I’m from Seoul the city of apartments the crime to disguise some of these
the crime to disguise some of these
the crime to disguise some of these buildings 469 storeys high zoom into the
buildings 469 storeys high zoom into the
buildings 469 storeys high zoom into the very center of Seoul there’s a tiny area
very center of Seoul there’s a tiny area
very center of Seoul there’s a tiny area where apartments haven’t taken over it
where apartments haven’t taken over it
where apartments haven’t taken over it kind of looks like Godzilla’s footprint
kind of looks like Godzilla’s footprint
kind of looks like Godzilla’s footprint here in the heart of Seoul surrounded by
here in the heart of Seoul surrounded by
here in the heart of Seoul surrounded by cement arms stretching upwards sit a
cement arms stretching upwards sit a
cement arms stretching upwards sit a hundred year old traditional houses
hundred year old traditional houses
hundred year old traditional houses called hanoks they’re one-story high and
called hanoks they’re one-story high and
called hanoks they’re one-story high and the locals call this area island of
the locals call this area island of
the locals call this area island of hanoks
hanoks
hanoks those oldest neighborhood and this is
those oldest neighborhood and this is
those oldest neighborhood and this is where I grew up
zooming krauser this is my childhood
zooming krauser this is my childhood home I remember the day when we moved
home I remember the day when we moved
home I remember the day when we moved into this house my parents and my two
into this house my parents and my two
into this house my parents and my two younger brothers I was 11 it was a big
younger brothers I was 11 it was a big
younger brothers I was 11 it was a big deal for us because my parents that
deal for us because my parents that
deal for us because my parents that worked very hard to save for a down
worked very hard to save for a down
worked very hard to save for a down payment
payment
payment we might get made my mom for the first
we might get made my mom for the first
we might get made my mom for the first time it was love at first sight but they
time it was love at first sight but they
time it was love at first sight but they were penniless on their wedding day my
were penniless on their wedding day my
were penniless on their wedding day my dad had no wedding ring my maternal
dad had no wedding ring my maternal
dad had no wedding ring my maternal grandma must have been like and you call
grandma must have been like and you call
grandma must have been like and you call yourself my son-in-law
yourself my son-in-law
yourself my son-in-law she ran out and bought one of those
she ran out and bought one of those
she ran out and bought one of those cheap rings from a street vendor instead
cheap rings from a street vendor instead
cheap rings from a street vendor instead of a real wedding band to seal the deal
of a real wedding band to seal the deal
of a real wedding band to seal the deal true love doesn’t cost much for my
true love doesn’t cost much for my
true love doesn’t cost much for my parents it cost $1 what a bargain so my
parents it cost $1 what a bargain so my
parents it cost $1 what a bargain so my parents had no time to take us places
parents had no time to take us places
parents had no time to take us places had no energy to tell us bedtime stories
had no energy to tell us bedtime stories
had no energy to tell us bedtime stories yet barely had time to go to the
yet barely had time to go to the
yet barely had time to go to the bathroom because they wanted there were
bathroom because they wanted there were
bathroom because they wanted there were three of us to work hard to so we could
three of us to work hard to so we could
three of us to work hard to so we could become successful that men no toys no TV
become successful that men no toys no TV
become successful that men no toys no TV no fun activities pretty much most
no fun activities pretty much most
no fun activities pretty much most favorite things I could buy KitKat one
favorite things I could buy KitKat one
favorite things I could buy KitKat one those were off-limits but one thing that
those were off-limits but one thing that
those were off-limits but one thing that I could not stop was drawing one day my
I could not stop was drawing one day my
I could not stop was drawing one day my dad copy drawing
dad copy drawing
dad copy drawing he said stop wasting time and study so I
he said stop wasting time and study so I
he said stop wasting time and study so I had to study study study study study
had to study study study study study
had to study study study study study study study and when I wasn’t studying
study study and when I wasn’t studying
study study and when I wasn’t studying I didn’t just study even harder I
I didn’t just study even harder I
I didn’t just study even harder I mentioned that I need to study a lot so
mentioned that I need to study a lot so
mentioned that I need to study a lot so I pretended to study while imagining and
I pretended to study while imagining and
I pretended to study while imagining and making up stories in my head and drawing
making up stories in my head and drawing
making up stories in my head and drawing in secret the background that looks like
in secret the background that looks like
in secret the background that looks like the background in my room that looks
