on to write for appear in many publications and productions in Seoul and around the world. He appeared in Andrew Zimmern's Bizarre Foods, Gourmet's Diary of a Foodie Television, Food Network, The Kimchi Chronicles and many more productions. Mr. Gray has taken the success of his blog (www.seouleats.com) and turned it into a successful business. These days his company, O'ngo Food Communications, is offering Korean cooking classes and restaurant tours to travelers to Seoul. He says his company's goal is to have visitors to Korea, "experience culture through the cuisine."

"The Last Mermaid" won the Gold medal at the 36th Student Academy Awards 2009, Tribeca Film Festival 2009, 13th Pusan International Film Festival 2008. Liz Chae is a writer/director committed to bringing stories of women and the Korean-American experience to the screen. Born in Jamaica to Korean parents, she and her family immigrated to America when she was six. Eventually settling in New York City, Liz pursued her love of writing and photography before venturing out to study film in Paris. Upon her return to New York, she began her career in film exhibition and then moved into production, working on many independent films, including Tony Bui’s Sundance Award-Winning THREE SEASONS and Hal Hartley’s HENRY FOOL. This led to a career producing and directing movie trailers for Paramount and Nickelodeon. A recent 2009 graduate of the MFA Film Directing program at Columbia University, Liz has directed several acclaimed shorts, including HEATSTROKE (starring Viveca Lindfors), KIM CHI, and MY DOUBLE HAPPINESS. THE LAST MERMAIDS, her first documentary, was awarded the A&E Development Award and the ASCAP Music Composition Grant and was granted Faculty Honors from the Columbia University Film Division. THE LAST MERMAIDS premiered at the 13th Annual Pusan International Film Festival and was the awarded Special Jury Mention for short documentary at the Tribeca Film Festival 2009 and most recently won the gold medal at the 36th Student Academy Awards 2009. Liz lives in New York City. She recently received a Fulbright scholarship and currently resides in Seoul.

The One Circle Community is pleased to announce a special guest lecture by Arief S. Adhi from the KAIST Muslim Student Association. Please come out to learn more about the Islam faith and its presence in Seoul. The KAIST Islamic Society (KIS) was formed by Muslim students at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) to provide a platform for Muslim students in Taejon to practice Islam with freedom. Another major objective of KIS is to perform Dawa’ha - an activity to call non-muslims towards Islam.

The One Circle Community is pleased to announce a Special Guest lecture by Kamala Mataji from the Hare Krishna community. Kamala Mataji will introduce us to the Hindu Vaishnava tradition and share how she integrates practice in her daily life. Please come out and join us! The center in Haebanghchon and ujjengbu are in association with ISKCON, the worldwide International Society for Krishna Consciousness , which was started by Srila Pabhupada in 1966, after he traveled alone to America from India. The society now has 500 temples, schools and farm communities with a membership of 50 million worldwide.

The OCC is pleased to announce a Special Guest lecture by Dr. Steven Kim from the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers 퀘이커 서울).

OCC is pleased to announce a Special Guest Lecture by missionaries from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saint (예수그리스도 후기성도교회 ). Hafen 장로 and 이정현 장로 are both church missionaries residing in Seoul. They will teach us more about their faith, the LDS Church history, and their experience as missionaries.

The OCC is pleased to announce a Special Guest lecture by Hee-Tae Ahn from the Falun Dafa community. Falun Dafa (also called Falun Gong, or just Dafa) is a high-level cultivation practice guided by the characteristics of the universe—Truthfulness, Benevolence, and Forbearance. "Cultivation" means continuously striving to better harmonize oneself with these universal principles. “Practice” refers to the exercises – five sets of easy-to-learn gentle movements and meditation. Cultivating oneself is essential; practicing the exercises supplements the process. Over time, the principles of Dafa unveil the deepest and most profound truths of the universe. Following the principles, practitioners of Falun Dafa are able to reach very high realms, enlightening to the true meanings of life, and finding the path of return to their origins and true selves. While the exercises have deep inner meanings, they also help to reduce stress and can bring great improvements in health and fitness.

