2022 - What’s Next

In the Spotlight – Seoul
Special Edition for the 50th Anniversary of Hashing in South Korea (1972-2022)
By Ed “Hazukashii” Howell
11 Jun 2022

Although Mother Hash is now coming up on 84 years old, and Father Hash is 60 . . . The greater world of hashing is also coming of age, with many clubs celebrating their 50th Anniversary of setting trails.

Expanding on my earlier writings on Hashing in South Korea, this enhanced article celebrates 50 years of the Seoul H3, and a bit more.  As you will read in the article, I had the pleasure of meeting the founder of the Seoul H3 earlier this year, and getting his story.  I also had the pleasure to meet and get the story of the founder for the second hash club in Seoul, which was the first Harriettes hash club in Korea.  Lots to read about, and you can see it all at https://www.gotothehash.net/history/ItS-Seoul.pdf

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As you will note if you read the article in the link above . . . is that I have met the founder, Ian Young, and he sent the following to me to relate to the all of you on the occasion of the 50th anniversary . . .

“For the Seoul Hash to have thrived for the last 50 years there obviously have been many others who successfully directed the Hash’s well organized chaos. These include my co-founders, Robbie Douglas and Tony Parry and another enthusiastic, and still active, early hasher Jim Whitely. While for the Seoul Hash it is 50 and counting. For the four of us it is 80 and counting. Wishing you all a great celebration. Have a down down for me.”

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To recap the trail for the 50th anniversary . . . it was a classic run around Namsan, with plenty of UP UP UP.  What has changed is, that the old trails we used to run (single track dirt trails, with rocks and roots) are now smoothly carpeted (yes, carpeted with woven rope matting) twin track trails.  The rest is neatly paved or covered with stairs . . . bottom line, the old “land of the not quite right” is now . . . quite right in all regards. 

As far as the boys in orange, they still have the same vigor as always, but the circle has changed.  Gone is the fire, by public decree.  What used to be an organized circle, where all were silent unless (putting your mug over your head) you requested to speak . . . is gone.  The circle was a solid mixture of private parties and outbursts of comments. 

No longer are you required to sing a song or tell a joke when it is your turn for a splash . . . and the sacred bedpan (maybe mostly due to COVID) was sparsely used, and when not in use . . . carelessly set on the ground where it was bumped into or tripped upon. 

I am not complaining by any means, but the old traditions have been lost.  I only say this, because the Seoul H3 circles have always been some of my favorites over my 38 years of hashing.  I have run with nearly 400 hash clubs around the world, and Seoul H3 has always been one of the most unique in all hashdom.     

But I understand that times change, people change . . . and hashing changes.  “As Hashers, we owe no allegiance to any Kings, Queens, Popes, potentates, or any other futhermucker, only to ourselves … TO THE HASH!”  RIP Shitonya, and the many other Seoul bruddas we have lost.Leia mais