the background in my room that looks
the background in my room that looks like a prison bars is a rice paper door
like a prison bars is a rice paper door
like a prison bars is a rice paper door a good thing about rice paper door is
a good thing about rice paper door is
a good thing about rice paper door is that you could hear any noise coming
that you could hear any noise coming
that you could hear any noise coming from outside if I heard somebody coming
from outside if I heard somebody coming
from outside if I heard somebody coming I was stopped touring and highly
I was stopped touring and highly
I was stopped touring and highly evidence I didn’t want to get caught
evidence I didn’t want to get caught
evidence I didn’t want to get caught touring again I became a ninja artist
touring again I became a ninja artist
touring again I became a ninja artist under house arrest
luckily there are other people living in
luckily there are other people living in my Hanul total strangers who became our
my Hanul total strangers who became our
my Hanul total strangers who became our residents our family used only three
residents our family used only three
residents our family used only three rooms out of ten there was also a big
rooms out of ten there was also a big
rooms out of ten there was also a big deal for us because we had never left in
deal for us because we had never left in
deal for us because we had never left in more than two rooms but for this house
more than two rooms but for this house
more than two rooms but for this house since I was the oldest child I bullied
since I was the oldest child I bullied
since I was the oldest child I bullied my way into my own bedroom the rest of
my way into my own bedroom the rest of
my way into my own bedroom the rest of the rooms were rented to other families
the rooms were rented to other families
the rooms were rented to other families some families rented two rooms but most
some families rented two rooms but most
some families rented two rooms but most families had rented just one they would
families had rented just one they would
families had rented just one they would live in these rooms for three to three
live in these rooms for three to three
live in these rooms for three to three to four years we were like one big
to four years we were like one big
to four years we were like one big community in a single house I know how
community in a single house I know how
community in a single house I know how sturdy is it at NPO but it was a typical
sturdy is it at NPO but it was a typical
sturdy is it at NPO but it was a typical housing situation for many Koreans back
housing situation for many Koreans back
housing situation for many Koreans back then before apartment buildings started
then before apartment buildings started
then before apartment buildings started rising so house in the constant presence
rising so house in the constant presence
rising so house in the constant presence of others living under one roof my roof
of others living under one roof my roof
of others living under one roof my roof there are multiple stories going on in
there are multiple stories going on in
there are multiple stories going on in my one story huh no every family had a
my one story huh no every family had a
my one story huh no every family had a story they didn’t tell them they’d show
story they didn’t tell them they’d show
story they didn’t tell them they’d show them it was like living in a
them it was like living in a
them it was like living in a never-ending reality show I was blown
never-ending reality show I was blown
never-ending reality show I was blown out on my own confinement too
out on my own confinement too
out on my own confinement too the only experiences of others and to
the only experiences of others and to
the only experiences of others and to see the world through their eyes once to
see the world through their eyes once to
see the world through their eyes once to Grandpa’s Davina living in my hand all
Grandpa’s Davina living in my hand all
Grandpa’s Davina living in my hand all fought over a pair of Underpants
fought over a pair of Underpants
fought over a pair of Underpants both had owned identical ones apparently
both had owned identical ones apparently
both had owned identical ones apparently I never knew how much people love their
I never knew how much people love their
I never knew how much people love their underwear until I met these two grandpas
underwear until I met these two grandpas
underwear until I met these two grandpas one claimed that the other grandpa had
one claimed that the other grandpa had
one claimed that the other grandpa had taken his parrot hung in the laundry
taken his parrot hung in the laundry
taken his parrot hung in the laundry line he pointed at this distinctive mark
line he pointed at this distinctive mark
line he pointed at this distinctive mark a permanent stain or his pants
a permanent stain or his pants
a permanent stain or his pants that’s my stain normally a person would
that’s my stain normally a person would
that’s my stain normally a person would deny any type of bus stain on their
deny any type of bus stain on their
deny any type of bus stain on their underwear but this grandpa identifying
underwear but this grandpa identifying
underwear but this grandpa identifying himself with it the other one pastor
himself with it the other one pastor
