Karaoke star is born

New Zealand Herald travel writer Jim Eagles describes a Korean karaoke as “dangerously addictive”. Eagles recently visited Jeju City on a business trip. When his work was done, his Korean host invited him as well as some other foreigners, to a “Singing Room.” Conscious of his ineptitude for singing, Eagles strongly yet peacefully resisted. But his host insisted. “You must try karaoke,” she said. “It is part of our culture. It is what we do when we go out. If you want to understand Korea, you have to try this.” Gradually things did liven up. And he also got to sing. “I took the mike, stared at the screen and started, ‘In the town where I was born …’ It wasn’t great but I didn’t think it was too awful either. Then the karaoke machine gave my score: 97, the highest of the night so far. Cue applause. I was a star.”