Rapper Psy's free concert in Seoul excites home fans

Korean rapper Psy Oppa plans to show off the signature horse-riding dance he performs in his global hit song "Gangnam Style" at a free concert in the heart of Seoul late Thursday, organizers and officials said.

The concert, dubbed "Seoul Style," will begin at 10 p.m. at Seoul Plaza in front of Seoul City Hall, they said, forecasting at least 50,000 fans are expected to swarm to the plaza area.

Anticipating a crowd of that many or more, the Seoul Metropolitan Government has already announced measures to facilitate public transportation, including the extension of subway services, cordoning off roads leading to Seoul Plaza and detouring city buses.

The concert will be broadcast live online via the city's social channel "Live Seoul" and other social networking media such as YouTube, enabling fans worldwide to join the show, the city said.

"We will thoroughly prepare for the safety of citizens by setting security guidelines," the city said in a statement. "The concert is expected to be an opportunity for the city to communicate with global citizens about Korea's unique cultural contents via new media channels."

"Gangnam Style" became a global sensation just a few months after its debut, with its music video spawning a series of copycat videos and parodies on the Internet. The music video, highlighted by Psy's comic horse-riding dance moves, recently topped the 300 million view mark on Youtube.

On the Billboard chart released earlier in the day, Psy ranked second for the second consecutive week, according to Billboard.com.

Last week, he jumped to No. 1 on the British Official Singles Chart with his popular track. In a recent press conference, Psy said he would perform shirtless if his song climbs to the top of the Billboard chart. (Yonhap)

Hongdae losing indie charm

A coco bruni franchise coffee shop stands where a small restaurant operated for 25 years at Hongdae in Seoul. Soaring rental costs in the area around Hongik University are driving out small, independent store owners, bringing in conglomerate-owned chains.


Hongdae, the area around Seoul’s Hongik University, has long served as an incubator for indie bands and poor urban artists. Rumble Fish, Jaurim, Crying Nut, and other musicians performed there before they rose to stardom.

However, musicians are leaving what used to be a hub of freedom and underground music, as a plethora of commercial shops are quickly occupying the area.

Lee Young-jik, a 23-year-old keyboard player of indie band Peacock Green, said an obvious change is taking place in the cultural mecca of Seoul.



“Hongdae is still packed with crowds every weekend but now the place is building its reputation as a dance club district while less people visit the area to see indie bands’ performances,” Lee said. “I can sense the change, a bitter but apparent fact for many musicians.”

As the glory days of indie bands in Hongdae seems to be on a downward curve, many musicians who have lost their jobs are forced to leave to seek opportunities in other places.

With the area gaining international recognition, the rent has gone up to the point where many poor artists can no longer afford to live there just like the artists in SoHo had to leave the area after rents skyrocketed.



The lower Manhattan area used to be a place for artists but is now inhabited by luxury shops, leaving many of them priced out after building a reputation. Hongdae is experiencing the same fate with bigger franchises filling the artists’ empty spots.

“I still believe the Hongdae spirit is alive,” Lee said. “But if proper action is not taken at this point, I really do not know what this place is going to look like 10 or 20 years from now. But the evident fact is that change is happening and the place will continue to change.”



No longer underground

Shin Hyun-yo, an owner of a small bar Soul Underground located nearby exit 6 of Hongdae Station, is getting ready to close down.

He has been in the business for almost five years.

Enjoying the unique and special ambience of Hongdae that was created by young, unknown and penniless artists, Shin used to stroll down the streets of the area during his college years in the ‘90s.



That was the main reason he opened his own bar and offered a cozy stage for underground singers.

“I think I’m almost done with Hongdae,” Shin said. “It is no longer the place it used to be. Money changes everything. Small business owners like me have been leaving this place. Oh, no, more precisely, they are kicked out by big money and I’m sick of it,” he said.

He pointed out rents have surged around Hongdae due to an inrush of capital from conglomerates.

For the past decade, the place used to be popular among many artists, with relatively low rents.

Thanks to those distinctive features, young people visited in order to enjoy the atmosphere. But over time, the hippie-like area turned into one of the most lucrative business zones attracting business people.

“Many small business owners like me are struggling to keep my head above water. Running a store or bar with a small amount of capital is not a good idea. I’m going to leave because I can’t and won’t make good money but there is another reason behind my decision,” Shin said.

“I don’t think I can bear to watch this place continue to change. I need to get away.”

He was most disappointed last year, witnessing his neighbor who ran a restaurant for 25 years leaving because the owner of the building doubled the rent. His neighbor couldn’t afford it, so he had no choice but to move out in search of another cheaper place.

“Do you know what replaced the restaurant? A franchise coffee shop,” Shin said.

