Surfers from Gangwon - and elsewhere - try to compete in Busan

The original post is here at my new blog.  Note the final few paragraphs where I discuss the typhoon's effect on Gangwondo and nationally.

Watching Coast Guard ships leave harbour

I drove KwandongWife to work today and after dropping her off, K'Alex and I walked on a pier to look around.  We didn't walk up to the lighthouse as K'Alex feared it would be too cold.  He did get cold, even on the route we ended up taking, so I guess he was right.

Clearly, this is not a Coast guard boat, but I found it interesting due to the tree branch on the forward mast.  Soon after, another boat with a similar branch entered the harbour (this one was leaving).  I don't know if it was the same boat, but that would be weird; returning so quickly.

A few coasties on this boat waved back to us, making the little guy's day.

This much smaller boat also headed out and was followed by an all-white boat, the Mu-gung-hwa 20, out of Pusan.

It looks official and the boats on the back look a little like the SAR boats the coasties carry.  I wondered if it were a training vessel or something.  This site claims it is a fishing boat (scroll down - I highlighted it, if you are interested).

I think this is a hazardous waste collection and recovery boat.  I saw it or a similar one a few months ago and there is a floating boom or line to contain oil spills on the back.

Again, the little guy was cold by the time we left, but we had a good time.

Club ride and other pictures

I want to share some pictures but don't really have enough for a post on one subject.

One of Kwandongwife's co-workers belongs to a cycling club. Through her, he invited me out for a ride today. It was a beautiful and scenic, but short ride and I didn't feel overwhelmed.

I did run into some trouble near the beginning as the other riders all had mountain bikes and, though they stayed on farm roads, some of them were rougher than my tires prefer. Strangely, the rear tire lost air but wasn't punctured. They provided a pump and we were soon riding again.

The fall leaves have mostly fallen but there were frequent flashes of colour as we rode. The photo below was taken at he entrance to Seorak Dong, Seorak National Park.

Here are some of the cyclists. I had fun but did they really need to remind me to suck in my gut for every photo?

Before the ride, other Coasties were competing in a Jokgu tournament. I didn't stay long and my battery was fading so I only took a few photos. Here, a coastie has just kicked the ball over the net.

I learned a little about the dynamics of the game. Players in the back spend most of their time being ready for the high-speed shot, the 'spike' in volleyball terms. Near the net, the players wait for the ball to be somewhat controlled and sent forward. One of the forwards, in this case the one with the blue towel-scarf, is the 'spiker'. He mostly ambles around, waiting for the others to set the ball up perfectly so all he has to do is drive it with great power. Most of the time he appears very relaxed. I think the photo below catches some of that languor and apparent laziness. Oh, the man with no scarf doesn't have his hands in his pockets, he is wearing black gloves.
This photo is from Friday and was taken at my university. Clearly some students will be traveling. I am greatly amused, and cannot clearly explain why, that they are taking two gas heaters with them. I guess it is because they are so large, bulky and annoying to move. Note also the traffic batons and huge pack of toilet paper - they are prepared for road emergencies and mild food poisoning. Oh, there is plenty of beer out of sight, behind the ramyeon and water boxes.

Fishermen returned from N. Korea

I don't have any special insight to the story but it is my beat, so I should at least provide links and background.

About a month ago, a fishing boat with four crew from Sokcho crossed into North Korean waters. So far, I think no one is publicly saying why although suggestions of navigation equipment or engine failure have been common. I have not heard anyone mention espionage although it is probably in everyone's sub-conscious.

Last night, they came home. Well, they were returned to South Korean territory -with their boat. I suspect none of the crew have been home nor will be for a few days longer. They may have had some contact - closely monitored - with their family.

For my mother and other foreign visitors, I think the return of the fishermen is connected to the offers of family reunions for Chuseok (An important holiday coming soon); both are related to offering more of a carrot to South Korea. The previous government was very North-friendly but the current one is not (and I approve, for all that's worth). Threats and missile launches haven't brought significant offers of aid so North Korea is trying a friendlier tack.

Anyway, on to some links:

The Korea Times

The Marmot's Hole

ROK Drop

probably poor navigation

Via the Marmot's Hole, I see a fishing boat on the East Coast crossed into North Korean waters and was towed to a North Korean harbour. I suspect the boat is lost, to enrich the North Korean fishing fleet, but I hope the crew are returned, and in good time.
BBC
Reuters

Image from offshore motorboat.

Sailing regatta in Susan Harbour, Yangyang, this weekend

I'm looking for English information, but haven't found any, yet.  The dinghy races start on Thursday and seem to include Lasers (a few different sizes), Hobies, Mistrals and others.  I am familiar with Lasers as small, fast boats and Hobies as catamarans.  Mistrals seem  to be windsurfers. In Korean.