This presentation will explore the modern spiritual search, starting with an overview and moving to the up-close and personal. Drawing from Mr. Whitmire’s first-hand work with several Western spiritual teachers and his years of personal inquiry, we will look at some of the best modern Western teachers and examine their essential messages via quotations, video, and poetry. Later, we will have a discussion about our own paths, and try some simple experiments that will help us, quite literally, point at Truth. If time allows, we will finish with a few personal comments and thought experiments about the Path and then a short meditation. We hope this presentation and discussion will open new doors and provide some insight toward our own Self-realization. Thomas Whitmire was born on a Christmas tree farm in rural South Carolina, in the United States of America. He first began asking deeper questions about life with a group of friends in high school, and this continued through university and beyond. He has since worked with several spiritual groups in the United States, with an increasing emphasis on direct Self-realization.

The convergence of Zen Buddhism and Baptist Christianity sounds counterintuitive. But life is strange. For me, they have converged. I will be talking about the how and the why of this Zen/Baptist convergence inside me, and how it is not as strange as one might think. About Don Don Erickson is a hospice chaplain and ordained Baptist minister residing in Venice, Florida. Don was raised in a devoutly Christian household, but in his college years the teachings of Zen Buddhism profoundly influenced his personal theology. After a year teaching English in South Korea, Don began seminary at Union Theological Seminary in NYC, studying with Korean theologian Dr. Chung Hyun-Kyung. As part of his seminary work, Don spent a semester studying Korean Buddhism and Won Buddhism at Wonkwang University. Don considers himself a Zen Christian, finding a natural synthesis between the teachings of Jesus and Zen. Don is also a practicing poet and songwriter. Lastly, and most importantly at this point, Don is the father of a 3 year-old named Corey and the husband of his best friend, Holly.

Lucas Brown is a performing artist and composer, a graduate of Temple University where he studied Jazz Performance at the Esther Boyer College of Music. He studied there with Terrel Stafford, Bruce Barth, Ed Flanagan, Tom Lawton, Ben Schacter and others. His formal musical training began at age 5, studying classical piano. In junior high school he began to study jazz guitar and subsequently began to teach himself organ as well. Lucas also has studied classical composition with Robert Convery and Mark Rimple. Lucas can be seen performing with many different groups in the Philadelphia area and currently holds down the organ chair with Philly saxophone legend, Bootsie Barnes. Among other projects, he is a member of the group Three Blind Mice along with saxophonist Victor North and drummer Wayne Smith Jr. The group performs regularly in the area, performing their own original compositions in addition to Modern Jazz repertoire.

Roger Shepherd has been visiting South Korea on and off for the past ten years. In 2007, with hiking buddy Andrew Douch, he walked the 735km Baekdu-daegan ridge line in South Korea, where they then both wrote and published the first ever English Guide book on this ancient ridge line of energetic topography. Since then he has walked at least 2000kms of mountain ridges in Korea, photographing and writing about its beautiful landscape, culture, religions and people. He left those roles to fulfill his ambitions of being a photographer and writer, and found that the untouched beauty of South Korea’s mountainous landscape had a lot more to offer than was currently available. Roger believes that the mountains of Korea are some of the most inviting and scenic in the world, and that the religious and cultural history of these ancient peaks are fascinating and need to be experienced! Roger now lives in South Korea during the hiking months of May to November and hikes in New Zealand from December to April. His work has been greatly recognised by the Korean Tourism Organization and he is now an Honorary Ambassador of Tourism for Korea. He recently completed his MA in Strategic Studies from a mountain hermitage in Korea.