“There is no sense of morality or business ethics. I strongly believe the restaurant played a critical role in making the place popular over the last decades, but the landlord simply ignored the restaurant owner’s contribution. That’s just how money works,” Shin said in a tired voice.

But he promised himself that he will come back and re-start his bar and next time, he will name it not Underground but Wonderground.

“My name, Hyunyo means the state of shining very brightly. I want the meaning of my name to dwell in the bar,” he said.

Surviving until when?

Unplugged is one of the few places left in Hongdae where musicians can come and play. Located in an old building on a street lined with clothing stores, the owner runs a coffee shop on the fourth floor and offers a place for musicians to perform on the fifth.

“It’s not like we are going to pack up and leave right now but it doesn’t mean that we’re doing that well, either,” said 38-year-old owner Kang Jin-hyoung. “Unplugged is lucky. Because of its remote location _ being on the fourth and fifth floors of an old building with no elevator, it has been able to escape the jump in rental costs.”

According to Kang, over the years rents in the area have more than doubled, in some cases three or four times the original.

“The owners are not here to make big money. We give free opportunities to unknown artists to perform. But when the rent by far exceeds our modest earnings, we have no choice but to leave.”

So numerous small bar owners like him have left Hongdae and moved to the nearby Sangsu and Hapjeong areas which have relatively lower rents.

But even there, the vicious cycle continues, he said. When they first go to new areas, they are not yet commercially developed. But as they settle, the districts start developing along with them and rental costs rise, forcing them to leave yet again.

“Although it’s the owners that have blazed the trail in the new area, they do not receive anything in return and instead end up being kicked out.”

Kang said several owners like him had been gathering regularly to discuss ways to protect and promote the culture of newly born musicians. But even these gatherings have been fading away, as owners continue to leave Hongdae.

With franchise stores of conglomerates taking their places, Hongdae _ once a place where young, talented and ambitious musicians thrived _ has become a mere commercial district, said Kang.

He also recalled the time earlier this year when Richmont, a 30-year-old bakery in front of Hongik University closed down, unable to bear the exorbitant rent, only to be replaced by another coffee chain outlet.

“Hongdae no longer has the color it used to have. It is losing its distinctiveness due to capitalism. We now ask ourselves, what is Hongdae?”

Korean Air limits luggage

Passengers check in at a Korean Air counter at Incheon International Airport, Tuesday. Starting from Monday, the luggage system of Korean Air changed from the current weight system to the piece system where passengers are allowed a certain number of baggage and charged if there are more. / Yonhap


Korean Air has adopted a new baggage rule, allowing passengers a fixed number of luggage items and charging extra for additional pieces.

The airline has so far used the weight system under which it charges passengers based on weight without regulating the number of bags.

The present system allows 20 kilograms per bag regardless of the number of luggage items.

From Monday, however, passengers are allowed to carry only one bag of up to 23 kilograms. And the excess charges range from 70,000 to 130,000 won for the first additional piece of baggage and 100,000 to 200,000 won per item from the second one on for economy passengers depending on their destination.

This means the weight allowance has increased but passengers must bring only one piece of baggage with them excluding carry-on items.

The system for planes heading to the Americas, however, remains unchanged allowing two pieces of checked luggage at 23 kilograms each.

The system is bringing complaints that the company is favoring business and first class passengers as they are allow to check two or three bags in free.

The airline had initially planned to change the system from May 31 but due to opposition from tourism associations, delayed it until Sept. 30.

“Although there were reports that we were bombarded with complaints, there were fewer complaints than we expected,” said a Korean Air representative.

“We have made advance notices for four months that our baggage system will change and many of the passengers who fly often knew of the changes, as did tour agencies. There are not many people who take over one piece of luggage abroad for holidays and even if they do, they tend to follow the new rules.”

She also added that the new allowance is a global trend in the industry as it facilitates the transfer process if all airlines have the same system.

Meanwhile, the company has also become the target of criticism after a report went out during the weekend that it will no longer provide newspapers on flights. The airline has denied the claims.

“There was no discussion made on stopping the newspaper service. It is highly unlikely for it to be halted,” the Korean Air official said. 
 

Bikers to host charity event at Itaewon

Paul Bell poses with his Harley Davidson motorcycle. / Korea Times
 


A charity event for local organization "Home of Love" will take place at the Woodstock Bar in Itaewon on Oct. 6 beginning at 10 p.m.

The Home of Love has been in existence for over 48 years looking after handicapped and mentally disabled people.

The event was organized by Paul Bell, a member of the local chapter of the American Steel Motorcycle Club.

Bell expressed admiration for the work these organizations do and noted their struggle for funding.

