Saturday, June 30, 2012

2012 K-POP CONTEST : People of India can take part in New Delhi (Venue JNU Auditorium-I)


2012 K-POP CONTEST
Song & Dance
Winners will be invited to Korea!

Attend the program and collect your free T-shirt!



I.                   To Participate(* Non Koreans Only):
1.      Stage 1: Online
o Guidelines :
-          Reproduce the SONG AND/OR COVER DANCE CHOREOGRAPHY of your favorite Korean Pop artist
-          Post your User Created Content (UCC) of the song/cover dance on http://www.coverdance.org
o Deadline : Tuesday July 31st, 2012
o Selection : 10 teams will be shortlisted to participate in the semi-final

2.      Stage 2: Semi-final in New Delhi
 o Date: Saturday August 25th, 2012; 5pm
 o Venue: JNU Auditorium-I, New Delhi
o Prize for winners at the Semi-finals:

Gold Prize
o A round-trip ticket to Korea to participate at the Final, ‘Hallyu Dream Festival’
o LG laptop
Silver Prize
o Samsung Galaxy Note
Bronze Prize
o LG LCD TV
Participation Prize
Samsung mobile phone


3.      Stage 3: Final in Korea
(1) Hallyu Dream Festival
o Date : Friday September 21st, 2012
o Place : Gyeongju, Korea
     (2) K-Pop World Festival
o Date : Saturday October 27th, 2012(may change)
o Place : Changwon, Korea

II.                Contact:
-          Joohee Ahn: augustjha@yahoo.com / +91-11-4200-7071
-          Ye-Eun Kim: kye8898@nate.com

Vera Wang opens 1st Asia flagship in Seoul



Luxury bridal gown maker Vera Wang opened her first Asian flagship store in Seoul on Thursday.

Located in a posh part of southern Seoul, Cheongdam-dong, the brand’s four-story building is the designer’s third global flagship store to open following two located in the United States and the United Kingdom. Flagship stores in China and Japan are to follow in a bid to expand the business in emerging Asian markets.

“The Vera Wang group sees Korea as the most up-and-coming market in Asia for sure,” Jung Mi-ri, President of Vera Wang Bridal Korea said on Thursday.

Best known for sophisticated drama, feminine detailing and a modern approach to bridal design, the brand was first launched in Korea with a shop inside Lotte Avenuel in 2005.

This Seoul flagship store presents affordable luxury on the first floor such as the Vera Wang Lavender collection_ practical evening suits and cocktail dresses are on sale at reasonable prices. Its high-end “Luxe” line with private fitting rooms and a VIP lounge are situated on the second and third floor. As well as the Lavender Collection, accessories, fragrance, shoes and other items are set to hit the shelves in August.

“I am so happy that Vera Wang Bridal Korea can provide the finest dresses to all brides-to-be in Korea,” said Jung. “We are ready to offer the best customized service as always.”

American fashion designer Vera Wang, 63, is known for her wide clientele of couture bridesmaid gowns and wedding gown collections, worn by celebrities including Victoria Beckham, Mariah Carey, Jennifer Lopez and Sharon Stone. The former Vogue editor opened her own flagship salon in New York in 1990 and grafted her fashion philosophy, “Less is more” into her designs. The brand offers three different bridal lines_ OPP, simple designs with feminine details priced between 4 to 7 million won; Collection, trendy-conscious designs priced at 7 to 12 million won and Luxe, beautifully hand-crafted dresses with prices starting at 15 million won. The brand reflects Wang’s vision to create a lifestyle that goes beyond core bridal and ready-to-wear, and delves into fragrance, beauty, accessories, eyewear, and home decorations. The designer was honored with “Womenswear Designer of the Year” by the Council of Fashion Designers of America in 2005.

For more information, call (02)-545-1171.


Luxury bridal gown maker Vera Wang opened her first Asian flagship store in Seoul on Thursday.

Located in a posh part of southern Seoul, Cheongdam-dong, the brand’s four-story building is the designer’s third global flagship store to open following two located in the United States and the United Kingdom. Flagship stores in China and Japan are to follow in a bid to expand the business in emerging Asian markets.

“The Vera Wang group sees Korea as the most up-and-coming market in Asia for sure,” Jung Mi-ri, President of Vera Wang Bridal Korea said on Thursday.

Best known for sophisticated drama, feminine detailing and a modern approach to bridal design, the brand was first launched in Korea with a shop inside Lotte Avenuel in 2005.

This Seoul flagship store presents affordable luxury on the first floor such as the Vera Wang Lavender collection_ practical evening suits and cocktail dresses are on sale at reasonable prices. Its high-end “Luxe” line with private fitting rooms and a VIP lounge are situated on the second and third floor. As well as the Lavender Collection, accessories, fragrance, shoes and other items are set to hit the shelves in August.

“I am so happy that Vera Wang Bridal Korea can provide the finest dresses to all brides-to-be in Korea,” said Jung. “We are ready to offer the best customized service as always.”

American fashion designer Vera Wang, 63, is known for her wide clientele of couture bridesmaid gowns and wedding gown collections, worn by celebrities including Victoria Beckham, Mariah Carey, Jennifer Lopez and Sharon Stone. The former Vogue editor opened her own flagship salon in New York in 1990 and grafted her fashion philosophy, “Less is more” into her designs. The brand offers three different bridal lines_ OPP, simple designs with feminine details priced between 4 to 7 million won; Collection, trendy-conscious designs priced at 7 to 12 million won and Luxe, beautifully hand-crafted dresses with prices starting at 15 million won. The brand reflects Wang’s vision to create a lifestyle that goes beyond core bridal and ready-to-wear, and delves into fragrance, beauty, accessories, eyewear, and home decorations. The designer was honored with “Womenswear Designer of the Year” by the Council of Fashion Designers of America in 2005.

For more information, call (02)-545-1171.
Luxury bridal gown maker Vera Wang opened her first Asian flagship store in Seoul on Thursday.

Located in a posh part of southern Seoul, Cheongdam-dong, the brand’s four-story building is the designer’s third global flagship store to open following two located in the United States and the United Kingdom. Flagship stores in China and Japan are to follow in a bid to expand the business in emerging Asian markets.

“The Vera Wang group sees Korea as the most up-and-coming market in Asia for sure,” Jung Mi-ri, President of Vera Wang Bridal Korea said on Thursday.

Best known for sophisticated drama, feminine detailing and a modern approach to bridal design, the brand was first launched in Korea with a shop inside Lotte Avenuel in 2005.

This Seoul flagship store presents affordable luxury on the first floor such as the Vera Wang Lavender collection_ practical evening suits and cocktail dresses are on sale at reasonable prices. Its high-end “Luxe” line with private fitting rooms and a VIP lounge are situated on the second and third floor. As well as the Lavender Collection, accessories, fragrance, shoes and other items are set to hit the shelves in August.

“I am so happy that Vera Wang Bridal Korea can provide the finest dresses to all brides-to-be in Korea,” said Jung. “We are ready to offer the best customized service as always.”

