AROUND TOWN 2
.jpg?w=728)
Club Octagon
Nonhyeon
Near the New Hilltop Hotel in Nonhyeon, this club is notable for its stylish interior and elite clientele. The club offers a club stage, lounge bar and dining area to satisfy any night out after work or on the weekend. Near exit 4 of Hakdong Station on subway line 7. For more information, call (02) 516-8847.
Club Volume
Itaewon
Offering a space for specially-themed weekly events and energetic DJs, Club Volume is located in the Crown Hotel near Noksapyeong Station. Club Volume was listed by Time magazine among the "10 things to do in 24 hours in Seoul." For more information, call 1544-2635.
Once in a Blue Moon
Apgujeong
Once in a Blue Moon is one of the best-known and well-established jazz clubs in the city. It features live jazz sets from two different bands every night, usually starting at 7:30 p.m. It is located between the Hakdong intersection and Galleria department stores in the posh district of Apgujeong. For more information, call (02) 549-5490 or visit
Club Answer
Cheongdam
Club Answer, chosen as one of the five hottest clubs in Seoul by CNN, provides a spacious interior and brilliant lighting system with entertaining DJs on stage nightly. Club Answer is in the classy area of Cheongdam, a district known to lead the party culture of Seoul. Located near exit 13 of Cheongdam Station on subway line 7. For more information, call (02) 514-4311 or visit
.
Club Double Eight
Sinsa
Opened in 2010, Club Double Eight takes clubbing to the heights. Located in Gangnam, it provides diverse hotel promotions and features weekend lineups with exuberant DJs. Located near exit 1 of Sinsa Station on subway line 3. For more information, call (02) 543-8803 or visit cafe.naver.com/doubleeight.
“Blind”
Gyeonggi Arts Center
Nov. 21
The Gyeonggi Arts Center will stage a production of “Blind,” a pansori drama, on Nov. 21. Simply put, pansori refers to an inherently Korean genre of musical storytelling wherein a drummer plays a barrel drum and the accompanying vocalist sings to the beat of the drum in a particular, wailing fashion. Of the five surviving stories of the Korean pansori lore, "Simcheongga" is widely considered to be the most tragic. In short, it tells the story of a daughter, Simcheongga, who spends her days caring lovingly for her blind father, Simbongsa. Simcheongga's filial piety is a running theme throughout this fable of woe, for it is ultimately through Simcheongga's devotion that her father miraculously regains his sight. “Blind” centers on the life story of Simbongsa, providing pansori devotees with an imagined backstory of Simbongsa's life prior to his daughter's fabled tale. Tickets cost 30,000 won. For more information, call (031) 289-6424 or visit
‘Choi Jong-tae Retrospective'
National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Gwacheon
Through Nov. 29
The National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art will hold a retrospective in honor of Korean sculptor Choi Jong-tae from Sept. 1 to Nov. 29 at its Gwacheon branch. Regarded as one of the most influential sculptors of Korean abstract art, Choi has held more than 20 exhibitions, both in Korea and internationally, since his first solo exhibit in 1964. In addition to his sculptures in wood, marble, and bronze, Choi is also a writer and painter, demonstrating his versatility as a veritable artiste. Tickets cost 2,000 won. For more information, call (02) 2188-6000 or visit
‘Korean Art: Spaces and Critical Moments'
Kimdaljin Art Museum
Through Oct. 24
The Kimdaljin Art Museum is currently holding an exhibition entitled “Korean Art: Spaces and Critical Moments’ through Oct. 24. / Courtesy of Kimdaljin Art Archives and Museum
The Kimdaljin Art Museum is currently holding an exhibition titled "Korean Art: Spaces and Critical Moments" through Oct. 24. While the typical art enthusiast and even the most enthusiastic art aficionado tend to focus on the artworks on display, one cannot deny the importance of the physical space in which such pieces are displayed. Indeed, physical space can often affect and make or break the viewer's experience. Thus, the current exhibition at the Kimdaljin Art Museum will chronicle the birth and development of Korean modern art by examining the development of the physical art museum space and layout itself. On display are blueprints, flyers, and posters that analyze Korean modern art from a unique approach. For more information, call (02) 730-6216 or visit daljinmuseum.com.
‘NK Project'
Seoul Museum of Art
Through Sept. 29
The Seoul Museum of Art is currently holding an exhibition entitled "NK Project" through Sept. 29 to coincide with the 70th anniversary of Korean independence from Japanese colonial rule. In conjunction with various agencies and organizations dedicated to the reunification of the two Koreas, the exhibition will display around 300 posters, photographs, and miscellaneous paraphernalia that embody a particular aspect of North Korean life. Admission is free. For more information, call (02) 2124-8938 or visit sema.seoul.go.kr.
