I had to write an article for our fledgling magazine here in Daejeon (Daejeon Access) because the content was a bit light and I was feeling guilty about Todd doing all the work.

Knox, the bartender at my local, came up to me holding the magazine one day and said "Why am I not in here?" not realizing that I was marginally involved.

Here is a picture not published with the article:

This is Mina and Knox. Mina was a bit miffed that she wasn't in the magazine that month but the other guys were.

Here is the photo that was published:

This is Jiwon, Knox, and Yeonho.

You can read the whole article here:

Follow up:

There are bartenders that make cheaper drinks and there are bartenders that make stronger drinks but if you want a good drink—a really nice, crafted cocktail—there are very few people to see. If you want one in the Dunsan area, you should go see Knox in the Dunsan Lucky Strike.
The Lucky Strike Bars (one in Dunsan, one by Lotte Department store, and the one in Gungdong) are well known for making quality cocktails and Knox, who has worked previously in the Gungdong bar and now in Dunsan, is the well-known Drink Jedi in Daejeon.
“Quality is #1.” said Sangwon, Knox’s personal Obi-won Kenobi. I’ve seen Knox finish a drink, get a taste, and then pour the whole thing down the drain and start over. That’s quality control. One time in Gungdong, a friend ordered a Midori sour and Knox started chopping a melon and then he muddled it.
“That’s a good melon sour.” said my friend.
Knox has been in the Dunsan Lucky Strike for about ten months now and is now getting to be a “must do” for many expats on Friday and Saturday nights.
The best part about serving so many expats is that he gets to experience a little bit from a variety of cultures, says Knox.
“I learn so many things in English, like the word ‘roadie’ is the American word for a cocktail to go.”
The worst part about dealing with expats he says are the people who seem to have forgotten that they are not in their home country.
“There are a few expats who expect things to be like they are at home. For example many people in America will order a daiquiri and expect a frozen strawberry drink, but here a daiquiri is the classic daiquiri made on the rocks with lime juice. People get upset when they get what they ordered but not what they expected. They should learn a bit about Korean culture, customs, and services.”
When asked about the difficulty of dealing with non-Korean speakers Knox shook it off saying
“They want drinks. How much Korean do you need? Hana do chusseyo?”
When asked “What cocktail do you make better than anybody else?” Knox replied
“Cosmopolitans.”
Knox is ably backed by Jiwon, Yeonho, and Mina. Jiwon is learning how to properly tend bar, Yeonho is a Kongju National University engineering student taking some time off, and Mina is a senior dance major at Chungnam University (she can really shake and bake!) Keumja, the former manager and expat favorite, has retired from the Lucky scene much to the chagrin of Lindsay Droz, a big fan of her martinis.
Next time you are out in Dunsan and you want a drink made by a Jedi who is strong in the Force, stop by Lucky and ask Knox to make you a Cosmo.
copyright 2008 Earl J. Noble and Daejeon Access