American fashion designer Vera Wang, 63, is known for her wide clientele of couture bridesmaid gowns and wedding gown collections, worn by celebrities including Victoria Beckham, Mariah Carey, Jennifer Lopez and Sharon Stone. The former Vogue editor opened her own flagship salon in New York in 1990 and grafted her fashion philosophy, “Less is more” into her designs. The brand offers three different bridal lines_ OPP, simple designs with feminine details priced between 4 to 7 million won; Collection, trendy-conscious designs priced at 7 to 12 million won and Luxe, beautifully hand-crafted dresses with prices starting at 15 million won. The brand reflects Wang’s vision to create a lifestyle that goes beyond core bridal and ready-to-wear, and delves into fragrance, beauty, accessories, eyewear, and home decorations. The designer was honored with “Womenswear Designer of the Year” by the Council of Fashion Designers of America in 2005.

For more information, call (02)-545-1171.

Friday, June 29, 2012

International journalists learn from Korea’s development



Korea Times President-Publisher Park Moo-jong, seventh from left in the back row, poses with a delegation of senior journalists from around the world in the newsroom of the newspaper in Seoul, Wednesday. The journalists are visiting to learn about Korea’s development. / Korea Times photo by Kim Eun-ji

By Kim Young-jin

Korea’s fast rise from the chaos of 1950-53 Korean War to become an important global player continues to prompt interest from the international community, but the secret of success could boil down to a simple factor: people.

That journey was the topic du jour when 16 senior representatives of media outlets worldwide visited The Korea Times Wednesday as part of a visit to learn about the nation’s development hosted by The Korea Foundation.

Korea Times President-Publisher Park Moo-jong told the delegation that Koreans’ industriousness, willingness to work for the country and especially their ardor for education were keys to become Asia’s fourth-largest economy.

“Even though our parents suffered from war and poverty, their only goal was for their children to have a better education,” he said. “That zeal has resulted in plentiful human resources that have greatly contributed to building the country to what it is now.”

Alok Mehta, chief editor of Indian magazine National Duniya and head of the delegation, was struck by a sense of harmony among the people.

“Everyone is so amazing. People are enjoying life, without fighting, without much policing. I think that is what is driving the success,” he said.

The delegation also included journalists and editors from Ghana, East Timor, Dominican Republic, Rwanda, Malaysia, Bulgaria, Algeria, Ukraine, Egypt, Cote d’Ivoire, Tanzania, Papa New Guinea, Fiji and Spain.

From its export-oriented policies to its integration into the global market; its expertise in technology and its push for sustainable growth, developing nations are increasingly examining the Korean experience to foster similar growth. Seoul has sought to use that experience to act as a bridge between the developed and developing world, a role it showcased as host of the G20 summit in 2010.

The journalists were keen to learn more about hallyu, the “wave” of Korean popular culture as well as Seoul’s “green growth” drive to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and develop clean energy technology as growth engines.

Mehta said that with developing economies playing a bigger role on the global stage, it was time for countries such India, Korea and others to boost cooperation.

“Before, the priority was Europe and the United States. But I get the sense that now this is a real time for more countries to work together,” he said. “We should think more about working together for the future, including the media. Journalists are working for tomorrow, after all.”

Volunteer students help diplomats cross language, culture barriers

Lim You-nam, a third year student majoring in communications at Yonsei University, visits the U.S. Yongsan Army Garrison once every week to teach a diplomat's wife Korean.

The 22-year-old is participating for the second year in "Friends of Diplomats," an organization made up of university students from around Seoul to give one-on-one Korean language and culture classes to foreign diplomats. The group is part of the Gangnam Volunteer Center, which has been operating the program for five years.

Volunteers, who work as liaisons and hosts for foreign diplomats, are chosen from a pool of about 200 applicants and are paired with diplomats from 18 countries, including Kenya, Myanmar, El Salvador, France, Uzbekistan and Egypt.

After teaching the female ambassador from Uruguay for a year, Lim now teaches Evelyn Sullivan, a U.S. diplomat's spouse, in a two-hour session once a week.

"We started with consonants, vowels, festivals and culture," said Lim. "This year I am focusing on Korean culture."

Bae Jae-hyung, the program's coordinator, said he had been looking for long-term volunteer work that benefits society and found it in Friends of Diplomats. A university senior majoring in business administration, Bae worked with a Turkish diplomat in 2011.

"We aim at customized services and target foreigners," said Bae.

Friends of Diplomats has five teams in the organization: volunteering quality management, diplomat relationship management, media, human resources management and volunteer project planning. Each team has a leader who's selected by a group vote.

Besides teaching diplomats, Friends of Diplomats' volunteers also translate, work with different industries and companies, and run middle and high school camps. In 2011, volunteers attended the DMZ Festival and accompanied foreign teenagers to the truce village of Panmunjom. Friends of Diplomats also sent T-shirts to children in Sudan along with care packages, Bae said.

The selection process for volunteers includes essay writing and an interview. This year, 70 potential Korean teachers were interviewed in the winter.

Some of the sessions are about the very basics.

"We talked about the way that Koreans greet each other," Sullivan said. "I was told to bow instead of waving your hand."

She also learned that the way of exchanging money is also different in Korean culture. "It's the polite way to give something with both hands," Sullivan said. "It is graceful." Lim also explained to her that different gestures, like pointing, are considered rude.

Sullivan also uses textbooks to study Korean. "I organize my time and I do study in the mornings," she said. "In the evenings, I will review it. It isn't an easy language, but it is fun to learn this way." She feels as though she understands the Korean language better now.

Another Friends of Diplomats' volunteer is 22-year-old Kim Kay-oon who joined after hearing about the group from an acquaintance.
"My friend was in the organization," said Kim. "I chose a diplomat from Mexico."

Kim first met Rosalia Piceno Arrivillaga at her office in the Mexican Embassy. Arrivillaga is an attache in human rights affairs and has lived in Korea for nearly two years.

Arrivillaga tried taking a Korean class but found it inconvenient. She learned of Friends of Diplomats through her workmate. These days, Kim travels to Arrivillaga's office for their lessons. Arrivillaga is interested in learning more about Korean cuisine.

"This is a part of how we experience Korean society," said Arrivillaga. "The people are very well meaning and hard working."
Cultural exchanges such as this open up many other opportunities. Kim was chosen to volunteer at the Nuclear Security Summit through a Friends of Diplomats connection with the Indian Embassy.

Choi Jee-sung, the leader of the group's media team, meets weekly with her U.S. diplomat. Choi, a 21-year-old university student majoring in English education, said she feels rewarded when sharing the Korean language and culture with her diplomat family.
"I learn so many things from their unique experiences in Korea, and I sincerely feel that they come to occupy an important part of my life," Choi said.

"Friends of Diplomats provides me with a variety of voluntary experiences which I have never experienced," Choi said. "I hope to learn how to be more considerate and patient while doing voluntary works for people regardless of their background, gender and age."

Sullivan, Lim's student, has come to think of her teacher as family. "For me, she's like one of my nieces," she said.
"She's a very enthusiastic young girl," Sullivan said. "I'm open with her, and I'm not only interested in learning the language but the culture, too." (Yonhap)

Incheon Airport becomes ‘Cultureport’



Models wearing costumes of the king and queen of Joseon Kingdom (1392-1910) parade Monday through the airside duty-free area in Incheon International Airport. / Korea Times photos by Shim Hyun-chul

By Shim Hyun-chul

Waiting for boarding is no longer boring at Incheon International Airport. Instead of reading books or blankly staring at television screens, passengers can indulge in various cultural performances to be held over 5,000 times a year.

To break away from the stiff image, Incheon International Airport offers diverse cultural events ranging from classic to traditional Korean performances from June.