Biryeong Falls, Seorak National Park

Today, the Coast Guard had their semi-annual picnic in Seoraksan and the picnic included a hike to Biryeong Falls.  As Kwandongwife is a coastie, the little guy and I were invited.

Although I thought I had been just about everyplace in the park, I had missed this place.

From the Seorak Dong entrance (closest to Sokcho), your choices are some seriously long hikes or several around 2-4 km.  These shorter hikes all seem to be pool table flat for eighty percent of the hike and ranging from steep to very steep for the final bit.  The hike to Biryeong is no exception and wheelchairs could probably make the first kilometer and a half.  The final 700 meters include a lot of steel stairs, some with fencing overhead to stop or slow down falling rocks.

The little guy had a fever through the night, but recovered in the morning.  Still, I didn't begrudge carrying him when he asked.  By the end of the event, he was tired and now he is feverish again.  I foresee a trip to the hospital soon.

Anyway, we saw a few animals along the way.
I caught this frog and showed him to my son.  After I returned him to his pond, a man told me to wash carefully.  I planned to, anyway, because the pond water was dirty and I was worried about parasites.  He explained, though, that he was concerned about poison.

The frog did have bright warning-style coloration, but only on it's wonderfully orange belly.  I didn't think there were poisonous frogs in Korea.  I did wash my hands and don't seem to have suffered any strange effects.

I was more cautious with the snake we saw and chose not to catch it.  It was about 30cm long and not at all afraid.
The hike started at an overflow parking lot 2km from the main entrance.  We then hiked to the entrance, which was about the halfway point of the hike.  Once we had visited the waterfalls, we returned to entrance area and picnicked under some trees.  Carrying the little guy slowed us down so we arrived late - happily I was carrying my beach blanket so we settled down to lunch quickly.
I recommend the hike, especially if you don't have much time.  This hike doesn't have the long views that the other hikes do.  This is more intimate, although not private.  Actually, I don't know how many people normally do this hike as I was surrounded by over 100 coasties.  Still, no short hike near the main entrance is going to be solitary.

Oh, in case of emergency,  figured I could call 122, as it would be a Coast Guard emergency - is that funny?

Happy New Year and all that!

The first dawn of the new year, as it's light first hits the Korean peninsula.

Chinese fishermen kill Korean Coast Guard Officer

This has been covered on other blogs and I have nothing new to say. I join the other bloggers in hoping the fisherman, illegally fishing in Korean waters, are sent to a Fuck-you-up-the-ass type of prison for a long, long time.

I'm glad my wife is on the quieter East Coast.

The Marmot
GI Korea
Korea Times

Canadian Coast Guard in the news...

...and it's not good news.

After rescuing a hunting boat in Maritime Canada, an accident occurred while towing it to shore causing three deaths. I wish the families of the departed the best in this terrible time.
I do wish, though, that the editor or writer at the Korea Times had finished this sentence (click to enlarge).
I was unable to find the article online.

Kwandongwife volunteering at Taean

VERY early today, my wife, as part of a group of Coasties, went to Taean to assist in cleaning up the oil spill. She'll return later tonight, having spent a full day on site and near to ten hours on the road to and from. Tomorrow, she will go to the office as part of the full staffing plan they are following to be as busy as the West coast Cost Guard staff.

murder and stolen military weapons in Kanghwa-do

Last night my wife, a member of the Korean Coast Guard received a message on her phone that weapons were missing in Kang-hwa do. I didn't understand why Sokcho would be notified, being on the other side of the country and all that.

It turns out that the weapons were not merely missing but that soldiers had been assaulted (and one killed) and the weapons were stolen. I had been under the impression that a routine inventory at a Coast Guard arsenal had come up one short.

This is a country with no firearms (except a few shotguns that farmers use, it seems) so missing rifles (to say nothing of grenades) are a big deal.

I wouldn't have mentioned the news, considering it possibly confidential, but Korean news sources are reporting it and the Marmot has an English report.

Are there established rules or etiquette for interpretation?

Kwandongwife will be traveling with a delegation of the Korean Coast Guard to a few South Asian countries and will be doing all or most of the interpretation. Although her language skills are strong, this is something she has not done before.

We have learned that interpreters should use direct speech and not say, "He said that he...."

Interpreters should say, "....Correction,....", rather than "...I'm sorry,...."

I spent a long time googling and found many sites for interpreting dreams, law, the bible, various computer languages and sign language, but no set of guidelines that human interpreters of spoken language generally follow (Some of the sign language stuff was useful, though). If any readers can offer advice or point me to a website, thanks a lot.

Missing Coastie

Some sad news for the Sokcho Coast Guard. Three weeks ago, a group of coasties went out for a drink. Afterward, one left the group and has not been seen since. Foul play is suspected.
You can click on the picture to enlarge.

