{
  "id": 18387208,
  "title": "[FRIENDS OF KOREA] Two Peace Corps Volunteers' brush with cinematic fame in 1960s Myeong-dong",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/05/friends-of-korea-two-peace-corps-volunteers-brush-with-cinematic-fame-18387208",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-11-05T22:32:03.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Korea Times",
    "slug": "the-korea-times-koreatimes",
    "url": "https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/southkorea/globalcommunity/20261106/friends-of-korea-two-peace-corps-volunteers-brush-with-cinematic-fame-in-1960s-myeong-dong"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "In 1960s Seoul, a Peace Corps Volunteer named <reporter_name> found himself in Myeong-dong with his friend Ron Rezac, another Peace Corps Volunteer. Myeong-dong was a popular hangout for Korean youth at the time, bustling with bars, cafes, and music venues. After a night of drinking and socializing, <reporter_name> expressed a desire to end their evening with a cup of tea. The two friends made their way to a nearby dabang cafe, a type of small, private restaurant. Upon entering the cafe, they were informed by the door attendant that the establishment was closed and they were not permitted entry. Undeterred, <reporter_name> and Rezac insisted on their rights and their ability to communicate in Korean. The attendant, taken aback by their enthusiasm, relented and allowed them inside, directing them to a table. As they settled in, they discovered that the reason for the cafe's closure was due to a movie company having taken over the space for the evening. The filmmakers were in the process of shooting a feature film, and they had plans for the dabang to feature two characters who were drunk.",
  "summary": "One evening in Seoul, having nothing better to do, I decided to go out on the town in Myeong-dong with my friend Ron Rezac, a fellow Peace Corps Volunteer. Back in the 1960s, Myeong-dong was a trendy spot for Korean youth, filled with bars, cafes and music venues. After a few hours and a few beers (maybe more than a few), I let it be known that I, strangely, wanted to cap off the evening with…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}