Learn more about South of Seoul contributors.
South of Seoul Directors
Lanae Rivers-Woods moved to Korea in 2011 where she lives in the countryside with her family, friends, and puppies. She holds a BSSW (Bachelor’s of Science in Social Work), a MAIT (Master’s of Arts in International Teaching), and registered by the Pyeongtaek Korean Times with the Korean government as a Cultural Expert.
Ms. Rivers-Woods used her 15 years experience as a social architect, UX/UI designer, and technology consultant to found South of Seoul in 2015. South of Seoul is a volunteer organization that leverages technological tools to mitigate cultural dissonance in multi-cultural communities.
Through South of Seoul, Ms. Rivers-Woods works with independent volunteers, non-profit organizations, businesses, local & federal government, universities, and US military organizations to develop solutions to support English speaking international residents in rural South Korea.
Additionally, Ms. Rivers-Woods founded the South of Seoul smart phone app available for Google Play and iPhone. The app provides information a resources for those living and traveling in South Korea.
When she isn’t in South of Seoul development meetings or working her day job, Ms. Rivers-Woods loves to be outside at skate parks, the beach, or playing in the mountains.
Ms. Peck graduated from the University of Utah Asia Campus (UAC) in Incheon with a Master’s in Public Health and her Certification in Public Health (CPH). Ms. Peck also holds a Bachelor’s Degrees in Linguistics and one in International Studies with a Global Health emphasis.
Ms. Peck is Korean American and speaks both English and Korean. She has moved between the US and Korea since childhood, finally settling in Korea after graduating from UAC.
In 2021 Ms. Peck founded the South of Seoul Public Health Program which focuses on research and initiatives regarding the health and wellness of multinational residents in South Korea.
Additionally, Ms. Peck oversees the SOS Public Health Graduate Student Practicum Program which provides mentorship and training for Master’s in Public Health students. The program works with two students a semester with a focus on ethical UX research design, survey development, and initiative implementation.
Volunteer Researchers & Cultural Liaisons
Hi, I’m Elise! I’m a military spouse passionate about helping fellow dog parents provide the best life for their furry companions while living in Korea. I love exploring with my dog and discovering dog-friendly destinations, activities, and resources. My goal is to make life easier for dog owners by sharing recommendations, tips, and insights on navigating Korea with your pup.
Tara Popp holds a Master of Arts degree in Youth Development with an emphasis on youth and technology and a Bachelor of Arts degree in English with a concentration in Romantic and Modern literature and poetry. Ms. Popp was born and raised in Seoul for 30+ years as a Korean-American living around military and civilian communities. She moved down to Pyeongtaek officially in 2018. Though she misses the big city life in Seoul, she has grown to love the Pyeongtaek area and country living.
Hope Denny holds a Master’s in Education with a focus on ESL and a Bachelor’s in International Studies. She also received a Certificate in Korean Studies from Ewah Women’s University. Hope Denny works in the Korean public school system.
Content Disclosure: South of Seoul blogs are written by unpaid volunteers.
Founded in 2015, the South of Seoul team consists of volunteers on three continents working together to support English-speaking people traveling or living in South Korea. South of Seoul volunteers work with organizations and individuals across South Korea to improve equitable access to information across South Korea. Much of South of Seoul’s information focuses on Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea.
Blogs published under the authorship of “South of Seoul” include blogs compiled by multiple volunteers to improve access to standardized information unrelated to individualized personal experiences.
Community Content Partners
South of Seoul Strategy and Education Consulting (SOS SEC) in a Korean company that specializes in bridging the gap between Korean culture and other diverse cultures. With a profound understanding of the complexities and nuances of cultural dissonance, SOS SEC is dedicated to facilitating meaningful connections and fostering mutual understanding between individuals and businesses. SOS SEC partners with the South of Seoul Blog to provide Korean businesses the opportunity to present their organizations to the international community in Korea through Sponsored Posts.
All SOS SEC-created content featured on the South of Seoul blog is paid content.
Pyeongtak Living 101 is a PIEF (Pyeongtaek International Exchange Foundation) Program that supports international residents living in Pyeongtaek-si, Gyeonggi-do. The program provides classes, workshops, and information to make integration into Korean life smoother.
