The Incheon Pentaport Rock Festival = Surprisingly Fun

Lee Ju-young (fashion designer), yours truly and Kim Bada (from the Ratios and Ju-young's husband)

Hey everyone.

I'm still around and take this blog post as proof ;-)

I went out to the Incheon Pentaport Rock Festival today and really enjoyed myself.

I'd not planned on going. The monsoon rains have been pouring pretty consistently since early July and they're showing no signs of stopping. Between finally putting some time into my squalorific apartment, nurturing my personal life and working a three week camp at a elementary school here in Seoul, I'm just busy.

When asked if I planned on going to Pentaport my reply consisted of buzz words like "rainy", "muddy", "dirty" and "no". However, The Ratios were playing today.

My editor knew I'd interviewed them back in May, but I had a few follow up questions and it's been on hold. However, with Pentaport going on this weekend, this was an excellent weekend for me to see them live again and finish up my interview with them. Duty called, so I got myself added to the press list and headed out.

I like events to be well-planned and organized. To my pleasant surprise, this festival was. They've had a few years to figure it out, so I'm not surprised. It's just nice when there is no stress or drama at an event.

The press booth was clearly marked as were the ticketing areas. The website had clear instructions on how to get there. The vendors on site don't take cash. You have a wristband that you get coded with whatever amount of money you give them and then you can shop, eat and drink as much as you like. Therefore, a lower risk of having your stuff lifted. Of course, the vendors don't have to worry about workers gleaning off the top here and there. They even had galoshes for sale because with all the rain it's a mud pit out there. If you didn't go to this year's Boryeong mud festival, believe me, there is one right now at Pentatport ;)

I only caught two sets. The Ratios, of course, and The Vines. Both were great! The crowd was crazy, in a good way. They were just really enjoying the music.

Travis is set to take the stage last tonight, but the set isn't scheduled to end until 11:30pm. That's a mass transit nightmare as the subway closes down around 11:30pm, so I headed home after dancing around in the mud to The Vines' music. However, had I actually paid closer attention to the program, I would have stayed to hear The Gossip's set. Their singer is just a bad ass.

I did retire a pair of beloved Nike boots, but was given a pair of plain navy galoshes to skip about in the mud in ;) I was a dirty mess by the time I left, but I did wash the mud off my galoshes in the subway station. However, my pants were caked with mud. Good I had a rain slicker to cover myself up with on the train. There is one more day, so if I go tomorrow I just might pack a change of clothes for the commute back.

Now it's time to watch Becoming Jane because my iPod has just reminded me I've got only 4 days left to watch it :S

Here is the link to the interview.

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[Regina Walton's Expat Interviews] Trailblazer for foreign models

I'm laying low these days with blogging because, as I've written, it's just time to spruce up my personal life and focus on some other things.

However, I have been plugging away at getting interviews for my Korea Herald column. I've got a few interesting people lined up to write about. I've also been working behind the scenes with the Look to the Stars website that I write for. With that, I'm helping them maintain their MySpace and ThinkMTV pages.

I estimate I'll get back to blogging in earnest in a few weeks.

Here is my interview with Andrew Gordon. He's an American model who lives here in Seoul.

[Regina Walton's Expat Interviews] Trailblazer for foreign models

Andrew Gordon is an American model from New York who is quite successful in the fashion industry here in Seoul. He speaks near-fluent Korean - not an oddity in itself - but many models here tend to have short stays.

A few foreign models are flown in for a few weeks at a time. For example, Elyse Sewell of America's Next Top Model was here for a few weeks, but left in May to work in China. You just don't see many foreign models that make Korea their home - let alone take a deep interest in the culture or language like Gordon has.

Two years ago, Gordon moved to Gimhae, near the city of Busan, and stayed there for around a year. He moved to Busan, then eventually found his way to Seoul.

He explained that it was friendships made in high school that gave him an interest in Korean culture and language. "I went to a private high school and there were a lot of Korean people there. And so I just became friends with them and, through that ... I developed an interest in Korea."

Because of his interest, he came here to study the language. "I graduated very early and came to Korea. I was planning on only staying here for vacation, and it ended up being a life choice, so I live in Korea now."

He began his modeling career in the United States. "I did a little bit of modeling in the United States for American Apparel. And then came to Korea right after that. I didn't really do anything right off the bat ... I was going back and forth to Japan (to model). I actually debuted in Tokyo Collection ... and that was my (runway) debut."

A typical day for a model in Korea is that there pretty much isn't one. "There is really no typical day here, because everyone is busy and does their own thing. But I would say a normal day with a good amount of work would be starting with a meeting with someone, like an editor or a designer. If those people like you, then you continue on and talk about money. Then, usually, you'll go into a fitting and schedule the day - if it's a show or a shoot. "

Andrew Gordon, American model in Seoul

When asked to describe both the good and bad about working as a model in Korea, Gordon is honest but tactful. "(Korea) is a small country and I understand that, but things like money and pay are very low and sometimes none. I think that designers separate themselves from the models. There are so many models in Korea, so everyone wants to be a model. It's kind of hard for people who really have the potential to do well to be successful." When it comes to the positives, "Being foreign (helps); there aren't a lot of foreign models in Korea. Also, being young is an advantage because I'm younger than a lot of foreign models here. The language is definitely a plus. If I didn't speak Korean, I would not be a freelancing model. It helps with issues like pay."

With his recent assignments, Gordon has had a couple of notable successes. In May 2008, he was featured in a solo 12-page spread in Korean GQ. That was a first for a foreign model. "To be alone for a 12-page spread is a big, big accomplishment, especially for a foreign model."

He is the model for this summer's Hugo Boss campaign that will be seen in Korea, Japan, Europe and the United States.

Having worked with a big fashion house like Hugo Boss opens many doors. "The Boss campaign has gotten me a lot of calls from other countries and ... having something like Hugo Boss in my profile allows me to be viewed on a high-fashion level because Boss is such a fashion icon."

Being a model who has been able to adapt and live in a foreign culture outside of traditional fashion hubs like Paris, Hong Kong or Milan works in his favor when it comes to expanding his profile in other markets.

Here is an Adobe Acrobat, .pdf, version of the interview:

kh07162008 - Upload a Document to Scribd

Read this document on Scribd: kh07162008

Other links: A Fashionable Day

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Rihanna - Take A Bow

Great song, or, I think so as it's in heavy rotation on my iPod.

The video: it's one of those "go away and don't let the door hit you in the ass" songs. Those can be empowering for us ladies.

Anyway, just sending up a sign that I'm still around, but very much into "getting my life straight" mode.

I'll be back to blogging soon.

In the meantime, enjoy.

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Bush Tours America To Survey Damage Caused By His Disastrous Presidency

I've been enjoying my vacation and just getting stuff done.

However, I saw this video on the Onion and it's so funny I have to share it.

Enjoy.


Bush Tours America To Survey Damage Caused By His Disastrous Presidency

Hahahaha...I guess I was one of those Americans who was able to "evacuate" ;)

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