[LETTERS TO THE EDITOR]Music is my life

I wanted to thank you for giving a spotlight to Western actors here in Korea. It’s really good to know people here care enough to write about us. I also work on [the TV program] “Surprise.” I’m that long-haired white guy.
Sometimes it’s difficult for Westerners who are caught between the whole English teacher day-job thing and trying to do what we really want. My hope is to still be there when the novelty wears off.
Music is what I care about ― it’s my life. And that’s why I came to Korea. I had a simple plan to achieve my goal. First, teach English and save money. Second, find a place to get my face on TV. I appeared in “Surprise,” “Joiwa Beol” [“Crime and Punishment”], EBS English conversation program and English Life video magazine. And third, hopefully to meet talented producers/musicians to collaborate with and produce and perform in Korea. I’m still calmly waiting for my chance.
It is true that Westerners don’t have much legal space to do whatever we wish here in Korea, but I am doing my best to show Korea that I have more to offer than just silly roles on “Surprise.”
I have two bands in Korea: one is a live band that I play in, called “Jjajeungna” Band. “Jjajeungna” is a Korean word for “annoying,” but I did not make that name. Each member is from a different country, so it gives the band a different kind of spice. Silvercord is my studio project band that plays electronica, alternative ambient, space rock, shoegazer stuff that’s really not popular in Korea. This band is just me in my recording studio, but I hope it turns into more than that.

by Jung Hyun-jun