I am spending a quiet couple of days just outside of Chuncheon, Gangwon Province, for the World Leisure Congress, the biannual meeting of the World Leisure Organization. And I must say, the hotel at the Elysian Condominium in Gangchon is pretty leisurely.

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There are seminars each day about various aspects of leisure culture (such as sports, tourism and health), and I have been invited to speak here, about leisure and art. Hard to believe that workaholic Korea is hosting a global gathering about leisure, but I guess that is symbolic of the changes Korea has been going through over the past decade or so — less about work, and more about life and lifestyle.

Since we are close to Chuncheon, I am going to try to use Hong Sangsoo’s THE TURNING GATE (much of which took place here) as a point of reference for some of my speech. No idea if this is going to work, but I am somewhat hopeful.

I have not been to this part of Korea in years, so it is nice to be here. Actually, this summer has turned into a bit of a countryside experience, with trips to Jisan Valley (for the rock festival), Chungcheong Province and Jeolla Province (including my first trip to the Damyang bamboo forest).

Anyhow, I just hope I can get back to Seoul before Typhoon Kompasu arrives. Yikes. I do not think a typhoon would be a leisurely experience at all.