There is the Korea Traditional Cultural Experience Center at the airport where passengers can play Korean traditional instruments such as "gayageum" and "janggu," or try handicraft such as kite and fan making. The experience is free for foreigners.

Travellers can also try on "hanbok," or traditional Korean costume, and appreciate and purchase craftworks including famed Korean ceramics.

The airport also holds the "Walk of the Royal Family" parade, which reenacts a stroll by the king and queen of the Joseon Kingdom (1392-1910), at the passenger terminal.

Incheon International Airport is one of the leading travel hubs and has topped the Airport Service Quality conducted by Airports Council International for seven years in a row for its outstanding services.

For more information, visit www.airport.kr.




Tuesday, June 26, 2012

'Poongwallju'



Actor Yi Youll speaks during an interview with The Korea Times at a cafe in Daehangno, Seoul, Friday. He currently plays Yeol in a homegrown musical "Poongwallju" and Iemoto in the Japanese play "Kisaragi."
/ Courtesy of Lee Soo-jin



Actor Yi has got handsomeness, masculine face with fair skin and mischievous yet killer eyes. He plays Yeol, the first-rate male courtesan, in a new musical “Poongwallju,” which raised its curtain in May in Daehangno, Seoul’s small theater district.
 Yi’s Yeol has a sense of innocence like a little boy but he could be cold-blooded at the same time. This charm enthrall which made queen falls for him.

The title literally means the owner of the wind and moon, which comes from the title of the leader of Hwarang, a group of elite male youths in the Silla Kingdom (57 B.C.-935 A.D.). In this musical, they serve noblewomen in a fictional place called Unru.

Yeol is the most popular one among them and Queen Jinseong regularly seeks his company. He was satisfied with his life there as long as he could live with his friend Sadam. But his destiny takes an unexpected turn when the queen becomes pregnant with his child and wants him to be her prince consort. Though Jinseong is the 51st ruler of Silla Kingdom, the musical is totally fictional.

The musical, written by Jeong Min-a and composed by Park Ki-heon, began as a part of “CJ Creative Minds,” a program to support young creative minds sponsored by CJ Culture Foundation. It received rave reviews from audiences and CJ E&M picked it up and developed it further for commercial production.

Portraying the delicate relationships among Yeol, Sadam and the queen, Poongwallju is currently one of the hottest musicals in Daehangno and Yi joined the production in mid-June, alternating in the role of Yeol with Sung Doo-sup.



The 28-year-old actor said he chose to take a role in “Poongwallju” because he saw plenty of room for interpreting the character. “He could be soft and sweet or a bad boy and I chose the latter,” he said. “As I was put into the middle of the show, I wish to inject a breath of fresh air into it.”

Yeol and Sadam grew up together on the street and they are best friends. Since the script does not say much about their past, except for a song describing when they were begging on the street together, many possibilities are open for the actors to interpret and for the audience to imagine.

“If it were a big 150-minute musical with an intermission, it could have unraveled background information. Instead, ‘Poongwallju’ is full of implications,” Yi said.

Yi described Yeol’s relationship with Sadam as each other’s other self. “The overall atmosphere of the musical is dark, but I try to lighten the mood when Yeol and Sadam are together,” he said. “It could be either friendship or love, but he is more like an alter ego for me.”

When Yi talked about Queen Jinseong, his face hardened. “The queen was just a customer to Yeol, maybe a woman of rank, nothing more,” he said. “If a woman has a crush on me and I’m not interested in her, I would clearly tell her that I have no interest in her. If she continues to express her love, I would rather get tired of her. It’s the same with the queen. Her greed brought the ruin upon herself.”

In the musical, Queen Jinseong tells Sadam to leave Yeol and Sadam jumps to his death. However, instead of accepting the queen’s propose, Yeol also kills himself in front of the queen.

“There is no compassion for the queen, as she was just a part of business for Yeol,” he added.

He is also keen on details. For instance, the different attitude toward Sadam and the queen is revealed by his gestures. “I take Sadam by the hand and the queen by wrist,” he said. Such small points make Yeol’s character more solid, understandable.

Yi said he acts simply when Yeol confronts the queen after finding out about Sadam’s death. “He only knew that his happiness is gone because of the queen. That is why he is so desperate,” he said.

In the last scene, a white fabric covers the black world of the queen and Sadam sits on the throne. “I consider the scene as a recollection of memories with Sadam. They could have hung around, Sadam playing the role of the queen,” he said.

Yi debuted in 2007 as Nathan Leopold in “Thrill Me.” He starred in musicals “Finding Kim Jong-wook” as Kim Jong-wook and “Guys and Dolls” as Nathan. He also appeared in the movie “Pacemaker” (2012).

Currently, Yi is also starring in the Japanese play “Kisaragi,” which tells the tale of five fans of a C-list model Kisaragi Miki, and his character Iemoto is totally different from Yeol. “When I was rehearsing for Yeol in the day and performing Iemoto at night, I was confused at first and became stressed due to the clash of the characters. But then I realized that being onstage is the answer. When I act and unravel the character’s story onstage, I can pat myself on the back and get out of the character,” he said. “I love the sense of disappearing in the crowd on the subway or bus, after performing in a show.”

After five years of acting, he is still eager to find and develop fresh characters. “I like to take the roles which weren’t performed by other actors. That’s why I prefer premieres of homegrown musicals,” he said.

Yi’s earnest eyes twinkled while talking about his passion for acting. “The best thing about being an actor is that I can live other people’s lives on stage. I think it is worthwhile even if there is only one audience,” he said. “Acting is addictive.”

Directed by Lee Jae-joon, “Poongwallju” runs through July 29 at Culture Space NU in Daehangno. Kim Jae-bum and Shin Sung-min alternate the role of Sadam, while Gu Won-young and Choi Yu-ha play the queen. Other cast members include Kim Dae-jong, Won Jong-hwan, Shin Mi-yeon and Lim Jin-a.

For more information, follow them on Twitter @poongwallju or call 1588-0688.

Monday, June 25, 2012

Galaxy S3 Garners Top Consumer Reviews

Samsung Electronics' Galaxy S3 is garnering rave reviews from Europe and the U.S. The smartphone topped reviews by consumer groups in five European countries where it was launched on May 28, the company said Sunday.



The phone topped the evaluation of Que Choisir of France with the highest score among 99 models from 10 makers. It also ranked first in Italy's Altroconsumo ratings among 145 models. The Galaxy S3 has a competitive edge in all areas such as ease of Internet access, display quality, and touch-screen features, the press there said.

It was also the top-ranked phone by Spain's Organizacion de Consumidores y Usuarios, the Netherlands’ Consumentenbond and Belgium's Test Achats.

Apple's iPhone 4S, released eight months ago, came third or fourth in most of the ratings.

This is helping Samsung's market share. Its weekly share of the British smartphone market has exceeded 40 percent since the gadget's release there, and it has more than 60 percent market share in France, and over 50 percent in Italy and Germany.

Samsung began selling the Galaxy S3 in the U.S. last Thursday, and already mobile provider Sprint has run out of stock in its online shop and has asked for an additional supply. AT&T and Verizon also have difficulties securing enough of the smartphones due to growing demand.

