Gdimension is the name of a blogger down in Jeju-do that has been there for a number of years and though you'd never know it from his modest appraisal of his photography, actually has some of the best that can be found in the expat community.
Gdimension's blog went offline in late 2007.
Q: Self introduction - who are you, what do you do?
- I’ve been teaching at various locations on Jeju Island continually since I arrived in 1998. I started gdimension in the spring of 2005 to keep family and friends around the world abreast of my life here. Since then, it has also become a place to post my ever-increasing number of photos, talk a bit about Korean culture and language, keep track of news concerning Jeju, and serve as an introduction to the island for those seeking to travel or move here.
Q:Was Jeju-do your first choice in coming to Korea, or did you live in larger cities before? How long have you been there, and if you've been there for a number of years have you noticed a difference in the atmosphere now with Jeju-do becoming largely independent, or is it just rhetoric? Do you think it will be able to change into a sort of business hub, and would you want it to?
- Not being a “city person”, Jeju was indeed my first choice in coming to Korea. There have been no noticeable changes in day-to-day life as a result of Jeju becoming a "Free International City" as of yet, but the change does not actually come into effect until July 1st of 2006. We'll see then, I suppose.
- I believe it is possible for Jeju to become a NE Asian business hub, but only with some fairly substantial changes, chief among them being a greater acceptance and willingness to adapt to foreign needs and ideas. Going hand-in-hand with that is a definite need to improve the foreign language skills of the island’s population.
- If it is properly managed so as not to destroy the unique characteristics of the island which make it attractive in the first place, I’m all for the “hub”.
Q:Are you a lifer, or just staying for a few years?
- The plan is to head back home in about 5 years. As my wife's family is here, though, we will remain lifelong visitors no matter where we live.
Q:Would you tell us something about your photography?
- Photography is nothing more than a hobby for me, albeit a rather important and enjoyable one. Posting on gdimension is a great way to “force” me out of my normal routine and try and get pictures of different aspects of the island. I try to photograph many of the main festivals and tourist attractions, as well as record as much of the natural beauty and daily life of the island as I can.
 The sun rises behind the dry remnants of a eulalia (역새).  I am tentatively identifying both of these as juvenile Glodius blomhoffii brevicaudus, also known as Short-Tailed Mamushis (Korean: 살모사). Q:What's the chance of once again stumbling upon five naked models jumping around in a park?
- (This is referring to an experience I had at “Loveland” here on the island. For my first experience, see here. For my second (with the nudes!), see here.) Certainly that was one of the most surreal experiences of my life. I was initially shocked just to find a place like “Loveland” on the island…and then to find nude models walking around? On Jeju? Where many of the women still go swimming in their jeans because they are too embarrassed to wear swimsuits? Bizarre. I rate the chances of me running into something like that again as somewhere between slim and none. Regardless, I will continue searching...
Q:What sort of person do you think one has to be to enjoy life in Jeju-do?
- I find Jeju to be a very comfortable place to live, and I think almost anyone could adapt to and enjoy life here quite easily. There are many beautiful places to visit, an increasing number of events and festivals, and a vibrant expat community. Getting to Seoul is quicker (though more expensive) than from many other places in Korea also, with it being only a 50 minute plane ride away.
Q:Do you or anybody else (non-Koreans that is) speak the dialect perfectly?
- I certainly don’t speak the dialect perfectly, but I can understand many of the most-used phrases. There is at least one person I know who is spending quite a bit of time studying it, but I know of no foreigner who has mastered it.
Q:What's immigration like down there? Friendlier?
- I've never dealt with immigration anywhere else in the ROK, but I have had no major problems with them here.
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