himself with it the other one pastor deserves tightly and ignored him the
deserves tightly and ignored him the
deserves tightly and ignored him the accusing birth grandpa he said I’d
accusing birth grandpa he said I’d
accusing birth grandpa he said I’d rather talk to a deaf cow until their
rather talk to a deaf cow until their
rather talk to a deaf cow until their ego a single mother who ran a noodle
ego a single mother who ran a noodle
ego a single mother who ran a noodle shop lived with her teenage son my own
shop lived with her teenage son my own
shop lived with her teenage son my own brothers and I called him big brother we
brothers and I called him big brother we
brothers and I called him big brother we would linger around waiting for him to
would linger around waiting for him to
would linger around waiting for him to fleece the comic books about tech on the
fleece the comic books about tech on the
fleece the comic books about tech on the robot he rented from a comic book rental
robot he rented from a comic book rental
robot he rented from a comic book rental store it’s the weekly run otherwise the
store it’s the weekly run otherwise the
store it’s the weekly run otherwise the only time that we could get into comics
only time that we could get into comics
only time that we could get into comics or the occasional Sundays when we skip
or the occasional Sundays when we skip
or the occasional Sundays when we skip church and use the or frequent mom gave
church and use the or frequent mom gave
church and use the or frequent mom gave us too when comic books ourselves it was
us too when comic books ourselves it was
us too when comic books ourselves it was my first business venture with a great
my first business venture with a great
my first business venture with a great return on investment but risky reading a
return on investment but risky reading a
return on investment but risky reading a comic book was also considered wasting
comic book was also considered wasting
comic book was also considered wasting time the big brother never told my mom
time the big brother never told my mom
time the big brother never told my mom about it I’ve thought his support
about it I’ve thought his support
about it I’ve thought his support a bus driver lived with his girlfriend
a bus driver lived with his girlfriend
a bus driver lived with his girlfriend for three years and moved out two years
for three years and moved out two years
for three years and moved out two years later the police showed up at our door
later the police showed up at our door
later the police showed up at our door to investigate his girlfriend had left
to investigate his girlfriend had left
to investigate his girlfriend had left him and he has studied gambling any
him and he has studied gambling any
him and he has studied gambling any about $10,000 from a group of gangsters
about $10,000 from a group of gangsters
about $10,000 from a group of gangsters and the gang threatened to kill him if
and the gang threatened to kill him if
and the gang threatened to kill him if he didn’t pay them back so he kidnapped
he didn’t pay them back so he kidnapped
he didn’t pay them back so he kidnapped a college student prevents them
a college student prevents them
a college student prevents them and ended up killing her they could have
and ended up killing her they could have
and ended up killing her they could have never happened in my house because there
never happened in my house because there
never happened in my house because there are always people around
are always people around
are always people around it was odd to hear such terrible news of
it was odd to hear such terrible news of
it was odd to hear such terrible news of him I remembered him as a nice quiet man
him I remembered him as a nice quiet man
him I remembered him as a nice quiet man I felt his disappear we had a couple of
I felt his disappear we had a couple of
I felt his disappear we had a couple of single women in their twenties they
single women in their twenties they
single women in their twenties they worked at a ujong a female entertainment
worked at a ujong a female entertainment
worked at a ujong a female entertainment house they often were this beautiful
house they often were this beautiful
house they often were this beautiful Korean traditional dresses to go to work
Korean traditional dresses to go to work
Korean traditional dresses to go to work they’re so elegant and they always
they’re so elegant and they always
they’re so elegant and they always smiled at me one of them had come from a
smiled at me one of them had come from a
smiled at me one of them had come from a poor war farm and sent her family money
poor war farm and sent her family money
poor war farm and sent her family money every month it was later she invited me
every month it was later she invited me
every month it was later she invited me my mom to her new house she about she
my mom to her new house she about she
my mom to her new house she about she had bought by saving diligently
had bought by saving diligently
had bought by saving diligently I thought her pride one grandma told her
I thought her pride one grandma told her
I thought her pride one grandma told her scary stories the real horror was that
scary stories the real horror was that
scary stories the real horror was that the stories had really happened she said
the stories had really happened she said
