COMMUNITY

The magpie is called “gachi” in Korean. It is a symbol of good luck and of good news, such as the arrival of very nice visitors. So, people are very happy to see and hear a magpie. It also represents harmony, making a symbolic bridge between love and understanding between people. It’s the “official bird” of many Korean cities, counties and provinces, and many say that it is the national bird. One day a few years ago in spring at Seoul National University I was having coffee at a coffee shop on campus and, as I left, I saw two magpies hopping around in the gardens. I followed them, trying to get good photos and loved watching them, without quite understanding why I was so interested. Maybe I was picking up on the good luck