Seoul's Global Village Centers Oases of Calm

Seoul's Seorae Village is often dubbed "Little France" for its high concentration of French expatriates. As many of them struggle to acclimatize to life in Korea, a help center was set up in June 2008 under the name "Global Village Center." There are now seven such centers in the capital.

The facility in Seorae Village helps about a dozen foreign residents in the neighborhood overcome problems they encounter living in the country -- be it setting up cable TV or paying for parking tickets -- while also offering Korean language and culture classes.

The first such center opened its doors in January 2008 in Yeonnam-dong, Mapo, and the most recent was established in Yeongdeungpo in September 2009. All run language classes and offer advice on everyday life in Seoul, offering services tailored to the specific needs of foreigners who live nearby.

Children show aprons on which they wrote their names in Korean during a class at Seorae Global Village Center in Seoul in May 2012. /courtesy of Seorae Global Village Center Children show aprons on which they wrote their names in Korean during a class at Seorae Global Village Center in Seoul in May 2012. /courtesy of Seorae Global Village Center
The center in Yeonnam is located near a high concentration of Chinese residents. It offers classes helping people prepare for the written part of their driving exam and gives lectures on how to adapt to life in Korea. The one in Yeoksam targets foreigners who come to Korea to do business and runs seminars related to finance and investment.

The one in Seorae Village offers classes on wine and European cuisine that are popular among foreigners in the vicinity, while the one in Itaewon gives more practical courses, such as how to use Korean smartphone apps.

The center in Ichon-dong, an area dubbed "Little Tokyo" for its large Japanese expat population, organizes lectures for housewives and children. The one in Yeongdeungdo caters mostly to ethnic Koreans from China and runs educational programs to help them with their job hunting. The one in Seongbuk focuses on cultural exchanges such as global cooking classes as a cluster of embassies are located there.

The number of people using the centers in Seoul has been steadily increasing from 78,442 in 2009 to 141,426 in 2011.

"We've received a lot of positive feedback about the centers' various programs and information on Korean language and culture that foreigners need in their everyday lives," said Kim Myung-joo at the Seoul Metropolitan Government. "We plan to set up more facilities to assist foreign residents in Seoul."

Source: The Chosun Ilbo

Sunday, June 24, 2012

Tips of the day :To keep away moths and bugs



 
To keep away moths and bugs, store clothes with tobacco powder.

K-Pop Pilgrims Flock to Guesthouses Near Hongik University

The area surrounding Hongik University is turning into a de facto lodging town for foreign tourists. Over 20 guesthouses have sprung up in Yeonnam-dong, Donggyo-dong and other local neighborhoods in recent years. Dormitory-style guesthouses with shared restrooms and shower facilities cost between W20,000 to W25,000 (US$1=W1,179) a night including breakfast. Recently, single-room lodging facilities have become more common, while guesthouses catering only to female tourists have also sprung up.

The rising popularity of such budget accommodations stems from the increasing number of backpackers coming from all over the world.

"Few young people go for short-term package tours these days, and an increasing number of them come by themselves on backpacking trips to Korea, so they tend to favor affordable guesthouses," said Kim Hyung-sun, who runs a guesthouse near Hongik University

The area around Hongik University, a college known for its leading arts department, is one of the most popular tourist attractions in the city. It offers a semi-bohemian network of coffee shops, eateries, flea markets, bars and clubs.

"The area has gained a reputation even overseas as being the mecca of Korea's indie culture and club scene, and these establishments are open all night on weekends, so young visitors are drawn to the area," Kim said. "I think Itaewon seems too expensive and outdated to them."


Visitors chat at a guesthouse near Hongik University in Seoul. Visitors chat at a guesthouse near Hongik University in Seoul.

K-pop and Korean TV dramas have also played a key role in developing interest in the area. "I booked a room near Hongik University to see how young Koreans enjoy the dancing and singing culture," said one 25-year-old tourist who claimed to be an avid fan of boy bands Big Bang and Super Junior.

Kim said that 30 percent of his guests are drawn by their interest in K-pop.  "When I turn on Korean pop music programs for them on the weekends, they all sit in front of the TV and dance and sing along," she added.

English teachers who work outside the capital also stream to the area. They travel to Seoul and book rooms there to spend the weekend enjoying the club scene among other forms of entertainment. Long-term visitors are also on the rise as more foreigners come to Korea for a few months to study the language, a trend that has led to an increase in the number of private Korean-language schools around Hongik.

Guesthouses near the university are becoming popular business opportunities for retirees, but those with language skills and Internet savvy have a clear advantage.

"You have to be able to speak English, and it's even better if you can speak Chinese as well," said Kim. "You should also be able to operate your own Internet site as you have to deal with foreign backpackers."

Source: The Chosun Ilbo

Good morning everyone



Lotus flower garden in Buyeo, South Chungcheong Province (South Korea)

Saturday, June 23, 2012

Indeed worth reading : 'Hallyu' graduate school to open


The Catholic University of Korea said Friday that it will open a graduate school program on hallyu, or
 Korean culture wave, this September.

The Hallyu Graduate School will offer two programs_ Hallyu Advanced Management Program and Hallyu Culture and Business Program which is a master’s degree MBA program. The school will recruit students until July 31.

The advanced management program will be for foreign ambassadors in Korea, diplomats, executive board members of global companies, and board members of Korean companies who are interested in the Korean wave.

The MBA program will offer a master’s degree program and a six-month research course, which is a non-degree program. Lectures will be conducted at Songeui Campus located in Banpo-dong, southern Seoul, in both English and Korean.

The curriculum includes studies on Korea’s entertainment, tourism, fashion and food. The school aims to become a global hub for education and research on hallyu.

For foreigners participating in the advanced management program, the school will provide culture experience programs to better understand the Korean wave. The school also plans to create a Korean wave education-research network in cyberspace to foster exchange with foreign countries.

Yoo Jin-ryong, former vice culture minister, will lead the graduate school as the first dean.

“We hope the graduate school will become a platform to conduct research on the Korean wave. The school will develop methodologies and research programs about the Korean wave. We believe the new dean will play a big role as he has worked actively in the culture industry,” a school official said.

“Our school will systematically research the Korean wave and maximize its potential through cooperation with companies and public organizations. We will secure competitiveness of the Korean wave in the international culture industry,” Yoo said in a press release.

For information on admission, call 02-2258-7723.




Recent books on the korean book world markets

3 grams
Shin Ji-sue; Mimesis: 178 pp., 12, 800 won

Illustrator Shin Ji-sue felt something strange was going on in her body when she noticed her stomach was sticking out as if pregnant. Her sense of foreboding was not wrong as she got a health check and she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. She was 27.

The book “3 grams” tracks her fight against cancer, from the moment she finds out and her initial treatments to surgery and recovery. Her story is not just tear-jerking but depicts life in a hospital in detail including even the mundane parts. She quarreled with another woman in the ward over the television and was surprised by an unexpected visitor to the hospital.

This graphic novel offers consolation, not pity, for those who are struggling against poor health and disease. The title refers to the average weight of an ovary, which is not even recognizable for most people, but weighed heavily on Shin’s life.

— KWON MEE-YOO



Admiral Nimitz: The Commander of the Pacific Ocean Theater

Brayton Harris; translated into Korean by Kim Hong-rae: Anbo Books; 528 pp., 25,000 won

Chester Nimitz (1885-1966) was a towering but lesser known U.S. hero of World War II.

