8/16/2022

South Korean Basement Apartments “Banjiha” Banned After Fatal Floods

Devastating floods in South Korea have left 2,000 people displaced and at least 14 people dead. Tragically included are a family of three with a 13-year-old girl, who drowned after being trapped in a ‘banjiha’ or semi-underground apartment, the kind of unit prone to flooding, as highlighted in films like Bong Joon-ho’s Parasite. Last week, the Seoul government announced that banjiha units for residential uses will be banned in the future. Critics say it’s too little too late, and ignores the larger issues of inequality and the housing crisis that disproportionately affects low-income families. The torrential rain in Seoul was the heaviest in 115 years. At least 6 people are missing, and thousands are struggling to find shelter. Even more heavy rain is expected this week, with flood and landslide warnings across South Korea.

8/16/2022

South Korean Basement Apartments “Banjiha” Banned After Fatal Floods

Devastating floods in South Korea have left 2,000 people displaced and at least 14 people dead. Tragically included are a family of three with a 13-year-old girl, who drowned after being trapped in a ‘banjiha’ or semi-underground apartment, the kind of unit prone to flooding, as highlighted in films like Bong Joon-ho’s Parasite. Last week, the Seoul government announced that banjiha units for residential uses will be banned in the future. Critics say it’s too little too late, and ignores the larger issues of inequality and the housing crisis that disproportionately affects low-income families. The torrential rain in Seoul was the heaviest in 115 years. At least 6 people are missing, and thousands are struggling to find shelter. Even more heavy rain is expected this week, with flood and landslide warnings across South Korea.

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After 10 Years In Hiding, Salman Rushdie Stabbed On Stage

Salman Rushdie, author of ‘The Satanic Verses and ‘Midnight’s Children’’, is fighting life-changing injuries to his heart, liver, and eyes after being repeatedly stabbed on-stage while giving a lecture. While the suspect, 24-year-old Hadi Matar, was just indicted by a grand jury on Thursday August 18, he told the New York Post that his motivation came from Rushdie’sattacks on Islam and its beliefs. Rushdie’s controversial 1988 novel left Muslims feeling outraged and that the book’s author was claiming verses of the Qur’an were “the work of the Devil”. ‘Satanic Verses’ is a phrase unknown to Muslims, and coined by Orientalist Western academics who were specializing in the study of cultures considered Eastern. Rushdie’s title immediately sparked protest because it refers to a legend about Prophet Muhammad that both Sunni and Shiite Muslims believe are fabricated by idolators. Rushdie’s book was also considered offensive because it portrayed weakness in the Prophet Muhammad, and Muslims felt that Rushdie was questioning Muhammad’s credibility as the messenger of God. The book was banned in many parts of the world, including Iran, India and Pakistan, and former Iranian leader Ayatollah Khomeini even issued a fatwa - or decree - calling for his death. Though the Iranian government has since separated itself from the fatwa, the price on Rushdie’s head recently increased to over $3M. For nearly a decade, the award-winning author went into hiding and lived under police protection, though in recent years became more lax about this, even venturing outside without bodyguard protection at times. Now, the outspoken defender of writers’ freedom of expression is living openly in New York, and once again at the center of free speech debate in literature.

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South Korean Basement Apartments “Banjiha” Banned After Fatal Floods