The Pyeongtaek International Exchange Foundation (PIEF), established in 2014, is a key organization in promoting global exchange and fostering international relations in Pyeongtaek, South Korea. PIEF’s mission centers around enhancing cultural understanding and cooperation, especially with the United States Forces Korea (USFK), local foreign residents, and citizens of Pyeongtaek, with the goal of becoming a globally recognized city.
PIEF operates three main centers: the Paengseong International Community Center, Songtan International Community Center, and the Pyeongtaek English Education Center. These centers provide various services, such as language education, cultural programs, and support services for foreign residents. The foundation focuses on strengthening the ROK-US alliance through community-building events, cultural festivals, and educational programs that aim to integrate both locals and international residents. Additionally, PIEF facilitates programs to support foreign residents in Pyeongtaek by providing interpretation, legal and immigration counseling, and other resources to help them settle in Korea.
By organizing diverse programs, such as the Global Supporters and Global Citizenship Fostering initiatives, PIEF actively promotes cultural exchange and global citizenship among Pyeongtaek’s residents. The foundation also seeks to enhance the city’s global reach through collaborations with other cities worldwide and through public diplomacy initiatives, aiming to position Pyeongtaek as a leading international city in Korea.
The KimchiRednecks channel was created in September 2018 by Chuck Whittington and Melissa Edwards-Whittington. They moved to Korea in July 2017 with their three Shih Tzu daughters, Sookie, Minion, and Mayhem.
The YouTube channel started as a way to share their lives here with their friends and families back in the states. They both have a deep love for Korean culture, people, and food and love being able to share that with others.
Chuck Whittington graduated from Francis Marion University with a Bachelors in Information Systems Management. He has worked in Information Technology roles for over 20 years. Chuck has always had an interest in Korea and has traveled here many times in the past.
Melissa Edwards-Whittington graduated from Mid-Atlantic Christian University with a Bachelors in Bible and a Minor in Elementary Education. She has worked in various roles in customer service and marketing over the years.
The YouTube channel has many interests just like they do because it is an extension of their lives here in Korea. You will often find videos on their channel about daily life in Korea, cooking, foodie adventures, traveling and exploring, computer and tech pursuits, gaming, and working on the Subaru BRZ.
Over the years, many of their friends have joined them for their videos and adventures because they enjoy sharing their lives with those around them. In addition, they add new interests from time to time, like making moonshine in Korea.
Life is about growing and changing, and the longer the KimchiRednecks live in Korea, the more they learn to love this country and culture and all it has to offer.
Mike Brown retired from the Air Force, holds a Master’s in Business Administration, and is a co-founder of the Osan Craft Beer Club. Mr. Brown worked as a Korean language analyst and translator and currently lives with his family in South Korea.
As a leader of the Osan Craft Beer Club, Mike Brown brings together casual beer lovers and advanced craft connoisseurs to share knowledge of the craft beer industry in South Korea.
Additionally, he works with breweries, distributors, and the community to support and promote the growing craft beer scene across South Korea.
Founder of the Pyeongtaek Craft Beer Society, Mike Smith is currently studying for a Master Brewers Certificate while living and working in South Korea.
The Pyeongtaek Craft Beer Society fosters friends and a love for craft beers across South Korea. The group provides a welcome and inclusive space to learn about new beers, share beer stories, and generally geek out about all things brewing. Anyone is welcome to join their Facebook group to learn more about Korean craft Beer.
Practicum and Intern Students
Zahra Alsafi is pursuing a Master of Public Health degree at the University of Utah Asia Campus (UAC) in Incheon, South Korea. She earned a bachelor’s degree in Microbiology with a minor in Women and Gender Studies from the University of Michigan.
Ms. Alsafi was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan, USA to Iraqi refugee parents. Inspired by her community and international experiences, she hopes to pursue public health dentistry with a focus on preventative care for immigrant and refugee populations. She is particularly interested in disseminating educational information through accessible formats.
Ms. Alsafi’s public health practicum with South of Seoul Public Health will focus on dental health education for school-aged children and adults in South Korea.
Colton Johnson is a current student at the University of Utah, completing his Master’s in Public Health. He holds a Bachelor’s in Public Health as well, from Brigham Young University – Idaho.
