The 2001 Monolithic space heaters

Korea is a country that can barely keep up with itself. This compliment is one way to describe the fast change this country has undergone in the last 60 years. Remember, parts of this beautiful land was blown up in the Korean War, held back by the Japanese suppression and withstood hundreds of years of “divine” ruling by war lords and kings. This under developed country became a “fighting tiger” and it shows even today.

A fun example is the (2001 A Space Odyssey theme plays) monolithic space heaters. See above picture. These few hundred pound beasts belch out heat of up to 300 degrees in a 180 degree angle using fuel stored in its belly. They are a major facet of keeping this homie warm throughout the day in the cold and dark basement of work for the next 12 months. They are located in every restaurant unless they have the traditional floor heating; pipes that pump hot water in the floor.

In the film I referenced above, the black monolith appears at significant points in human development. When we learned to make fire, the monolith was there. When we learned to fight and be aggressive, the monolith was there. When a new planet was born, yes, bright and cogent blog reader, I hope you’re catching on: the monolith was there. In Korea, you are never far from the monolith too. Their warm bodies welcoming you in from the cold. They belch in your face--like my 5 year old lunch class kids--warm air that feels good. As you can tell, heating was not on the list of Korean items to add when building up the last 60 years. Floor heating is installed in all residential units but central air and heating was not in commercial buildings. That’s where the monoliths come in.

They were added after buildings were assembled, electrical laid and cold water plumbing founded. The monoliths were there. I guess they wanted to maintain some sort of monolith monarchy. Heating by divine rule, perhaps? Teaching us that heat is the only element of the universe and we as mere humans, nothing by flotsam on its shores? Was the monolith saying to us: we are not allowing central air and heat, so you must install us everywhere? Maybe. Is the monolith a controlling force or agent in our lives?

I will tell you that the monolith was there last night when I ate mon-du for dinner. It stood guard in one of the walls, the size of a door frame, its green digital light on, compressors running quietly. They are our big brothers. Watching over us, keeping us warm in the winter and cool in the summer. They are the yin and yang, the hot and cold of Korea. Look for them in a store near you!