I don't really know police procedure but I've watched a lot of Law and Order. One thing I recall is fights over jurisdiction. You know, the feds withholding info from the cops and suchlike. Here, the Coast Guard are involved, which is mostly unsurprising when you consider the Korean name 'Sea Police'. More surprising is the involvement of Pohang police. I think the missing coastie, named Kwan, is from Pohang or he was out with a group from Pohang, but anyway, Sokcho seems like a reach to me.

Look what the Yankabroad has started.

Recently, the Yankabroad was nominated for an award for his vigilance regarding pollution on his local beaches. Now this.

From the Korea Times (paper issue -I was unable to find it online so no link):

Coast Guard, Fisheries Institute Sign MOU

The Korea Coast Guard and the National Fisheries Research and Development Institute signed a memorandum of cooperation in preserving the marine environment.
...The MOU calls for active cooperation if either party needs equipment for vessles, aircraft and test facilities for the preservation of the marine environment.

I hope the institute is truly committed to protecting the environment and not a front for fishing groups. I've posted before that fishermen are as moral as any of us but are under sufficient pressure to have trouble looking at the long term. "Catch fish now!" might be a good slogan for professional fishermen around the world, but severe limits are important now to preserve fish stocks for future generations.

Coast Guard or Navy?

I've seen many articles that I felt like blogging about and I even have time, although this is my the end of my free time for a while. It's just that reading the crap recently about foreign english teachers has made me sick. For my mom and possibly other readers from outside-of-korea, you can read that whole, sorry tale Here, with some background here, and here.

Wow. That bit is just about as big as the main point of today's post.

To get my mind off that mess, let me write about something that is merely weird.
According to the Joongang Ilbo, the Korean Coast Guard is expanding it's fleet. I don't actually know how well they manage their current duties so I can't say if I think the expansion is neccessary. Last year, there were reports of Chinese fishermen in Korean waters that attacked Coast Guard officers so beefing up the Incheon fleet might be wise to prevent further attacks.

No. The increase in ships (eight new 1000tonne ships) is "primarily designed to counter the size of Japan's Coast Guard."

I can't really guess why. Conflict between nations is normally settled by naval fleets, not Coast Guards fleets. I understand that Dokdo is a contested island but I cannot imagine the Coast Guard ships duking it out over the place.

Japan has more coastline than Korea so it's natural that they have a larger force patrolling it.

I am not completely against expansion of the Coast Guard; Canada should look into it.

A ride-along with an OPP boat patrol

Below is a not-completely-linear account of a ride-along my wife and I did with an Ontario Provincial Police boat patrol. You may recall that my wife is a member of the Korean Coast Guard or Maritime Police so we felt it would be interesting to see what and how things are done here. My father was an OPP officer so we have a few contacts and before we arrived, mom had arranged for us to do a ride-along.

Below is an excerpt from what I emailed my wife about our experiences. She wanted me to write an account to compare with hers. Eventually, something may be posted in the Korean Coast Guard monthly newsletter.

We signed a waiver agreeing not to sue if things went bad but there was no confidentiality request or anything. Still, one of the officers is a friend and general blogging ettiquette is to be cautious with names so I removed them and made some other slight changes... Nothing underhanded occurred but you will not see the boat-owners of the boats that were inspected, for example.
I also added a bit about locks as I think there are none in Korea (until Seoul Mayor and presidential candidate Lee Myoung-bak has his way and makes a rediculous canal connecting the Han and Nakdong).

We started at Couchiching Narrows, a narrow point between Lake Couchiching and Lake Simcoe, at 12 noon. We crossed Couchiching and entered the Severn waterway and travelled about two kilometres to Lock 42. Further information can be found here:

On the way to the Severn waterway, we stopped one boat. At the lock, Constable Dave handed out T-shirts to a boatload of children wearing their lifejackets. On the waterway we crossed under a very low (nine feet or just under 3metres) railway bridge.

Returning to Lake Couchiching, we stopped four boats for equipment inspections. The first held a family and was well-prepared for water travel. The second held a group of university students and they were missing batteries for their flashlight. The police were concerned they might have damaged the student's boat as it was mishandled approaching the police boat and caught under some metal part of the police boat stern (it may have a nautical name and I am a fairly nautical guy, but I don't know it- the student's boat was NOT under the police boat- naturally).

The third boat was also well prepared but the officers had expected to find problems as it was a pontoon boat or "party barge"- the sort of boat where alcohol is often found.
The fourth boat attracted their attention as it had a kid up front without a lifejacket. Upon inspection is was found to be missing several items. The fines would have totalled over three hundred dollars but the man was very cooperative so they reduced the fine to one hundred and twenty-five. He passed the all-important "attitude test".

The officers told us they had "zero tolerance for lifejacket and alcohol violations" but minor problems in other areas might get merely a warning.








Yesterday was a sad day for members of the Kwandong family. My wife and her second cousin (the girl on the right, below) went home to Korea, while the little guy and I will remain in paradise for most of July.