Renowned military historian and retired Navy Captain Brayton Harris uses long-overlooked files and recently declassified documents to trace Nimitz’s life and achievements.

Harris met Nimitz, commander of all U.S. and Allied air, land, and sea forces in the Pacific Ocean during World War II, several times in the 1950s over lunch. The author remembers Nimitz as a “keen listener.”

Nimitz was greatly inspired by his grandfather, Charles Henry Nimitz, a former seaman in the German Merchant Marines. His grandfather told him: “The sea — like life itself — is a stern taskmaster. The best way to get along with either is to learn all you can, then do your best and don’t worry — especially about things over which you have no control.”

Harris portrays Nimitz as a brilliant strategist, who astounded his contemporaries by ¬ achieving military victories against insurmountable odds, outpacing more flamboyant luminaries like General Douglas MacArthur and Admiral “Bull” Halsey. And Nimitz was there to accept, on behalf of the U.S., the surrender of the Japanese aboard the battleship USS Missouri in August 1945.

This is a great book for those interested in learning about World War II and the career of one of the most effective combat commanders the United States has ever known.


— DO JE-HAE


The Great Stagnation

Tyler Cowen; translated into Korean by Son Kyung-hyung; Hanbit Biz Publishing: 159 pp., 12,000 won

This mini-book contains a concise, interesting analysis on the multi-decade stagnation of the U.S. economy.

The United States has been through the biggest financial crisis since the Great Depression, and unemployment remains stubbornly high. Median wages have risen only slowly since the 1970s.

The author maintains that factors that drove the U.S. economy in the past — free land, immigrant labor and powerful new technologies — have started to disappear over the last 40 years.

The professor of economics at George Mason University says that the way to overcome this is to focus on a new burst of innovation that will propel economic growth.

His key suggestions are promoting science and engineering in the United States by benchmarking India and China; improving education to put more focus on scientific learning; and raising the social status of scientists. In China or India, scientists and engineers are highly esteemed and occupy the highest offices in government.

— DO JE-HAE


Fashion Muse

Joel Kimbeck; Miraebook: 352 pp., 15,000 won

Who is the Korean “global nomad,” well known among fashion giants such as Tom Ford, Prada, Raf Simons, Calvin Klein and Dolce & Gabbana?

The answer is Joel Kimbeck, creative director and columnist based in Manhattan, New York.

His book “Fashion Muse” includes behind-the-scenes interviews with 30 international celebrities such as Kate Moss and Keira Knightley.

While most books in the same category focus on analyzing celebrity styles and giving readers advice on how to look similar, the advertising guru instead talks about the everyday clothes worn by the style icons.

Every story he tells will come as something new and refreshing and will even appeal to those who have no or very little interest in the world of fashion.



Illustrator Shin Ji-sue felt something strange was going on in her body when she noticed her stomach was sticking out as if pregnant. Her sense of foreboding was not wrong as she got a health check and she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. She was 27.

The book “3 grams” tracks her fight against cancer, from the moment she finds out and her initial treatments to surgery and recovery. Her story is not just tear-jerking but depicts life in a hospital in detail including even the mundane parts. She quarreled with another woman in the ward over the television and was surprised by an unexpected visitor to the hospital.

This graphic novel offers consolation, not pity, for those who are struggling against poor health and disease. The title refers to the average weight of an ovary, which is not even recognizable for most people, but weighed heavily on Shin’s life.

Saju reading : Your face reveals how you have lived

Face reading of two female politicians

By Janet Shin

There is a saying that “We are responsible for our face after our 40s.” The age of 40, according to the “Analects of Confucius,” is the state of being free of doubts. In other words, until we reach the age of 40, we undergo diverse experiences, which make us wiser and less likely to be misled by various delusions. Life gives us both pleasure and hardships, which bring us deeper knowledge of life. This kaleidoscope of life’s experiences is sculpted into one’s face.

The face, formed mainly by genetic factors such as the skeleton structure and environmental factors, consists of eyes, ears, a nose and a mouth. But we read more than this at ‘face value.’ The shape of a face, whether a part is protruding or not, wrinkles, fleshiness of the skin, complexion
 and most importantly, harmony, determine overall face impression. These are important for physiognomists, or face readers to read one’s destiny. A capable physiognomist should be able to `see’ a person’s spirit, behavior, thoughts and the way of life by just looking at the face because crucial factors form the face in a descriptive way.


Those who work in the fields of intelligence tend to have a wider and plump forehead. Likewise a good looking forehead is a barometer of one’s social status and reputation. Those who have a longer nose are conservative. Those who have protruding lips are quite often seen among the comedians or people who live by their lips. Ambition is portrayed by one’s cheekbones and ridge nose. Above all, certain energy emitting from the eyes is a primary cause dominating one’s fate along with the glow of the face color.

Then, is the face permanently shaped upon our birth? You know the answer that this is not the case. Our faces keep changing as we age. You may notice that the faces of the people in your life have changed in unexpected ways when you meet them again after a long interval. Sometimes their faces are still beaming and peaceful enough to cover aging. At other times, it goes the other way round. Resulting from various experiences in life, people’s faces are transformed by wrinkles or by distresses, and so on. Also many people get plastic surgery these days, altering the physical features of their face a lot.

I am often asked whether plastic surgery changes one’s destiny. It is the same question as if a cesarean alters one’s destiny when it’s read by saju. My answer is “yes” to both questions. They are, of course, not natural alterations. It may sound discrepant on a fatalistic standpoint. If one got plastic surgery, it was also part of one’s destiny. The thing is that, plastic surgery does not always turn one’s fate towards a good direction. It may make one pretty in appearance but outer beauty does not always accompany fortune. There is an inner beauty creating certain values in one’s destiny. In the same manner, a cesarean does not always take place on the scheduled date. Many pregnant couples in Korea try to fix an auspicious cesarean date for a better saju fortune for their babies. However this may turn out to be an inauspicious date, which is also the destiny of the baby.

Recently, two female politicians caught my attention with alterations to their faces. They were known to the public since their youth. One gained the people’s attention as she had attended the World Festival of Youth and Students in Pyongyang and met Kim Il-sung, the late former North Korean leader in 1989 and is now a lawmaker of the main opposition Democratic United Party. She lately went through mounting criticism for her reckless comments about North Korean defectors. The other is also a female politician who once served as a spokeswoman for the late ruling Grand National Party. Later on she instigated controversy by criticizing Park Geun-hye, a leading presidential candidate of current ruling Saenuri Party and incurred censure for plagiarizing another person’s writing in her best-selling book.

The pictures of both showed their youthful years to currently and were exposed through various press outlets. Their faces turned into those of middle-aged women. Coarse and disproportionable aspects are disclosed to tell their seemingly glorious but bumpy life paths.

Info: Are you interested in learning more about the ancient Chinese teaching about the “Four Pillars of Destiny”? For further information, visit Janet’s website at www.fourpillarskorea.com or call 010-5414-7461 or email janetshin@hotmail.com.

The writer is the president of the Heavenly Garden, a saju research center in Korea, and the author of “Learning Four Pillars”.

Conferences on Culture and Development

The culture ministry  jointly host a series of round table conferences on culture and development with the Korean National Commission for UNESCO, with the first scheduled  held in Seoul on Friday.

The first conference, at the Millennium Hilton Hotel, will address the role of cultural diversity for sustainable development.