‘Hwang Yong-yop: The Path of the Human Being'
Through Oct. 11
The National Musem of Modern and Contemporary Art is holding an exhibition entitled "Hwang Yong-yop: The Path of the Human Being" through Oct. 11 as part of its ongoing exhibition highlighting noteworthy Korean artists who have made a salient impact on the history and development of Korean art. Originally from the North, Hwang defected to South Korea in 1950 to become one of the most significant figures in Korean modern art. After graduating from art school, he embarked on his lifelong quest to nurture his distinctive style by questioning and studying the issue of humanity, independent of art, influenced by the political and social protests of his time. Yet by the 1960s, Hwang's use of overtly dark palettes and grotesquely distorted shapes that coincided with the turbulent political atmosphere of dictatorial rule in Korea suggests a certain predilection for championing his own beliefs, albeit more subtly than was in vogue. Tickets cost 2,000 won. For more information, call (02) 2188-6000 or visit
Ugo Rondinone
Kukje Gallery
The Kukje Gallery is currently holding an exhibition of Swiss born media artist Ugo Rondinone's work through Oct. 11. Rondinone, who first came to international attention in the 1990s, has since become one of the leading visual artists of his generation. From his use of ostentatious and vibrant use of colors to explore different forms and shapes in the construction of his pieces, Rondinone is unique. For more information, call (02) 3210-9885 or visit
“Slowly, Slowly”
Café Ra Gallery
Through Jan. 13, 2016
The Café Ra Gallery will be hosting an exhibition of photographer Park No-hae's work entitled "Slowly, Slowly" through Jan. 13, 2016. Much like the theme of Park's last exhibition, incidentally held at the same gallery, "Slowly, Slowly," which centers on India, is a study in contrasts. On one hand, India is considered by countless experts to be an emerging national economy as a BRICS state, with the government's emphatic investment and development in IT as a long-term asset that is even today boosting its place within the ranks of major economic powers. On the other hand, Indian society is still largely gripped by the potent hold of its antediluvian caste system, which bars social mobility of any kind. Even its geography serves attests to its diversity of values and outlook: surrounded by the arid winds of the Thar Desert in the northwest and enveloped by the snowy peaks of the Indian Himalayas towards the upper north. Instead of placing judgment on the customs and practices that may seem unsavory and therefore “uncivilized” to an outsider, however, Park serves to celebrate the differences and contradictions – national and cultural idiosyncrasies, if one will – that remain pervasive in Indian society. For more information, call (02) 379-1975 or visit blog.naver.com/racafe.
“Lee Quede: An Epic of Liberation”
National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Deoksugung
Through Nov. 1
The National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art holds a special retrospective of Korean artist Lee Quede's work at its Deoksugung branch through Nov. 1 to coincide with the 70th anniversary of Korea's liberation. Until recently, Lee Quede and his legacy were forgotten, deliberately omitted from the national narrative due to his alleged loyalty to the North. Fortunately, his good name and unparalleled importance in Korean art history have been restored in recent years, as Lee was in his time the foremost embodiment of the artist as a social activist. From 1937 to 1950, his most prolific years, Lee sought to incorporate Korean history and fundamental traditions into his work, thereby founding a new artistic form that emancipated itself from the debilitating effects of Japanese influence. The exhibition is divided into three sections, each dedicated to an integral time period that helped shape and further Lee's style and approach to art. Admission is free. For more information, call (02) 2188-6000 or visit www.mmca.go.kr.
Ansel Adams
Sejong Center for the Performing Arts*
Through Oct. 19
The Sejong Center for the Performing Arts is holding a photography exhibition of Ansel Adams's work through Oct. 19. Ansel Adams was an American photographer and environmentalist, whose black-and-white landscape photographs of the splendor of the American West, especially Yosemite National Park, have become symbolic images of the natural, uncultivated beauty of the Wild West. In addition, Adams helped found the San Francisco-based photography group, "Group f/64," whose members' modus operandi consisted of producing sharply focused images that infused clarity and depth into their photographs. Tickets cost 15,000 won for adults, 13,000 won for university students, and 10,000 won for students. For more information, call (070) 4288-5177 or visit
Fernando Botero
Seoul Arts Center
Through Oct. 4
Seoul Arts Center holds an exhibition of Fernando Botero’s work until Oct. 4. / Courtesy of Seoul Arts Center
An exhibition of Fernando Botero’s work will be featured at the Seoul Arts Center through Oct. 4. Fernando Botero is a Columbian artist and sculptor. He creates work with a novel interpretation of the human body with fullness and expresses a distinctive Latin sentiment. His last visit to Korea was in 2009 and drew 200,000 visitors. This year, with support from Hyundai Department Store, much of his work is on display. Tickets cost 13,000 won for adults, 10,000 won for teenagers, 8,000 won for children and 5,000 won for toddlers. For more information, call (02) 580-1300 or visit
“Playmobil Art”
Seongnam Arts Center*
The Seongnam Arts Center is holding an exhibition centered on Playmobil toys through Oct. 11. Familiar to millions of children around the world, Playmobil figurines first made their debut in 1975, and have come to rival other successful toy lines. The exhibition incorporates a myriad of artists from Korea, France, Italy, and Austria, who have worked classic paintings and photographs, running the gamut of Monet to the Beatles' famed Abbey Road snapshot, by using Playmobil toys to replace the subjects. Tickets cost 12,000 won for adults, 10,000 won for students, and 8,000 won for children. For more information, call (02) 3143-4360 or visit www.iqbox.co.kr.