우리는 우리 땅 한국에서 살고 있으며, 우리에게는 오랜 세월동안 내려져온 한국인의 유전인자를 가지고 있다. 그렇기 때문에 인도의 훌륭한 학문인 요가를 한국에 맞게 재구성할 필요가 있다. 한국문화웃음요가는 한국인의 정서, 한국인의 문화에 가장 적합한 요가이며, 한국의 문화, 소리, 춤을 통해서 한국인의 정서를 담아 개개인의 성장을 도와준다. 인간의 궁극적 바람은 결국 쾌락을 성취하는데 있다고 본다. 춤은 선을 타고 발현하는 예술이라면 음악은 소리의 선을 타고 창조되는 것으로 공통된 선의 미학을 승화시키는 것인데, 우리나라이 전통적 춤은 곡선에서 진아를 그려낸다. 낙천적인 성격에 흥을 터는 우리의 춤, 곡선의 가락도 역사의 땅 경주를 보다 짙게 살 지울 것이다. 우리는 예부터 이어져 내려오는 우리 민족문화의 보고인 한국문화웃음요가를 통해서 자신의 스트레스, 기분, 불안을 다룰 수 있고 혼란으로 가득한 지상의 삶(요가 수행자들은 이를 삼사라 Samsara라고 한)에서 자시인식과 자신감, 그리고 고요한 마음을 키워갈 시간을 마련할 수 있다. 이야말로 개개인의 영성이나 철학, 혹은 목적의식을 보다 깊게 느끼도록 도와준다고 생각한다. 본질적으로 요가는 에덴동산으로 향하는 문을 활짝 열고 그곳으로 다가갈 조건을 만들어 줌으로써 흠하나 없는 어린아이와 같은 정신을 키워준다. 한국문화웃음요가의 전 수련과정은 혼을 담는 과정이며, 그 속에서 한국인들만의 신명을 풀어내는 과정이다. 수련을 통해 우리는 깨달음을 얻을 수 있다. 이러한 가치들은 한국인의 정신적, 정서적 건강을 위해 중요할 뿐 아니라, 우리 문화를 이해하는 자신감, 자존감, 자기표현을 강화시켜 줄 것이다. 또한 한국문화웃음요가를 통해서 좌뇌와 우뇌를 동시에 활성화시키고 우리의 소리, 음악, 시, 춤, 문화를 통해 놀이와 창조력, 그리고 의사소통 능력을 기를 수 있다고 본다. 두뇌의 오른쪽 부분은 직관적, 공간적, 수평적사고이고 신체의 왼쪽 부분을 지배한다. 두뇌의 왼쪽 부분은 논리적이고 분석적이며, 수직적인 사고와 연관 있으며 신체의 오른쪽 부분을 지배한다. 양 쪽 뇌가 통합되면 휴식과 집중이 동시에 가능해진다. 두뇌의 오른쪽 반구와 왼쪽 반구의 균형을 돕기 위해 아리랑을 비롯한 한국 음악, 한국인의 춤사위, 요가 동작을 통해 긴장이완 기술이 수행되는 것이다. 몸을 통한 창조력, 의사소통은 몸으로 표현하고 소리로 놀고, 춤추고, 듣고, 움직이고, 소리 내면서 모든 감각을 동원해 수련에 몰두하면서 배우고, 이를 통해 창의력, 몰입, 의지 절제, 통합 등의 삶의 소중한 기능과 가치를 연습하는 과정이다. 또한 나아가서는 우리들의 삶 전체가 더욱 가치 있는 삶이 될 수 있도록 준비하는 과정이면서 몸을 움직이며 쿹달리나(신명)을 풀어내는 동작과 웃음, 이것이 우리 아리랑 요가의 에너지인 것이다.

Nils will be showing a short film called REFLECTIONS and 1-minute short fillms called REUNION and ANALOGUE LOVE. He will also show some of his photography and give a talk about how film and photography have affected his views on work and life. About Nils Nils Clauss is a German photographer and cinematographer, who has lived in Seoul since late 2005. After studying Visual Culture in Bonn, Melbourne and Berlin, he mainly works on both photography and film with urban space and architecture as the main theme.

Jin Lee's background is in ceramic Sculpture. Lime stone sculpture first grabbed her in 1998 while she was working full-time as a potter in a gallery in New Zealand. At that time, she fell in love with the Oamaru stone and endeavored to sculpt with it. She had her Oamaru stone sculpture show in 1999, in Christchurch, New Zealand. Her sculpture of a woman's figure was commissioned to become the Daphne Award for the BPW New Zealand (Business & Professionals Women's Clubs Incorporated) in 2000. The BPW found her sculpture to be very symbolic of the values that they identified strongly with. From that point forward, she was determined to open her studio to follow her passion for sculpture. Jin Lee opened the Solar Art Studio in the end of 2007 in Incheon, which is the Oamaru stone sculpture studio taking commissioned works for corporations and private individuals. 이진의 전공은 도조입니다. 도조란 세라믹 조각입니다. 이진이 처음 오마루 스톤을 접하게 된것은 1998년 뉴질랜드 갤러리 워크 전속작가로 일할때였습니다. 오마루 스톤의 매력에 빠져 그 다음해 바로 첫 오마루 스톤 조각 개인전시회를 1999년 뉴질랜드 크라이스트쳐치에서 하게되었습니다. 그때 작품 중 하나가 뉴질랜드 2000년도 올해의 비즈니스 여성에게 주어지는 상 "대프니" 디자인으로 채택되었고 그해부터 지금까지 해를 바꾸면서 뉴질랜드의 올 해의 비즈니스 여성상에게 주어지는 상으로 대물려지고있습니다.