Lee O-young, a former culture minister, will deliver the keynote speech, followed by presentations by three experts on the theme of "Cases of Regional Development via Utilization of Culture," then general discussion, they said.

The second and third conferences will be held on Sept. 21 and Dec. 7, also in Seoul.

The conferences are organized under a recommendation in the United Nations resolution on Culture and Development, which was adopted at the 66th U.N. General Assembly in 2011 to establish measures for sustainable development from a cultural perspective. The Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity adopted by UNESCO in 2001 also stipulates that culture is an essential element of sustainable development.

Wednesday, June 20, 2012

Pic of the day





Models give a makeup demonstration in Seoul , below basking under the sun on Tuesday to promote cosmetics not tested on animals.

Coastal Arboretum in Taean is showchasing for Nature Lovers

The Chollipo Arboretum represents one of the world's most beautiful collections of trees and plants, as evidenced by the fact that it has been recognized by the International Dendrology Society as one of the world's most distinguished arboretums. It is Asia's first and the world's 12th arboretum to be recognized by the body.

 
 
Korea's first private arboretum was also named among the 20 best tourist attractions in rural areas in 2010 by the Korea Rural Community Corporation. Its stretch of pine forest near a sandy beach is not unique among Korea's coastline, but this is the only place where a community of around 13,000 species of plants can be found.

 
 
About a two-hour drive from Seoul, it sits between Mallipo Beach and Chollipo Beach in Taean, South Chungcheong Province. After visitors buy their entry tickets, arrows on the ground lead them on a walking course that first takes them to an aquatic botanical garden. The expansive lake is filled with aquatic plants, ducks bobbing along on the water and, when the weather accommodates, sunlight reflecting off the surface.

 
 
At the end of the lake is a bust of the late Min Pyong-gal, who founded the arboretum. Born Carl Ferris Miller in Pennsylvania, the U.S., he became a naturalized Korean in 1979 after he first came here as a U.S. Navy officer in 1945. He bought the plot in 1962 and began planting trees and plants here in 1970.

Next to the statue, a former administration office now serves as an exhibition room for materials on Min's life. Nearby, a marsh greets visitors with endangered species of plants designated by the Environment Ministry.

 
 
The arboretum comprises 18 themed areas. Walking along trails in the woods, visitors can reach gardens of conifers, plants with patterned leaves, and camellias that are as large as human hands. Further along, the trails lead to a coastal walk and a pine forest which command beautiful views of the West Sea, accompanied by the gentle sounds of the waves lapping the shore.

 
 
It takes two to three hours to walk around the arboretum, which is also equipped with an ecological education center and guesthouses in the style of traditional Korean homes. Reservations are usually required for those who wish to stay at one of the guesthouses.

 
 
For those staying overnight, a guided tour is provided that serves as an opportunity to learn more about the arboretum's 13,000 species of flora. Guests can also collect clams and oysters in the mudflats at low tide, and take sunset walks to enjoy one of the most beautiful scenes the arboretum has to offer.

Meanwhile, a festival of lilies will take place near Mageompo Beach in Taean for 12 days from June today i,e 20th of June. For more information, call (041) 675-7881 or visit www.ffestival.co.kr.

2NE1 to flourish Korean Wave at Cannes Lions

Girl group 2NE1 will speak about hallyu in front of international advertising and communication experts at the prestigious Cannes Lions International Advertising Festival in June.

The four-member group have been invited as guest speakers at the seminar “Korean Wave Through Digital Wave” hosted by Cheil Communications, one of the country’s largest advertising companies, at the Cannes Festival.

2NE1. (YG Entertainment)

The group, best known for their unique music and fashion style, has contributed to promoting hallyu all over the world, Cheil Communications said. The company added that it chose 2NE1 also because the group’s agency YG Entertainment has been actively engaged in facilitating digital communications with K-pop fans abroad through Facebook and Twitter.

“As we are to attend the seminar on behalf of (all of) K-pop, we will explain the reason why many people around the world should pay attention to K-pop,” said 2NE1 in a statement.

“We want to perform as singers, not as speakers, next time in Cannes.”

Launched in 1953, Cannes Lions International Advertising Festival is a global event that attracts experts from advertising and communications industry around the world. The festival presents the Lions awards to different categories and also holds about 50 seminars for 7 days from June 17-23.

In a related development, 2NE1 was selected as the most favored K-pop girl group among French hallyu fans, a government poll said on Tuesday.

In an online survey of 3,755 French respondents conducted by the Paris office of the Korea Tourism Organization, 64.8 percent chose 2NE1 as their favorite K-pop girl group. Respondents were allowed to select multiple groups for each category.

Hangeul Romanization needs fixing


A road sign near Kyunghee University in Seoul spells the name of a nearby subway station as “Heogi,” honoring the government-enforced Romanization system. The spelling does not properly reflect the actual pronunciation of the word, a shortcoming cited by some Korea specialists on a new Romanization format adopted in 2000. / Korea Times file
Experts shun it, users confused, government sits on hands


The current Romanization system for Hangeul (Korean script) has been in use for more than 10 years, but people still find it confusing. Moreover, Hangeul experts shun it and prefer using an older system.

Although the government knows this, it refutes calls to fix the system, citing a variety of reasons.

Seoul has, so far, paid little or no attention to voices that criticize the scheme originally introduced by the culture ministry during Kim Dae-jung’s administration (1998-2003).

Despite governmental promotion of the Romanization system, the older McCune-Reischauer system, adopted at the beginning of the 20th century, still maintains its position as the preferred method of Romanizing Korean in some key areas of academia and publishing.

The Korea Times contacted several foreign experts on Korea about the issue. Most were still use the older system and are in favor of some form of revision.

“I do not use the new Romanization system at all, and prefer the old one — that is, McCune-Reischauer,” said Vladimir Tikhonov, a professor of Korean and East Asian Studies at the University of Oslo, Norway. “The new Romanization just does not work for foreigners, it only misleads them. Neither our university library nor any public library here in Norway which I know, uses the current governmental system,” Tikhonov said.

“I think that the best thing to do for the next government will be to acknowledge the mistake their predecessors made, and return to a simplified (without diacritics) version of McCune-Reischauer system.”

Some foreign scholars working in Korea share similar views.

“Like many foreigners, I do not like the new system for several reasons: 1) the use of “eo” for ㅓ is cumbersome; 2) initial g, d, b, j for ㄱ, ㄷ, ㅂ and ㅈ look bad; 3) the new system was forced on people undemocratically; and North Korea still uses a close variant of the old system (before the change in 2000, both Koreas used almost the same system),” said Robert Fouser, professor of the Department of Korean Language Education at Seoul National University.

“I use the new system when I write for publications in Korea, but the old system when I write for publications overseas. Publications usually specify the system, and most overseas require the old system,” he added.

He suggested the government revert to the old system, but asks specialists (Koreans and foreigners) to work together to solve the problem of the breve and the apostrophe.

The McCune-Reischauer preference can also be seen on the Internet. For example, many Youtube recordings of K-Pop hits display captions in older Romanized versions.

But the government’s position is that the transfer to the new system, albeit flawed, has taken root particularly in public institutions and as the standard text for road signs.

Recently, the National Institute of the Korean Language (NIKL) announced key policy goals for the next two years during a media briefing.

However, absent from the announcement, was how to address the remaining confusion over the Revised Romanization, particularly in light of the rising demand for Korean education outside the country triggered by the “hallyu” (Korean Wave) boom.