“Bonjour, La France”
Seongnam Arts Center
The Seongnam Arts Center is currently hosting an exhibition on contemporary French art through Oct. 11. The exhibition is displaying approximately 50 to 60 pieces from 22 different artists, including Valerie Belin, Miguel Chevalier, Robert Combas, Bernard Frize and Lionel Sabatte. Tickets cost 8,000 won for adults and 5,000 won for students. For more information, call (031) 783-8000 or visit www.snart.or.kr.
“Brilliant Korea”
Through Nov. 3
An exhibition highlighting contemporary Korean society in commemoration of the 70th anniversary of Korean independence will be held at the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts from Aug. 15 to Nov. 3. The exhibition honors the works of nine photographers of different backgrounds and nationalities who have worked to capture their understanding of the essence of modern Korea during the past two years. Through their lenses, one is able to witness the visceral representation of the various, underlying meanings and nuances that entails being Korean in the modern era. The exhibition will be divided into four parts, each highlighting a particular aspect of the face of Korea — "Thousand Years," "Boundary," "Passion," and "Hero." Tickets cost 12,000 won. For more information, call (02) 333-7087 or visit www.magnumphotoskorea.com.
“Since 1970, Where, in What Form, Shall We Meet Again”
Whanki Museum
Through Nov. 4
The Whanki Museum is holding an exhibition titled “Since 1970, Where, in What Form, Shall We Meet Again” through Nov. 4. / Courtesy of Whanki Museum
The Whanki Museum is holding an exhibition titled "Since 1970, Where, in What Form, Shall We Meet Again" through Nov. 4. Kim Whan-ki, exalted as a pioneering abstract artist of Korea, was famous for mixing oriental concepts and ideals with abstraction. While his earlier work consisted mainly of semi-abstract paintings that still gave form to recognizable shapes and constructions, his later works dealt primarily in the artistic style of deep abstraction, namely lines, spaces, and diverse hues and patterns. Centering on Kim's most celebrated work, "Where, in What Form, Shall We Meet Again," the exhibition seeks to encapsulate the spirit, direction, and countless forms of Korean art since the 1970s. Tickets cost 7,000 won for adults, and 5,000 won for students. For more information, call (02) 391-7701 or visit whankimuseum.org.
The Children's Museum
National Museum of Korea
Open Run
The Children's Museum run by the National Museum of Korea provides an opportunity for children to see the lifestyles of Koreans from the past. The museum also exhibits duplicate versions of Korea's national treasures, which visitors can touch. In the "hands-on" activity room, children can play traditional Korean musical instruments. Located near exit 2 of Ichon Station, subway line 4 and Jungang Line. Admission is free. For more information, visit www.museum.go.kr.
Gwacheon National Science Museum
Gwacheon, Gyeonggi Province
The museum has revamped its programs, highlighted by a wider variety of natural history items such as dinosaurs and also items on space technology. Located near exit 5 of Seoul Grand Park Station, subway line 4. Tickets cost 2,000 won for children and 4,000 won for adults. For more information, call (02) 3677-1500 or visit www.sciencecenter.go.kr.
KBO League
Friday, Sept. 11
KIA vs. DOOSAN
Jamsil at 6:30 p.m.
SK vs. HANHWA
Daejeon at 6:30 p.m.
SAMSUNG vs. LOTTE
Sajik at 6:30 p.m.
NEXEN vs. NC
Masan at 6:30 p.m.
LG vs. kt
Suwon at 6:30 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 12
Kt vs. DOOSAN
Jamsil at 5 p.m.
SAMSUNG vs. NEXEN
Mokdong at 5 p.m.
LG vs. KIA
Gwangju at 5 p.m.
HANHWA vs. LOTTE
Sajik at 5 p.m.
SK vs. NC
Masan at 5 p.m.
Sunday, Sept 13
Jamsil at 2 p.m.
Mokdong at 2 p.m.
Gwangju at 2 p.m.
Sajik at 2 p.m.
Masan at 2 p.m.
Gwacheon Seoul Race Track
The Gwacheon Seoul Race Track holds races from 10:30 a.m. to 5:10 p.m., every Saturday and Sunday. Get off at Seoul Racecourse Park Station, subway line 4, exit 3. For more information, call (02) 509-1114 or visit www.kra.co.kr.