the stories had really happened she said the streets of Seoul were filled with
the streets of Seoul were filled with
the streets of Seoul were filled with corpses during the Korean world that
corpses during the Korean world that
corpses during the Korean world that women sprawled on their backs
women sprawled on their backs
women sprawled on their backs dead men lie on their stomach and in the
dead men lie on their stomach and in the
dead men lie on their stomach and in the summertime hosts will appear in their
summertime hosts will appear in their
summertime hosts will appear in their bodies within a week she’ll go on with
bodies within a week she’ll go on with
bodies within a week she’ll go on with her eyewitness details of how the human
her eyewitness details of how the human
her eyewitness details of how the human body decomposed was like her memory was
body decomposed was like her memory was
body decomposed was like her memory was getting sharper and she aged I felt her
getting sharper and she aged I felt her
getting sharper and she aged I felt her terror
another grandma had Alzheimer’s one
another grandma had Alzheimer’s one night she went around and around the
night she went around and around the
night she went around and around the same narrow alley either she was lost or
same narrow alley either she was lost or
same narrow alley either she was lost or she was out on patrol protecting our
she was out on patrol protecting our
she was out on patrol protecting our neighborhood anyway our next-door
neighborhood anyway our next-door
neighborhood anyway our next-door neighbor brought her back to us
neighbor brought her back to us
neighbor brought her back to us years later when I visited home from the
years later when I visited home from the
years later when I visited home from the US should not only recognized me but she
US should not only recognized me but she
US should not only recognized me but she took out ten dollar bill all wrinkled up
took out ten dollar bill all wrinkled up
took out ten dollar bill all wrinkled up I’m up from a pocket and gave it to me
I’m up from a pocket and gave it to me
I’m up from a pocket and gave it to me to welcome me back I was like thank you
to welcome me back I was like thank you
to welcome me back I was like thank you ninja grandma
ninja grandma
ninja grandma I felt back home zoom out of Seoul I
I felt back home zoom out of Seoul I
I felt back home zoom out of Seoul I told my parents I was going to the u.s.
told my parents I was going to the u.s.
told my parents I was going to the u.s. to study I put myself in an article in
to study I put myself in an article in
to study I put myself in an article in New York City I had completed my ninja
New York City I had completed my ninja
New York City I had completed my ninja school finally I could draw freely I
school finally I could draw freely I
school finally I could draw freely I became a children’s book writer and
became a children’s book writer and
became a children’s book writer and illustrator when my first book came out
illustrator when my first book came out
illustrator when my first book came out my parents thought I had become an
my parents thought I had become an
my parents thought I had become an artist overnight they couldn’t believe
artist overnight they couldn’t believe
artist overnight they couldn’t believe it so I drew something quickly to show
it so I drew something quickly to show
it so I drew something quickly to show off my brother was impressed that’s a
off my brother was impressed that’s a
off my brother was impressed that’s a nice car you drew I was like no it’s
nice car you drew I was like no it’s
nice car you drew I was like no it’s grandma my dad asked me to read my book
grandma my dad asked me to read my book
grandma my dad asked me to read my book aloud he dozed off while I was reading I
aloud he dozed off while I was reading I
aloud he dozed off while I was reading I told him not every children’s book story
told him not every children’s book story
told him not every children’s book story is at that time story he asked me how I
is at that time story he asked me how I
is at that time story he asked me how I wrote the story little didn’t know that
wrote the story little didn’t know that
wrote the story little didn’t know that the residence in my hand had taught me
the residence in my hand had taught me
the residence in my hand had taught me three key things for storytelling over
three key things for storytelling over
three key things for storytelling over the years one in every story the
the years one in every story the
the years one in every story the character face is a problem just like
character face is a problem just like
character face is a problem just like all of us at our house had a lot of
all of us at our house had a lot of
all of us at our house had a lot of problems too we don’t know how the story
problems too we don’t know how the story
problems too we don’t know how the story will end just like our lives we all tell
will end just like our lives we all tell
will end just like our lives we all tell stories with our lies in the way we live
stories with our lies in the way we live
stories with our lies in the way we live but none of us knows what will happen
but none of us knows what will happen
but none of us knows what will happen tomorrow our lives are a mystery story 3
tomorrow our lives are a mystery story 3