The hallyu boom has led to a surge of interest in learning Hangeul particularly in Japan, China and some Southeast Asian nations like Vietnam and Nepal.

One of NIKL’s core responsibilities is to oversee policies for Romanizing Korean, but the agency does not yet have solid data, i.e. surveys or studies, to access how widespread use of the new system is in key areas, including academia, media and the publishing industries here and abroad.

When the subject of the Romanization controversy emerged during the media briefing, the NIKL was unprepared to offer a clear direction ahead. Both the NIKL and the culture ministry are not looking to alter the current Romanization in the near future.

“We will keep our ears open to the opinions of those users of the Romanized Korean in various sectors of society,” said Min Hyun-sik, director general of the NIKL during the press conference in Insa-dong in downtown Seoul.

Such a lukewarm response resembles the one previously given by Culture Minister Choe Kwang-shik during a Korea Times interview last month.

“This is not just a matter of changing the Romanization system. Going back and forth on such major policies could hurt how Korea’s global stature,” Choe said. “If we were to revert to the old system, this would cause more confusion.”

The top cultural policymaker was apprehensive about the immense costs that could be incurred from a policy flip-flop on Romanization. More than $260 million was spent changing road signs across the nation following the introduction of the new system.

Source: The Korea Times
 

Jung Il Woo Receives Award on Behalf of ‘Sun and Moon’

Following The Sun and Moon′s recent nomination, Jung Il Woo has collected an award on behalf of drama in Shanghai.

The Shanghai TV Festival kicked off in Shanghai from June 11 through June 15.

At the festival, The Sun and the Moon was nominated for a Magnolia Award in the category of Best Foreign TV Series. Jung Il Woo, who was specially invited, attended the award ceremony on June 15.

On that night The Sun and the Moon ended up winning silver which Jung Il Woo went up to collect on behalf of the drama.




In his speech, Jung Il Woo said, “The Sun and the Moon received so much love in Korea but to see it also receive so much love in China and to receive such a great prize is an honor. I’m honored to receive this award as a representative for Korea and I want to express my gratitude to all our fans in China.”

Ahead of the awards ceremony, Jung Il Woo’s rising popularity in China was confirmed once more with hundreds of fans showing up at Shanghai’s Pudong Airport to catch a glimpse of the star.

Photo credit: Kim Byung Gwan

Source: Korea.net

Fusion of art and dance


Performers move on “Floor of the Forest" (2008) by Trisha Brown at “MOVE: Art and Dance since 1960s” at the National Museum of Contemporary Art, Korea in Gwacheon, Gyeonggi Province. / Courtesy of NMOCA


Two very different yet interesting exhibitions are going on at the National Museum of Contemporary Art, Korea (NMOCA) in Gwacheon, Gyeonggi Province. The museum has come up with an exhibition reviewing the work and life of a veteran Korean artist and the other exploring performance art. Though the idea of the two exhibits seems poles apart, they have one thing in common — they display artists’ challenging spirit and reflection on society.

MOVE

“MOVE: Art and Dance since 1960s,” held at the Circular Gallery and Gallery 1, is beyond the ordinary museum experience, where viewers just appreciate artworks from a distance. Instead, it invites spectators to become part of the exhibit and it is completed with their participation.

It was originally curated by the Hayward Gallery in London in 2010 and traveled to Haus der Kunst in Munich and Dusseldorf’s Kunstsammlung in 2011. The Korean exhibition is reinterpreted in a cultural context and several artists created new works.

Stephanie Rosenthal, chief curator of the Hayward Gallery, said the exhibition is about choreography, which doesn’t necessarily relate to dance, but more of designing movement. She also emphasized that viewers’ participation is pivotal in “MOVE.” “Audiences communicate with artists through engagement and participation. Visitors are participants and it is their responsibility as a part of it,” Rosenthal said.

Participating in “MOVE” might need some courage at first due to the solemn concept of an art museum, but this exhibit is completed when a visitor steps in and moves as directed. Pay attention to the people wandering around the gallery with casual attire in leggings or dance shoes as well, because they are performers who infuse life into the artworks.

Upon entering each gallery, visitors can tear off a piece of paper that works as a guide and makeshift mat. Visitors should also feel free to take La Ribot’s chairs around the gallery and sit on them.

Pablo Bronstein’s “Magnificent Triumphal Arch in Korean Colours” resembles a pagoda found at Buddhist temples in colors of “dancheong,” or traditional multi-colored paintwork. Eight times a day, a performer dances around the arch, as if courting the artwork.

Trisha Brown’s “Floor of the Forest” (1970/2012) brings daily routine movements into dance. Performers move on a clothesline-like installation and wear or take the clothes off the line. Visitors can also walk on “The Stream,” which is composed of pots and pans of various sizes installed outdoors.



William Forsythe’s “The Fact of Matter” (2009) might look like gymnastics equipment, but the artist focused on how the body burdens people hanging on rings. Joao Penalva’s “Road Solos,” which choreographs traffic controller’s hand signals, is a work created for the Korean exhibition.

At the center of the Circular Gallery, visitors can watch video clips from its archive of visual arts material regarding dance and movement.

The exhibition continues at Gallery 1 where more “movement” awaits. Visitors can play with hula hoops while watching Christian Jankowski’s “Roof Top Routine” (2008) or follow the directions of MadeIn Company’s cultural fitness exercise.

Lygia Clark’s “Penetration, ovulation, germination, expulsion” (1968) allows the spectator to discover their senses in a different way. The participant goes through darkened wooden boxes and a transparent vinyl sphere, sensing and experiencing the concept of penetration, ovulation, germination and expulsion.

A museum attendant narrating a description is part of Tino Sehgal’s “This is propaganda,” while Janine Antonie’s “Yours Truly” (2010) is a secret piece of work that only selected people can participate in “pas de deux” designed by Antonie. And don’t forget to check your pockets or bag before leaving the exhibition as you may find something unexpected.

“MOVE” is NMOCA’s effort to think outside the box about the museum’s future through encounters with other genres of art other than just painting.

Admission is 4,000 won. Some performances are held every day or happen all the time, while some are only available on weekends. The MOVE Weekend program “On the Spot,” featuring diverse performances based on Korean context, will be held every Friday and Saturday from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Ha Chong-hyun Retrospective

At the Main Hall and Gallery 2, a retrospective of Ha Chong-hyun, a key person in Korean contemporary art history, is being held.

The exhibit displays Ha’s works in chronological order, beginning from his earliest pieces in Art Informel Movement. Ha became interested in texture in the 1960s and works such as “Untitled B” (1965) reveal his attempt to explore various materials when examined closely. In his “Naissance” series drawn in the late ’60s, the artist experiments in geometric abstraction by weaving paper strips.

He was a member of the Korean Avant-Garde Association in the early ’70s and continued to experiment with new materials. He put wire entanglements on canvas and even put barbed wire around his artwork to protest against the political and social situation then.

His signature “Conjunction” series began in 1974, as a result of seeking a novel, unique way of expression. He pushed paint out from the back of hemp canvases, creating unmatched textures. The paint oozing out from behind is clearly visible in his early works. As time went by, he added more strokes.

In 2008, Ha put three of his “Conjunction” series on a large canvas and wrapped them with barbed-wire at “Conjunction 08-101” and embarked on “Post Conjunction” works.