“I also understand this is one live-in facility across Korea but key about it and I am sure with others is, most of what they have is by donations either by churches and others. The facility I am sponsoring is needing basic items like rice and canned food goods,” said Bell to The Korea Times.

“This is a charity event for the awareness of Koreans who have exceptional challenges and a facility that has helped care for, and provided love, patience, religious healing, and training which has led to full social integration and meaning for over 700 plus people.”

The Home of Love located at 450-12 Sinnea -Dong, Jungnang-gu, Seoul and is hidden away from the public eye.

“Public opinion is changing and the Korean government is doing more as far as awareness and support but has a long way to go. The Home of Love has continually operated against all odds and is in need of basic items such as wheel chairs, tools, and food.”

Paul has been in Korea since 1996 and sees the government need to address such issues.

“There is a lack of government outreach and disability access in many places in Seoul. There is still a stigma associated with these issues.”

The Woodstock Bar is on the main street in Itaewon opposite Dunkin Donuts. To get there leave Itaewon station exit 2 and walk about 200 yards. Woodstock is on the top floor on the left. 

Source: The Korea Times
 

‘Gangnam Style’ shakes up wealth hierarchy

It seems that the Internet’s most popular dance has shaken up the hierarchy of Korea’s super-rich. Entertainment mogul Yang Hyun-suk is galloping up the chart of the country’s wealthiest businessmen, according to latest financial figures.



 

 Signing Psy, now an international rap sensation thanks to the immensely popular song ‘Gangnam Style,’ has clearly been his best move ever as founder and head of YG Entertainment.

Yang’s shares in YG were valued at around 130 billion won (about $117 million) at the end of January, making him the country’s 130th richest person in stock holdings. The company’s share prices have increased by a staggering 162 percent since, owing to the release of ‘Gangnam Style’ and the outbreak of the invisible horse-riding epidemic.

As of the end of September, Yang’s shares in YG were valued at 340.2 billion won, pushing him way up to 49th on the stock wealth chart.

SM Entertainment’s Lee Sooman finished at 64th with 262.2 billion won worth of shares, according to Chaebul.com (www.chaebul.com), an analysis firm focused on big businesses.

While Yang’s rise on the wealth table in recent months has been nothing short of meteoric, there were little changes at the tippity top.

Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Kun-hee continues to be the country’s richest stock holder, with his shares valued near 11 trillion won (about $9.8 billion) as of September, representing a 2 trillion won increase over the past nine months. Stock prices of Samsung Electronics, the world’s largest maker of televisions, mobile phones and computer memory chips, has increased by nearly 25 percent since the start of the year.

Psy

Hyundai Motor Chairman Chung Mong-koo came in second with 7.3 trillion won worth of shares, which represented a 13 percent increase since the start of the year. His son Chung Eui-sun, vice chairman of the carmaker, came in third with 3.42 trillion won worth shares.

Amore Pacific Chairman Suh Kyung-bae came in fourth with 2.9 trillion worth of shares, followed by Chung Mong-joon, another Hyundai scion and controlling shareholder of Hyundai Heavy Industries, fifth with 1.9 trillion worth of shares.

Computer software mogul Ahn Cheol-soo, now an independent presidential candidate, was 79th on the list with 222 billion worth of shares in computer virus maker AhnLab.

 

Pedestrian Zone Planned for Central Seoul

The Seoul Metropolitan Government has designated a section of Sejong-ro as a pedestrian-only street, although cyclists will also be permitted.

All other vehicles, including public transportation, will be prohibited from using the 550-m strip between the Gwanghwamun three-way intersection in front of the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts and the Sejong-ro intersection on a trial basis beginning recently.

The city government selected Sejong-ro because it is close to a number of palaces and museums and is a main road connecting southern and northern downtown. Another reason is that there are many central government offices and business buildings located there.

100th edition of magazine 'Koreana' for Korean art, culture

The Korea Foundation said today that they had issued the 100th edition of its quarterly magazine about Korean culture and arts.

The autumn issue became the 100th edition for "Koreana," which has introduced diverse features on Korean culture and arts to global leaders since 1987, according to its publisher Korea Foundation, an independent organization affiliated with Seoul's Foreign Ministry.

The quarterly magazine is available in nine languages including English, Chinese, Japanese, French and Spanish, to be distributed to more than 10,000 institutions and colleges in 154 countries, according to the foundation.

"Koreana has proudly served as a window through which our readers can have a glimpse into the essence of Korea," foundation chief Kim Woo-sang said.

"We look forward to further satisfying the interests of our valued readers with the publication of another 100 editions over the next 25 years."

The milestone edition includes a series of feature stories about the country's efforts to secure and promote intangible cultural properties and its contribution to the preservation of the world's cultural heritage, according to the foundation. (Yonhap)