월드미션프론티어

When Scarlett O'Hara looked back on her life before the American Civil War, she remarked that t all the things that she had enjoyed most were passed away, that the old South was gone with the wind?. I felt that way on my last visit to Korea.

Long ago, when I lived in the little village of MuKuk in Chung Cheon Pukto, my room was simple with just a small table, a mattress and blanket, and a footlocker that contained my worldly possessions. I didn't spend much time in my room, instead my time was spent at three local establishments that are in 1999 are gone with the wind?.

The first place I enjoyed visiting was the mog-yok-tong. These common bathhouses were wonderful for both getting body and soul clean. After two or maybe three hours I finally felt exceptionally clean and wonderfully exhausted. When I returned to Korea, they were all gone. My old friends did all their bathing in private. I think that a sense of community was lost along with community bathing.

The second place I visited often was the ta-bang. I spent hours in those traditional tea rooms sipping ginger tea, sweet bean tea, and coffee. I learned a lot about Korean culture in ta-bangs. I met my girlfriend in a ta-bang and I fell in love. I remember little girls coming up to our table with tiny tangerines cupped in their hands saying in a whisper ten won, ten won?. On my return visit, I couldn't find a single traditional tea room. No woman to greet me with a Korean dress and a friendly welcome?.

No aitress to bring me ginger tea. Where did all the ta-bangs go?

The third place I visited was the tacu chang or ping-pong parlor. There seemed to be one on every corner. Sometimes thirty tables were busy with bouncing balls. Most of my Korean friends were better than me, and I lost many more matches than I won. Koreans were great players! Evenings playing ping pong were always fun and sociable events. On my return visit to Korea, I couldn't find a single ping pong parlor. Does anyone in Korea play ping pong any more?

Maybe private bathing rooms in apartments are better than public baths. Maybe a modern coffee house is better than a traditional tea room and maybe a video arcade and sports arena is better than a humble ping-pong parlor, but something wonderful has surely disappeared. All the things that I enjoyed most doing are passed away. My old Korea, like Scarletts' old South, is gone with the wind?.