By Matthew Lamers with photos by Dylan Goldby

“The broader term is New Journalism — think Wolfe, Capote, Talese and, yes, on the fringes, Thompson with the lizards in the shadows and a bottle of Wild Turkey within reach,” said Rodgers. “3WM does often subscribe to Thompson’s theory that the truth is never told during the nine-to-five hours. There are times when a certain submersion in the subject is necessary which brings you beyond the facts and closer to the truth. In the end, the goal remains to provide our readership with a deeper sense of the story that may entail a certain level of subjectivity brought on by the proximity to the subject.”

Said Soper: “We are a weekly updated blogazine with inside-out reportage, interviews, images, videos and everything else we can frame into it that is provocative, smart, entertaining and takes on life here from the Korean Peninsula.”

By Iwazaru

With the reported arrest of “Wystan” Wan-koo Kang in October, many thought that justice had been served. Zenith Travel had its doors shut and Kang was to face prosecution for scamming dozens of foreigners out of more than an estimated 100 million won. So why is he still conducting deals and scamming more foreigners?

Within days of Kang’s arrest in the second week of October, those involved with the case reported that Kang was continuing to arrange travel plans for people. One by one people connected with the “Case against Wystan Kang” Facebook group reported that they’d been scammed. On October 17, one individual wrote:

“Thank you very much for organizing this group and I am sorry for your losses. I have used Kang for years and just recently sent him money for a ticket. I was unaware of all the recent negative press. Strangely, someone sent me a confirmation for my ticket on Friday. However, when I called the airline it of course had not been paid for. I am assuming my money and ticket are gone. Do you have any idea who would still be responding to emails? Should I fill in a report with a police station? Any info you have would be greatly appreciated.”

By Mizaru

On that weekend when the hood clutters up with rubberneckers, day-trippers and open-mike poets with no talent, it can actually mean something. There is one stroke of organizational genius that will make this another HBC landmark occasion: Turn it into a PROTEST EVENT. Occupy the main drag of Haebangchon. Take the boulevard of Facebook updates and turn it into ‘Liberation Row.’ I mean maybe the Brooklyn Bridge can’t be took so why not take the overpass into Itaewon? What to protest: That you are a rising star in the world and no one knows it, of course! I mean what is your net worth if only one percent of the people you know believes that you are somebody. Excluding friends and family who have to pander to you there is another 90% of people in your world who don’t believe you are anything at all! They won’t follow you on Twitter; so what’s to be done about them? You have to show them. Get yourself camera ready, get on Haebangchon’s one main street and start primal screaming that you have worth.

What to scream?

By Mizaru

With increasing numbers of participants coming to do more than window shop, money had to be a factor. And as anyone who lives in this neighborhood knows, the entire local businesses take a lot more of it in on Fest Saturday. Yet at first the money did not seem to be a breaking point. Lance explained how he rented his store’s music gear out to the venues that needed it and that all of the bands played for free. Any festival booty made from selling T-shirts went back into promotion and nuts and bolts cost. Lance disclosed to the NSA and the neighborhood venue owners that he’d take home about 1 million won (about $900) a fest; primarily from renting out the sound systems that the venues had to equip with so that the musicians could play. At this point the dots could be happily connected and a somewhat beleaguered win-win situation seemed to be close.

Then something snapped. The head of NSA for Haebangchon, “Paul” began to go around to the individual venues asking,

“Who controls the funds?”

By 3WM

Back in March of this year, I called them and requested a reservation to the US. The person running the show, a Mr. Kang Wystan…sent me an email with a suitable schedule and a price of 1,649,000 won…not exactly the cheapest but given the times we are in, it was OK. I sent an email back and said I would like to make the reservation…he responded by saying that I had to pay the amount that day by 5pm to keep the reservation. He sent me his bank info and I went to the bank and transferred the money, before 5 and called him to let him know I sent it. All seemed ok until I didnt get any confirmation email. I didnt give it much thought, my bad, the warning bells should have gone off. I sent him several emails and phone calls, until over a week later he sent me a confirmation of the itinerary and a confirmation number.

By Megan O’Brien

Sandwiches are always better when someone else makes them: who is cutting, building and flavoring your sandwiches? In general, the art of making a fulfilling sandwich is a thing that is sometimes lost here in Seoul. However, there is a little spot perfectly located right smack on the HBC main drag that has been able to fill the void of a decent sandwich shop. Casablanca owned and operated by Wahid and his brother, Karim. Wahid and his brother hail from Morocco and recently, after observing the overwhelming 5pm rush of sandwich pursuers as the shop doors opened, I was able to ask Wahid a few questions which he coolly answered while skillfully multitasking through orders and payments and sandwich preparations with a pleasant smile on his face.

By Megan K. O’Brien

On Saturday, June 18th some folks in Seoul organized an event that they called the Fermentation Trail-abration. The Fermentation Trail-abration was a redux of the previous Fermentation Celebration which had been held at Craftworks Taphouse and Bistro back on March 12^th. At the first event, there was an 8,000 won cover and you were able to try all sorts of fermented and not so fermented foods; for example, yogurt, kefir, kombucha, cheese, beer, vegan kimchi, makgeolli, kool-aide pickles.

Well, the previous event had been so popular that the Fermentation Celebration organizers put together another one, only this time the event was spread out over the Haebangchon neighborhood and involved different venues, block party style. The Trail-abration was 20,000 won to support the cause and get your fill of fermented foodstuffs.

