An octogenarian revisits the ghosts of a “Before Koreatown” era
By K.W. Lee
Illustration by Eunice Choi
Aging is like a thief stealthily creeping in the middle of night when you are deep asleep.
But it hits you like a truck barging into your living room at the dawn of your 80-plus-one birthday. And you are suddenly reminded that you belong to another era—namely that of “Before Koreatown”—and to another vanishing breed of self-exiles that came to America aboard a slow boat instead of a Korean airliner.
Continue Reading »
By Dave Yoo
With our first child on the way this spring, I’ve been devolving into a crotchety old man. I suddenly have the mindset of a 90-year-old, and seem to age in cat years by the day. Which is weird for me, given that I’ve always been immature for my age. And horrifying because the one thing I vowed, once my wife got pregnant, was that I would never become one of those grumbling, anal parents that everyone hates when they’re kids.
With my wife’s belly ballooning as she hits her third trimester, the visage of my very pregnant spouse has done something to my brain. Oh, and for the record, if you want to maintain the guise that you are, as requested by your wife, diligently carving your way through the stack of baby books she’s placed on your bedside table, do not, under any circumstances, casually ask her when the fourth trimester starts. Continue Reading »
A chef-writer gets a cooking lesson from the mother of all teachers
Robert Park, who crossed into North Korea last Christmas carrying a message for Kim Jong-il, has not yet spoken publicly about his experience while in the North’s custody. His brother Paul says, when Robert is ready, “he’s going to share his story with the world.”
By Julie Ha and Ellis Song
Photograph by Elizabeth Kim
Robert Park, the American missionary who walked into North Korea last Christmas to call attention to human rights abuses there, returned to the United States last month after 43 days in the North’s custody.
The 28-year-old and his family reunited in China, and then quietly arrived at the Los Angeles International Airport the night of Feb. 6—far from the media spectacle that followed the North’s release of journalists Euna Lee and Laura Ling, who were accompanied by President Bill Clinton, no less.
In Robert Park’s case, the missionary, did not address the media that evening. Reporters were only able to catch a glimpse of him in his family’s car. He kept his head down most of the time.
His brother told reporters that his family was excited to have Robert home and had his favorite meal growing up—spaghetti—waiting for him. “I was completely speechless. It was great seeing him walk off that plane,” said Paul, referring to the aircraft that brought his brother from North Korea to China. “He’s been crying. He’s very excited. There’s nothing more touching than to see a mother and son embrace.” Continue Reading »
FOR ONLY $28!
Featured Event
One of the the biggest Asian cinema events to hit Southern California opens on May 10. The Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival, presented by Visual Communications, features the latest works by established and emerging filmmakers, along with seminars, panel discussions and symposiums on topics relevant to Asian Pacific cinema.
Opening Night features “Shanghai Calling,” directed by Daniel Hsia and starring Korean American Daniel Henney, who plays a Chinese American expat lawyer navigating his way through the mean streets of Shanghai (the picture above also indicates he is a raisin smuggler). But does he take off his shirt? Go watch the movie to find out! read more
LINKS
Featuring Recent Posts Wordpress Widget development by YD
