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27 B e s t f e a t u r e s W I N N E R “Korea’s black racism epidemic” by Dave Hazzan (February) W I N N E R “Unhinging Korea” by Ian Henderson (January) W I N N E R “Choosing Korea, keeping the faith” by Leslie Finlay, Dave Hazzan and David Phillips (December) W I N N E R “The Korean ring of fire” by Ian Henderson and Matt Crawford (June) Insight Story of the Year WINNER: “Korea’s black racism epidemic” by Dave Hazzan (February) Racism is but one of the growing pains that Korea faces in its age of globalization, and its treatment of the black community reflects a sharp and painful repeat of black-white race relations in the U.S. Discrimi- nation, ignorance and race-based hate are prevalent in the classroom, around the media and on the streets of Korea, but there are pockets of hope for progress toward an opening society. “Korea’s black racism epidemic” by Dave Hazzan is awarded Insight Story of the Year for its in-depth analysis of the roots, implementation and struggles to eradi- cate anti-black racism in Korea. NOMINEES: “The working woman” by Anita McKay (May); “Itaewon freedom” by Dave Hazzan (July) Music & Arts Story of the Year WINNER: “Unhinging Korea” by Ian Henderson (January) In a detailed history of metal music in Korea, writer Ian Henderson traces its development over time, starting with a postwar Korea when “rock music became (unofficially) illegal” and moving seamlessly into the late ‘70s and early ‘80s before walking us through the influence of thrash and death metal in the early 1990s and its struggles for a foothold today. NOMINEES: “Only in dreams” by Remy Raitt (April); “Korean punk struggles forward” by Dave Hazzan (October) Community Story of the Year WINNER: “Choosing Korea, keeping the faith” by Leslie Finlay, Dave Hazzan and David Phillips (December) Three writers offer a portrait of the Muslim community of Ko- rea, which hosts “a small but dynamic subculture spanning doz- ens of countries, evident among the array of faces, languages and accents layered beneath hijabs and prayer sets.” For a story that showed us a community in transition, struggling to overcome dis- crimination and bridge the gap in understanding of Islam, “Choosing Korea, keeping the faith” is awarded Community Story of the Year. NOMINEES: “Shake the hand that feeds you” by Beryl Sinclair (July); “Nevada’s hanging gardens of Fabulon” by Tom Godfrey (September) Food Story of the Year WINNER: “The Korean ring of fre” by Ian Henderson and Matt Crawford (June) Matt Crawford and Ian Henderson’s foray into tummy tumult was one of the most talked-about pieces of the year. In their story, these two foodies gave readers a taste of Seoul’s spiciest food, then washed it down with lots of soju and beer (and perhaps a few Rolaids). NOMINEES: “Home brewers lead the push toward better beer” by Christine Pickering (March); “Soft-serve Seoul” by Sarah Edge and Jongmin Lee (August)