Prof. David A. Mason will speak to the One Circle Community about "Korean Mountain-spirits and their Icons."He will show and explain many examples both antique and modern, and will discuss their trans-religious function in Korean culture, from ancient times until today. David A. Mason is a Professor of Korean Tourism at Seoul’s KyungHee University, and researcher on the religious characteristics of Korea's mountains and the pilgrimage traditions associated with them. Prior to this professorship, he spent five years as a Consultant for the national Ministry of Culture and Tourism, and 14 years before that in academic work in Korea. He has authored six books on Korean culture and tourism, including Spirit of the Mountains: Korea's San-shin and Traditions of Mountain-Worship. He has extensive experience of exploring and tour-guiding Korean sites and areas, and is a skilled lecturer and writer on their interesting aspects. He was born and raised in Michigan, in the United States of America.

Originally from Massachusetts, U. S. A., Ron Catabia currently lives in Taean, South Korea. He teaches English at Hanseo University. Ron has been practicing and studying a Korean form of Daoism (Kuksundo) since 1988. He has published 3 articles about Sundo and Daoism. He believes that Sundo practice can be a valuable asset to society.

Jennifer Flinn has a BA in Anthropology and Sociology from Agnes Scott College, and an MA in East Asian Studies from UCLA. She is an avid food blogger and strongly interested in Korean cuisine and the culture surrounding it. She currently works as an editor and writer in Seoul, and has lived in Korea for nearly a decade.

Right Body for You (RBFY) is a program designed to create ease with your body. It will allow you to become more aware of your body, your surroundings, your life, and your relationship with your body and other people's bodies. The RBFY Walk- This walk is designed to unlock all the tight spots and stiffness that exist in your body. Have you ever seen a cat move? They glide elegantly and effortlessly using every muscle in their body. What if your body is actually designed to move with that much ease and joy? This walk will allow you to cultivate that over time if you choose to implement this walk into your life. ALIVE is based on 5 core elements - all of which support the idea that every aspect of life is precious. Aware. Lead. Inspire. Vulnerable. Environment ALIVE will offer essential services & outlets in the lives and communities of South Korea where none have existed before. Those things you thought were missing will now be available. About HyeJin Lee HyeJin completed her BA at the University of British Columbia with a degree in Film Studies and Art History. She has been a facilitator for Access since 2007 and is also the founder of The ALIVE Foundation.

The Korean Unwed Mothers Support Network advocates for the rights of unwed pregnant women, unwed mothers and their children in Korea. The Network’s goal is to enable Korean women to have sufficient resources and support to keep their babies if they choose, and thrive in Korean society, rather than feel compelled to give up their children for adoption or risk a life of poverty. Founded by Dr. Richard Boas, an American father who adopted a Korean daughter twenty years ago, the Network’s primary focus is on raising awareness in Korea and amongst Korean groups in the US to effect positive change. The Network works to educate, inform and promote discussion about the difficulties facing unwed mothers and their children in Korea in order to elevate their economic, political and social potential in society. Hee-Jong Kwon is the Executive Director of KUMSN. She is also a PhD Candidate in the Department of Anthropology (The Academy of Korean Studies).

