The Korea File

With roots emanating from the animistic tradition of central Siberia, Korea is one of very few developed nations to have maintained a Shamanic heritage over thousands of years. But after decades of neglect and government-sponsored eradication efforts in the 20th century, what's left of Korean shamanism?

Filmaker, writer and photographer Joey Rositano has spent more than three years attempting to answer this question, documenting, researching and collecting myths and stories from the elderly practitioners of shamanism on Jeju island.

His documentary ‘At Search for Spirits on the Island of Rocks, Wind and Women’ premiered at the 2014 Jeju Women’s Film Festival and a book of his photography work entitled ‘Spirits: Jeju Island’s Shamanic Shrines’ was released this week.

This is part one of a two part conversation.

For more on Joey's documentary, to find out about shrine preservation efforts on Jeju or to order a copy of 'Spirits: Jeju Island’s Shamanic Shrines', go to https://pagansweare.wordpress.com/

Korea’s back-to-the-land movement is an unprecedented phenomenon in modern Korean history. What’s driving tens of thousands of Koreans to leave the conveniences and comforts of the city to start a new life in rural Jeju?

Agnes Sohn is an American cultural anthropologist with a focus on social and cultural movements. She recently completed three months of field research under a Fulbright-Hays grant and returns to the island in the fall to continue her doctoral dissertation.

In this interview she discusses the root causes of Seoul's growing urban exodus and the challenges and complications that arise for new arrivals attempting to integrate into the mostly elderly and primarily agricultural communities of rural Jeju.

Special interview assist from Jeju dialect language preservationist Moira Saltzman.

Music for this episode courtesy of folk legend 한대수 with 행복의 나라로 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t5-ifLVyoMM

Jeju Island welcomes more than a million tourists to its beaches, resorts and UNESCO Natural World Heritage sites every month.

The number has grown dramatically every year, from 5 million in 2005 to more than 12 million last year, driven by the economic confidence of a powerful domestic middle class and the package tours of China's nouveaux riche.

The effect of the increase in visitors on the environmental and social stability of this island of 500,000 is dramatic and ongoing.

Ann Bush is a writer, teacher and activist from Berkley, California. Her work for The Jeju Weekly magazine has brought an articulate and insightful outsider’s take on the art, history and culture of the island.

In this interview she discusses the value and dangers of tourism's economic benefits and the sanctity of cultural solidarity in the face of massive change.

For Ann's work in The Jeju Weekly magazine, go to http://www.jejuweekly.com/news/articleList.html?sc_area=W&sc_word=Ann%20Bush

Her blog can be found at https://jejujive.wordpress.com/

Music in this episode: 남 궁 옥 분 with '사랑 사랑 누 가 말' https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PpQ7A-hlcI4

Where Ween meets Willie Nelson, this is weirdo, operatic guitar rock at it's strangest: expat/Korean hybrid Saure Gurken are currently playing around Seoul supporting the release of their new EP '上'.

From their bio at doindie.co.kr-"Saure Gurken is a three-piece rock band based in Seoul, South Korea. Formed in 2013 by original members Vance Baryn (vocals, bass) and Quaziq (guitars), they were later joined by Josh King (drums) in 2014. Saure Gurken have released one EP (“上” 2015) and will release two more EP's in 2015 and a full album in early 2016. Like its members, Saure Gurken's sound is strange and eclectic, delving into different styles and sounds with the goal of creating musical experiences rather than simply songs. If one listens closely, they might perceive the infuence of a wide variety of artists including Tom Waits, Metallica, Operation Ivy, Mr. Bungle, and Willie Nelson. Ultimately, Saure Gurken's goal is to create music that is interesting and original which defies notions of genre."

A review of their EP '上'can be found here:
http://sleepingbagstudios.ca/saure-gurken-%E4%B8%8A/

For more of the band's music, go to https://sauregurken.bandcamp.com/releases

Matt VanVolkenburg's prolific blog 'Gusts of Popular Feeling' celebrates it's 10th year of analysis on Korean society, history, urban space, film and current events this month.

In the final segment of a 3-part interview, Matt talks about marijuana, rock music and the counterculture and their relationship with dictator Park Chung-hee in the military police state of 1970s South Korea.

For an epic 10 year run of writing check out VanVolkenburg's archived work at http://populargusts.blogspot.kr/

Music in this episode- Young Sound '달무리'
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ImP9ZzJ5Oi0

Matt VanVolkenburg's prolific blog 'Gusts of Popular Feeling' celebrates it's 10th year of analysis on Korean society, history, urban space, film and current events this month.

In the second of a 3-part interview, Matt discusses the concept of Korean identity, the notion of the unfinished country and the history of anti-Americanism on the peninsula.

For an epic 10 year run of writing check out VanVolkenburg's archived work at http://populargusts.blogspot.kr/

Music on this episode:
'From Mother's Arms to Korea' The Louvin Brothers https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MM0b-Mt79sI&index=14&list=PL4JAoPLjRunSuxI0y99cRxxeFjBeB74Gv

Matt VanVolkenburg's prolific blog 'Gusts of Popular Feeling' celebrates it's 10th year of analysis on Korean society, history, urban space, film and current events this month.

In the first of a 3-part interview, Matt discusses his ongoing research on all things Korean, as well as the history of social movements in the south half of the peninsula.

For an epic 10 year run of writing check out VanVolkenburg's archived work at http://populargusts.blogspot.kr/

Music on this episode:
주 현 미- 눈 물 의 부 르스 (Joo Hyun Mi- Watery Eyes)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H1SreduOuiM

On April 16th, 2014 the MV Sewol sunk off the coast of Mokpo killing 304 passengers. The victims were primarily high school students on a field trip to Jeju Island.

One year later, South Korean society continues to struggle with the issues of public safety and government accountability. Families of the victims continue to grieve for their lost loved ones.

Cho Mi-sun, an activist with Sewol Truth, spoke with me at the group's petition tent in Gwangwhamun Square on May 8th, 2015.

She discusses the organization's ongoing call for an impartial and comprehensive investigation into the tragedy, police reaction to the vigil and commemoration of April 16th, 2015 and the future role of the Sewol Truth movement in Korean society.

For more information, go to http://www.sewoltruth.com/

Art-noise provocateur Henry Demos on moonlighting between this project and weirdo-pop duo Nice Legs, the evolution of the "frankenbass" and how the character of Seoul effects music in the city.

Drum collaborations from Andrew Blad.

This completely improvised set was performed and recorded live at Strange Fruit, Hongdae on 5/3/15.

Photo by Douglas Vautour. See more of his work documenting Seoul's indie music scene at
https://www.facebook.com/DouglasVautourPhotography

Called to service with the American Peace Corps in Mali, she's now a public school teacher in Jeju City. Comparing and contrasting the two experiences, this is Maria Denise in conversation.

Music on this episode: Early 'Group Sounds' band The Key Boys with 'Let's Go to the Beach'.

Find out more about the Peace Corps at http://www.peacecorps.gov/