Earlier in his graduate program, Mr. Johnson participated in a semester study abroad at the University of Utah Asia Campus (UAC) located in Incheon, South Korea. While studying in South Korea, he became interested in research focused on the mental health of international university communities.
Because Mr. Johnson developed a passion for supporting his fellow international university community, in January 2022, he applied for a Public Health Practicum with South of Seoul Public Health (SOS Public Health). Through his practicum with SOS Public Health, he has begun developing an initiative to increase access to mental health resources on Incheon Global Campus (IGC), a campus that houses five separate universities, including UAC. Mr. Johnson hopes to apply what he has learned from his practicum to his future career in Public Health.
Former Cultural Liaisons & Content Partners
Angela Alvis holds a Master’s in Education and Bachelor’s of Arts in Sociology. Ms. Alvis specializes in curriculum development and instructional design.
Angela Alvis has a depth and breadth of experience in education and early childhood that has taken her across the world to work in a variety of school settings, from rural programs to large urban districts, and everything from ECSE and DLL classrooms to childcare and university settings.
Prior to her work with South of Seoul, Ms. Alvis spent several years leading the wide-scale implementation of play-based learning and a formative assessment model with over 120 educators in five early childhood schools that served over 15,000 students in Washington D.C.
After transitioning back to the US, Ms. Alvis became the Associate Director of Strategic Initiatives at Tools of the Mind, she works on cross-departmental teams as the education and content expert. She is currently co-designing a multi-faceted teacher development model that integrates workshops, video coaching, and professional learning communities.
Olivia Bowman is a military spouse living in Pyeongtaek, South Korea. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Zoology with certificates in Global Health and Environmental Studies from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. In April 2023, she received her Master’s in Public Health with a concentration in Healthcare Organization and Policy.
With a background in healthcare, Ms. Bowman is passionate about increasing access to primary and preventative care, particularly for rural communities like the one she grew up in.
Through her practicum with the South of Seoul Public Health Program (SOS Public Health) in the fall of 2022, Ms. Bowman completed a Needs Assessment aimed at assessing and identifying the healthcare access needs of the international community residing in Korea.
Courtney moved to Korea in 2021 where she lives with her husband and two cats. When she’s not heading out on whatever new adventure has struck her fancy she runs the local chapter of the Society for Creative Anachronism.
When not living abroad Courtney lives and breathes her career as an academic librarian who focuses on cataloging, children’s and YA literature, and critical pedagogy. She has brought her focus on information organization and access to South of Seoul working on search engine optimization and backend cleanup.
LeaDan Yee holds a Master’s in Education with a focus in Secondary Education and Teaching – Language Arts and Bachelor’s in Psychology, with a minor in Speech.
As a Cultural Liaison and Content Creator at South of Seoul, Ms. Yee focuses on creating content for families interested in traveling and those with toddlers. She is especially interested in opportunities to share her Native Hawaiian background and empower others to be cultural ambassadors.
Prior to joining South of Seoul, LeaDan worked as a High School Speech Teacher and Adjunct Communications Professor. She specializes in Public Speaking, Argumentation and Debate, Team Management, and Event Planning.
Denise Feurer holds a Master’s of Science in Public Health and a Bachelor’s in Nursing. Ms. Feurer is a public health researcher and advisor living and working in South Korea. Mrs. Feurer founded the Maternal Health Initiative for the South of Seoul Public Health Program in 2021. Her first research project or SOS Public Health launched in 2022.
Prior to joining the South of Seoul Public Health Program, Ms. Feurer volunteered for the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine’s (LSHTM) award-winning endeavor, the “Rapid Data Project”, to code and organize worldwide Covid-19 policies for WHO decision makers, student ambassador program representative, and UK Model WHO Academy.
Chad Card holds a Master’s of Arts in Second Language teaching and a Master’s in Near and Middle Eastern Studies. He works for the Department of Defense (DODEA) as an ELA educator. Mr. Card travels extensively in South Korea and internationally. His passion includes studying languages, culture, and diversity.
Brian Rich holds a Master’s in Clinic Social work and a Bachelor’s in English Teaching. Mr. Rich is an experienced social work clinician who transitioned into education and works for the DODEA.
Together, Brian and Chad work as Cultural Liaisons and Content Creators developing travel itineraries focused on arts and culture across South Korea. Their love of learning, culture, and life is evident in all of their work.