Despite being the world's 14th largest economy and having the world's lowest birth rate, South Korea is still one of the highest exporters of its own children. M. Weimer is an artist and videomaker who will present two media works that address this issue of international adoption as it relates to socio-economic and political issues both in Korea and in the West. M. Weimer's works integrate the documentary form with techniques in experimental film and video art in order to provide new perspectives on the realities of our globalized world. Her work has been exhibited and screened internationally, including at the Jeju Contemporary Art Museum, the International Incheon Women Artists Biennale, LAXART, Los Angeles, Gallery Korea, New York; and The National Museum of Women in the Arts, Washington DC. M. Weimer earned her M.F.A. from University of California, Irvine and is a New Yorker who currently lives and works in Seoul. M. Weimer, Video Artist: Media Art 와 재표현된 해외입양 세계14번째 경제강국임과 동시에 세계에서 출산율이 가장낮은 나라인 한국은 아직도 세계적인 해외입양 산출국중 하나이다. Artist 이자 Videomaker인 M. Weimer는 이러한 해외입양을 한국과 서양의 사회경제와 정치에 관련된 문제들로 해석한다. M. Weimer의film과 video art 작품들은 실험적인 각도로 구성된 다큐멘터리 형식으로 만들어졌다. 그녀의 작품들은 제주 현대예술관, 인천 여성예술인 전시회, LAXART, Los Angeles, Gallery Korea, New York, The National Museum of Women in the Arts, Washington DC등 전세계적으로 전시 및 상영되었다. M. Weimer는 M.F.A. 학위를 University of California, Irvine에서 수여하였다. 뉴욕출신인 그녀는 현재 서울에서 살며 작품활동을 하고있다.

When people talk about Korea as a brand, it's not quite clear what represents Korea as a brand. This contention led Erik to learn more about Buddhism, because he believes that Korean Buddhism proffers a unique and considerable perspective of Korean culture and history. Erik lived and traveled to more than fifteen countries world-wide. In his early years, he realized the beauty of Korean culture, but felt that it had little exposure to the world, thus entailing misunderstandings about Korea. For this reason, Erik chose to become a film producer and completed a major in film directing at Dongguk University. Afterwards, he worked as an assistant director at the Buddhist Television Network (BTN). Erik pursued further studies at the Vancouver Film School to learn more about the legal aspects and product of entertainment prospects in the entertainment business. He is currently an independent film producer and is involved in a culture marketing lab.

Aaron arrived in Jinju, Korea in mid 2003 and moved to Seoul in 2006. He took over the presidency of the Seoul Photo Club early in 2008 and wrote a regular photography column for the Korea Herald, now writes occasionally for the Korea Times and is currently the photography columnist for monthly magazine Groove Korea. Aaron's other hobby is collecting hardcover science fiction from pioneering specialty publisher Gnome Press. He maintains a blog recording his experiences in collecting books from Gnome Press. Gnome Press의 공상과학의 황금시대 (with Aaron Raisey) Aaron 은 진주에 2003년에 왔으며, 2006년 서울에 정착하였다. 그는 2008년 서울 사진클럽 회장직을 역임하였고, Korea Herald에 정기적으로 사진컬럼을 출간하였다. 현재 Korea Times에 컬럼을 발표하고 있으며, 월간잡지인 Groove Korea에도 그의 작품이 출시되고 있다. Aaron의 취미활동으로는 공상과학소설의 선구자인 Gnome Press의 표지를 모으는 것이다. 그의 collection들은 그의 blog에 잘 소게되어있다.

Sam Hammington, studied Korean language in Melbourne Australia and came to Korea as a foreign exchange student in 1998. Then he debuted in the KBS prime time show ‘Gag Concert’ and became the first foreign comedian in Korea. Since then, he has been featured in popular variety shows and dramas. Currently he is working as a DJ of TBS e FM radio program so as to deliver a variety of information about Korea to foreign listeners living in Korea. 나는 어떻게 여기에 오게되었는가? Australia에서 온 학생이 한국에서 유명해 지기까지 Sam Hammington(샘해밍턴) 은 Melbourne Australia에서 한국어를 공부하였다. 그는 1998년 한국에 교환학생으로 오게되었다. 그러던중, KBS의 Gag Concert라는 쇼에 데뷔하게 되었고, 그후 국내 최초 외국인 코미디언이 되었다. 그후 그는 여러 쇼와 드라마에 출연하였으며 현재 TBS eFM radio program의 DJ로 일하고 있다. 한국에 사는 외국인 청취자들을 위한 정보를 전달하는 데에 중점을 두고 있다.