By Mizaru

Editor’s Note: This Spring edition of The HBC Fest is Saturday, May 21. This is an up updated guide to the venues and the Fest street. To get to the Hae Bang Chon Fest get out of exit 2 in Noksapyeong Station (Line 6—next to Itaewon). Walk along the wall of the army base and turn left in front of the gate past the Kimchi Pots and up the hill with Seoul Tower as the Maypole in the distance.

The HBC fest is happening on the dung-slope drag in Haebangchon which is just 50 feet away from my front door and that’s Ok because when I’m out on the street I walk the way I want to walk, yet, maybe that’s not Ok because so does everyone else. It is impossible to have a mannerly trek up and down the boulevard of slap-dash dreams. Everyone becomes an audience for everyone else. ‘Who is watching me… How am I going to get recognized… Am I carrying the right heat-seeking guitar… Should I have got a bigger dog to walk… Should I stop and let this car pass me so when I make a speech into my phone more people can hear my either commanding or fabulous voice?’

By Conor O’Reilly
A is for asshole/arsehole(Br.). The international laws of music festivaling determine that this scurrilous type gravitate towards music festivals and wreck all the nice people’s fun. If you are an asshole/arsehole who cares for the well-being of others’ festival experience, please stay at home.

B is for bars, booze, bands, and from a male perspective, a distinct lack of bras (or, I should emphasise, a lack of them off and waving in the air) – without which the HBC Fest will never emulate Woodstock, the festival and not the bar in Itaewon.

C is for cars which,
for some reason, still try to drive down main street Haebangchon despite the fact that they should really just park and come and enjoy the quality tunes and good people.

By Kate Knibbs

Last Saturday, I sat down at The Hungry Dog, HBC’s newest eatery, with a ravenous, sun-burnt clan of ex-pats. The Hungry Dog sits on Haebangchon’s main stretch, next to Pita Time. We almost overwhelmed the small, cheery restaurant’s limited table space, but the proprietors and staff Mj and Sunny took pains to accommodate our bulk.

The menu focuses on American foods: mini-burgers, sandwiches, hot dogs, and salads are their standard fare. They offer an all-day breakfast menu and a small dinner menu (dinner starts at 5). For dinner, there’s an intriguing souvlaki option, but we were too early to check it out. My infamously persnickety friend insisted that the lack of mayo in the condiments box be condemned; later, upon request, mayo was pulled out of the fridge for his fries. Critique revoked. The staff was very solicitous and friendly, and was open to altering the menu to suit our specifications.

By Mizaru

Expat Art Careerists launch vol.1 of CONCRETE EXPERIENCE: Transposition

There is a tried and true Irish myth-lore that goes “when you want to be the career-man then you will find a ladder in your travels… at the top of the ladder will be a noose.”

On Friday night, April 15 at Laughing Tree Gallery along the up-top on the dung slope drag of Haebangchon, another expat in Seoul culture project was launched: Concrete Experience. It defines itself as,

Concrete Experience is a journal of contemporary photography and creative writing, published quarterly and aimed at pushing innovation in the way we think about the world around us through carefully curated interactions between diverse approaches to a common theme.

Three cheers to that as I dropped a business card from BestCheapAirTravel into page 59 of Hemingway’s “The Sun Also Rises” and closed it.

By Mizaru

It’s the new again Phillies opening night Saturday, April 2 and I have plans to show the place to John Thang. John’s a political refugee from Myanmar living on the fringes of Seoul. I have known him for about six months and we’ll meet tonight at a place I have been coming to for about six years.

The new again Phillies prides itself that it is an OB bar– “We don’t serve no stinkin’ Cass,” was the first thing I heard and wrote down in my notebook that night. And next:, Gin and tonics for 3500 won and Vodka juice for 4000. There are subtleties to Phillies now like there is no absurd propaganda, paraphernalia, or pamphleteering on the clean walls.

By 3WM

CONCRETE EXPERIENCE launch at Laughing Tree Gallery

Friday, April 15th 6-10 p.m.
*Concrete Experience launch party
and exhibition of photography from CE’s first issue, Transposition

Saturday – Monday, April 16th – 18th 4-10 p.m.
*Gallery open hours to view photography from CE’s first issue, Transposition

Wednesday, April 20th 8-11 p.m.
*8mm: Art Cinema bonus feature

CE is a new journal of contemporary photography and creative writing.

From HBC Crew

It’s time to sign-up for the 2011 HBC May Festival. The date is now set for May 21st, 2011 from high noon until 2 a.m.

We have longer hours at the Band venues now. First come first served.

This May Fest proves to be very busy indeed, and our support has grown. Two more venues will be added.
Contact the HBC Crew at www.HBCfest.com

By Mizaru

I

Hey all you denizens of Haebangchon. You have been noticed and some of you have even been found. I have taken notice. When you hit the main drag here—the boulevard of slapdash dreams—and turn your daily schlep of teaching English into a prance of taking the stage at Cannes or Coachella or bustin’ a move onto the set of Jersey Shore; your ticket has been punched because you have talent and it is a big talent.

I can’t stand to see you sitting in the cafes and vamping it up on facebook when all you need is a great cash influx: the seed money to your genius. No one is messing with your chi here. Whether you are an actor, artist, musician or quiz night marvel this is not a head trip: your time has come.

Remember the only difference between you and those swerving through the Brooklyn art cafes and open mics with their laptops in action is thirty thousand or so U.S. in the bank account. That is it and as every HBCvestite can tell us all: the Muse works in mysterious ways. The Nigerians have solved your most pressing problem! More specifically the ones hovering around your ‘hood.