Burns Night on Geoje Island

February 20th

Few foreigners in Korea have heard of Geoje Island, the second largest island in Korea located in Gyeongsang Province, and even fewer know about the Okpo Foreigners Club, which does its part to make the island even more enjoyable for the long-term foreigners living there. In recognition of the diverse nationalities of the island residents, different parties are held throughout the year. From Mexican fiestas to Oktoberfest, these nights allow people from all over the world to share all that’s good about their home countries.

However, it’s no mere Scotsman’s prejudice to say that none of these other parties compare to the mass organization and effort that goes into the special celebration held early each year. That would be Burns Night, for the benighted among us who may not be familiar with the Scottish holiday. The night celebrates the renowned Scottish poet Robert Burns, famous among other things as the author of the lyrics to the New Year’s song “Auld Lang Syne.” Though the event is traditionally held around the poet’s birthday on January 25th, the Geoje Foreigner Resident Association (GFRA) is planning this year’s event for February 20th at 7 pm. GFRA’s Burns Night is starting to get noticed, with the British Ambassador and his wife among last year’s visitors.

Since the event is held in one of the far-flung regions of the planet, putting it together is no easy feat. Burns Night comes but once a year, but it takes most of the year for the GFRA committee members to organize.  The organizers pride themselves on doing whatever it takes to ensure a properly traditional Burns Night. They fly over a three-piece band all the way from Scotland. The singer from the group also doubles up as dance teacher for the night and instructs the guests in the intricacies of the Dashing White Sergeant and other popular Scottish dances. Guests who have sampled the whiskey may find these moves more difficult than expected.

Another major task is getting together authentic Scottish dishes like haggis and neeps (Scottish turnips). Korea has not yet been introduced to the seasonal delights of the turnip, and haggis is still a wee small animal to most Koreans. Fortunately, there is a small bakery below the club run by the Scottish baker Gavin, who supplies the haggis. Some Scotsmen even bring their bagpipes to join the band and provide the piping in of the haggis. Importing the turnip ate up a huge portion of the budget, so this year the cooks will use a close equivalent, the Korean  white radish 무 (mu). The kitchen staff all have a clear understanding of the peculiar requirements of this dinner and will produce a fabulous spread. Also, some of the female members of the club will bake some good old-fashioned cakes, including millionaire’s shortbread, a favorite of many a Brit.

Dress code for the night is formal, so bring your dress or suit and tie (or kilt, if you have one).  No kids are allowed at this party, so adults can relax and enjoy authentic Scottish food, live music, an exciting raffle, and recitations of the best of Burns’ poetry. Tickets for Burns Night cost W70,000, and you can also support the evening by getting your picture taken as a memento for the night or buying tickets at the raffle for a chance at some fantastic prizes.  Since seats are limited, non-members interested in attending should be sure to contact Steve Davies about tickets:

steve.davies@ocsolutions.com.au.

Visit the GFRA homepage for more info.

Getting there

From Seoul, start at Nambu Bus Terminal (near exit 5 of Nambu Terminal Station, line 3). Take an intercity bus to Jangseungpo Intercity Bus Terminal on Geoje Island. The trip takes around 5 ½ hours and costs W28,300. From there a local bus will get you to Okpo Harbor. The Okpo Foreigner’s Club is located a taxi drive away on the 2nd floor of the Okpo Shopping Center just next to the Admiral Hotel.

Words and shots by Martin Bennie

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