tomorrow our lives are a mystery story 3 no character stands alone yes
no character stands alone yes
no character stands alone yes a great character grows to a strong
a great character grows to a strong
a great character grows to a strong horse but the character needs help
horse but the character needs help
horse but the character needs help through those hard times even a hero
through those hard times even a hero
through those hard times even a hero needs others to be a hero even the
needs others to be a hero even the
needs others to be a hero even the artist as a child I was not allowed to
artist as a child I was not allowed to
artist as a child I was not allowed to make art freely but the community in my
make art freely but the community in my
make art freely but the community in my hand opened up a pathway for flexible
hand opened up a pathway for flexible
hand opened up a pathway for flexible thinking my house faster natural
thinking my house faster natural
thinking my house faster natural interaction
interaction
interaction that allowed my subconscious mind to
that allowed my subconscious mind to
that allowed my subconscious mind to explore the diversity of emotions and
explore the diversity of emotions and
explore the diversity of emotions and thoughts we share much joy sorrow
thoughts we share much joy sorrow
thoughts we share much joy sorrow brokenness and resilience being aware of
brokenness and resilience being aware of
brokenness and resilience being aware of each other’s gain and pain made us more
each other’s gain and pain made us more
each other’s gain and pain made us more able to go on and we saw what was
able to go on and we saw what was
able to go on and we saw what was special in each other it not only help
special in each other it not only help
special in each other it not only help me cultivate empathy but it also
me cultivate empathy but it also
me cultivate empathy but it also increased my individual creative
increased my individual creative
increased my individual creative capacity all emotions are relational
capacity all emotions are relational
capacity all emotions are relational emotional emotional intuition is
emotional emotional intuition is
emotional emotional intuition is critical in the creative creative
critical in the creative creative
critical in the creative creative process because these emotional prompts
process because these emotional prompts
process because these emotional prompts are often associated with high levels of
are often associated with high levels of
are often associated with high levels of energy and they feel creativity we think
energy and they feel creativity we think
energy and they feel creativity we think that the creative types are solitary
that the creative types are solitary
that the creative types are solitary individuals racking their brains in
individuals racking their brains in
individuals racking their brains in their caves like dr. Seuss Easter Grinch
their caves like dr. Seuss Easter Grinch
their caves like dr. Seuss Easter Grinch yes
yes
yes spending time in my own head was
spending time in my own head was
spending time in my own head was important in the process yes intrinsic
important in the process yes intrinsic
important in the process yes intrinsic motivation drove me to create but the
motivation drove me to create but the
motivation drove me to create but the extrinsic motivators can further
extrinsic motivators can further
extrinsic motivators can further reinforce in a drives the
reinforce in a drives the
reinforce in a drives the interconnectedness of people in my
interconnectedness of people in my
interconnectedness of people in my hollow inspire me to tell and draw from
hollow inspire me to tell and draw from
hollow inspire me to tell and draw from the heart and share with the world
the heart and share with the world
the heart and share with the world outside of the island of Hallows John
outside of the island of Hallows John
outside of the island of Hallows John Donne wrote 400 years ago no man is an
Donne wrote 400 years ago no man is an
Donne wrote 400 years ago no man is an island entire of itself it leaves us the
island entire of itself it leaves us the
island entire of itself it leaves us the power of a community in the flow of life
power of a community in the flow of life
power of a community in the flow of life with that community we cannot actualize
with that community we cannot actualize
with that community we cannot actualize or realize our innate potential gifts
or realize our innate potential gifts
or realize our innate potential gifts and passions and in turn give it back to
and passions and in turn give it back to
and passions and in turn give it back to the world which is really our greatest
the world which is really our greatest
the world which is really our greatest community to be human is to be creative
community to be human is to be creative
community to be human is to be creative Express and understand and connect that
Express and understand and connect that
Express and understand and connect that is the heart of creativity that is also
is the heart of creativity that is also
is the heart of creativity that is also the spirit of community wherever you
the spirit of community wherever you
the spirit of community wherever you find your own story thank you
find your own story thank you
find your own story thank you you
”
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