“It was to remind me not to reduplicate the long-running ‘Conjunction’ series anymore,” Ha said during a press conference. “I didn’t use many colors in my art throughout my life and I thought I was missing color. That’s why I decided to plunge into the world of color.”

His recent works still have the signature paint coming from the back of the canvas but are filled with vibrant colors, raising hopes for the 77-year-old artist’s future.

Admission is 2,000 won or 5,000 won for a combined ticket with “MOVE.” Ha will give a talk on July 18 at 2 p.m. Both exhibits run through Aug. 12. For more information, visit www.moca.go.kr/engN or call (02) 2188-6114.

Sunday, June 17, 2012

Making Seoul Safer for Women

Making Seoul Safer for Women Lauded as Most Popular Policy

The Seoul Metropolitan Government recently announced the 10 most popular policies as chosen by local citizens from a list of 99 implemented by the current municipal government in line with people’s recommendations and requests.

A 10-day online survey aimed at gauging how satisfied people are with the city's projects attracted 27,946 citizens, with 708 posting their opinions.

The most popular policy was making the city safer for women by preempting crimes through careful urban design, such as by installing glass elevators in buildings, as well as mirrors in residential areas, parks, parking lots and on school premises.

Seoul City will announce its guidelines for more buildings and facilities to be built in line with the policy by the end of this year.

Wednesday, June 13, 2012

Little different from what we used to heard : 'Black Mary Poppins' presents dark nanny story


A scene from "Black Mary Poppins," a new homegrown musical inspired by the works of P. L. Travers. The show runs through July 29 at Art One Theater in the Daehangno district, central Seoul. / Courtesy of Asia Bridge Contents


Mary Poppins is everyone including my ideal nanny but a new South Korean homegrown musical “Black Mary Poppins” takes a different shade.

Inspired by Australian novelist P. L. Travers’ “Mary Poppins” series, the new production revolves around a nanny and four children she takes care of. British banker Mr. Banks is replaced by psychologist Grantschen Schwartz in Nazi Germany and the mischievous children become wounded spirits who have lost their memory due to trauma.

The musical begins with a shadow play in which a nanny manipulates the children. When the curtain goes up, a simple set is revealed with layers of frames in the background, a revolving stage and four chairs on each side of the stage.

A fire breaks out in Dr. Schwartz’s house and he is killed, leaving only his ashes. His four adopted children are saved by their nanny Mary Schmit, who is severely burnt, but lose their memories. A detective investigating the fire suspects Mary of arson. She then goes missing during the investigation, deepening his suspicion. The children are sent to different foster families and the case seems to be closed.

Some 12 years later, the eldest Hans, an alcoholic lawyer, receives a notebook from the detective, which originally belonged to his adoptive father Dr. Schwartz. When he reads it, he had to summon — and even kidnap — his adopted brothers and sister — painter Hans, music teacher Anna and the youngest Jonas suffering from a panic disorder.

The four siblings go back and forth between the present and future to revive their missing memories on “Silent Wednesday.” As secrets are uncovered layer by layer, they face the darker truth about the people they trusted.

Writer, director and composer Seo Youn-mi is a rising dramatist in Seoul’s small theater district Daehangno. She enjoyed success with her previous play “Push & Pull,” which imagined a love story between Princess Seonhwa and Seodong that crossed the borders of the Silla and Baekje Kingdoms in the 6th century. A former copywriter, Suh’s witty lines make the audiences double up with laughter, but “Black Mary Poppins” came from her darker side.

However, the music fails to resonate with the riveting story. Seo composed the songs but her lack of musical expertise falls short in the self-proclaimed psychological thriller. The melodies are monotonous and do not portray the delicate yet unstable mystery involving the four children and the truth beneath it.

The cast are young and talented, adding a raw, freshness to the show. Heartthrbos Jung Sang-yoon and Jang Hyun-duk play Hans, while Jeon Sung-woo and Kang Ha-neul portray Herman. All four of them starred in “Thrill Me,” one of the most popular musicals in Korea.

Lim Kang-hee of “Mozart!,” Song Sang-eun of “Spring Awakening” and Jung Woon-sun of “Organ in My Heart” alternate in the role of Anna. Actors Kim Dae-hyun and Yoon Na-moo play Jonas.

Veteran actresses Chu Jeong-hwa and Tae Guk-hee alternate as tender nanny Mary.

The show runs through July 29 at Art One Theater in Daehangno, central Seoul. Tickets cost 45,000 to 60,000 won. For more information, visit ticket.interpark.com/global or call (02) 548-0597.

Louvre 'Myths and Legends' comes to Korea



The Louvre, the museum located at the heart of Paris, has one of the world's largest collections of art and artifacts and has no rivals in the number of visitors. Hangaram Art Museum of Seoul Arts Center, at the southern tip of the Korean capital, opened Tuesday an exhibition showcasing selected works from the French institution under the theme "Myths and Legends." It runs through Sept. 30. / Courtesy of GNC Media
By Rachel Lee

A collection from the Louvre, one of the world’s grandest museums, titled “2012 Exposition du Musee du Louvre,” opened at the Hangaram Art Museum of Seoul Arts Center on Tuesday. It features about 110 selected works from the famed Paris museum under the theme “Myths and Legends.”

It is the second exhibition by the Louvre to be held in Korea, after the first in 2006 themed “Landscapes” had attracted some 600,000 people.

This year’s show has five parts divided by subject — the time of confusion and the birth of the Olympus; the Olympian gods; the love of gods; the heroes in Roman mythology; and the lasting stories of classical mythology. Each group presents its own paintings, ceramics, sculptures and artifacts.



All pieces displayed were specifically selected by three experts from the Louvre. The works on display features familiar Olympian gods and goddesses such as Zeus, Hera, Poseidon, Hermes, Athena and Apollo.

One of the highlights is the marble “Cupid and Psyche” by Italian Antonio Canova (1757-1822) from the 18th century. The sculpture, considered one of his best works, beautifully depicts the undying love of a couple.

Another is “Daphnis and Chloe,” by distinguished French painter Francois Gerard (1770-1837), which portrays a girl sleeping peacefully with her head on a boy’s knees. The image comes from the pastoral and rhetorical tale of “Daphnis and Chloe” written in an elegant but affected style by Greek writer Longus in the 2nd century.



Also on display is “Pygmalion and Galatea” by French painter Anne-Louis Girodet (1767-1824), which tells of Pygmalion who falls in love with a sculpture he created. The work depicts a scene of the King staring at the sculpture. The painter was known as a pioneer of 18th century Romanticism.

Other pieces include “Dead Adonis” by Laurent de La Hyre (1606-1656) and Charles-Andre van Loo’s (1705-1765) painting “Saint George Hunting the Dragon.”

Big fans of Greek mythology-based movies will find artwork related to the recently released film “Wrath of the Titans,” the prequel of the “Clash of the Titans” series and “Troy,” starring Brad Pitt as the Greek hero Achilles.

The exhibition runs through Sept. 30. Admission is 12,000 won for adults, 10,000 won for high school and middle school students and 8,000 for elementary school students. The museum is open from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. on weekdays and 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on weekends and bank holidays. It is closed on the last Monday of each month. Docent-led tours are available in Korean whereas audio guides also include English. For more information, call (02) 325-1077 or visit www.louvre2012.co.kr.

Source: The Korea Times