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Park Ji-won

Korea Times Politics & City Reporter

Park Ji-won is a writer for The Korea Times who has been covering a wide range of topics from Korea’s culture to its politics. An avid journalism enthusiast to the core, Ji-won brings a thoughtful and unique perspective to every topic she covers. On weekends, you'll often find her contemplating life’s purpose on a yoga mat — with a cup of quality tea in hand. A native Korean speaker by birth and fluent in English through her work, she went to college in Japan and is learning Chinese and French — hoping to add Polish, Russian and Thai to the mix.

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Music

David Reiland appointed artistic director of Korean Symphony Orchestra

Belgian conductor David Reiland, the newly appointed artistic director of the Korean Symphony Orchestra (KSO) / Courtesy of KSO By Park Ji-wonThe Korean Symphony Orchestra (KSO) appointed Belgian conductor David Reiland as its seventh artistic director, replacing outgoing Chung Chi-yong and serving starting from January 2022 for the next three years, the orchestra said.Born in Belgium, the new director majored in conducting and composing at the Royal Academy of Music in Brussels, the Ecole Normale de Musique de Paris and the Mozarteum University in Salzburg, Austria. He served as associate conductor for the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment of London. Since 2018, he has been serving as music director of the Orchestre National de Metz and the Sinfonietta Lausanne while serving as principal guest conductor at the Munich Symphony Orchestra and leading the Dusseldorf Symphony Orchestra as a guest conductor with the title “Schumann Guest.”Reiland worked with the Kore

Nov 2, 2021By Park Ji-won
David Reiland appointed artistic director of Korean Symphony Orchestra
Foreign Affairs

'Symbol of citizen diplomacy' Dr. Billy Kim wins award

Dr. Billy Kim, left, the chairman of Far East Broadcasting Company Korea (FEBC-Korea), poses after winning the International Affairs Award given by the non-profit, the Seoul Forum, at the Far East Art Hall in Seoul, Friday. Courtesy of FEBC-KoreaBy Park Ji-wonDr. Billy Kim, the chairman of the Far East Broadcasting Company Korea (FEBC-Korea), received an annual diplomacy award in Seoul, Friday, for his role in enhancing Korea's image via cultural and aid activities in the United States and other countries.Kim, also known as Pastor Kim Jang-hwan, won the 13th YoungSan Diplomat Award, which the non-profit, the Seoul Forum for International Affairs, awards to a civilian or public official each year for their contribution to Korea's diplomatic interests.Last year, Choi Sung-jae, interpreter for director Bong Joon-ho during the campaign for the Oscar-winning film, "Parasite” and Kang Hyung-sik, head of the foreign ministry's international safety management bureau, also received the annual diplomacy award for their roles in boosting Korea's national image.FEBC-Korea said that the 87-

Nov 2, 2021By Park Ji-won
'Symbol of citizen diplomacy' Dr. Billy Kim wins award
Arts & Theater

State-run theater company launches online streaming platform

Kim Kwang-bo, artistic director of the National Theater Company of Korea (NTCK), and other participants at an opening event for the company's new streaming platform, Online Theater, watch a projected video at its Myeongdong Theater in Seoul, Monday. Courtesy of NTCKBy Park Ji-wonPoster for “Online Theater” by the National Theater Company of Korea (NTCK) / Courtesy of NTCKThe National Theater Company of Korea (NTCK) has opened a streaming service platform, Online Theater, to reach out to a broader audience including the disabled. Its artistic director said Monday that NTCK aims to mimic the U.K.'s National Theater Live, which broadcasts via satellite live performances of its productions to cinemas and arts centers around the world.The platform opened at 2:00 p.m. showcasing five plays performed between 2020 and 2021 including “Faust Ending,” “The Tragedy of X,” “The Orphan of Zhao: Seeds of Revenge” and “Scapin.” They all include subtitles, while some, such as “Scapin,” provide voice explanations for the blind and

Nov 1, 2021By Park Ji-won
State-run theater company launches online streaming platform
Arts & Theater

Korea's oldest combat techniques text to become national treasure

Pages from “Muyejebo,” Korea's oldest text of combat techniques published in 1598 / Courtesy of Cultural Heritage AdministrationPages from “Muyejebo,” Korea's oldest text of combat techniques published in 1598 / Courtesy of Cultural Heritage AdministrationBy Park Ji-wonKorea's oldest-known fighting arts manual, titled “Muyejebo,” published in 1598 to train soldiers of the 1392-1910 Joseon Kingdom in armed combat techniques, is among seven cultural heritage items to be newly added to the list of state-recognized treasures, the Cultural Heritage Administration (CHA) said Friday.The CHA said “Muyejebo” is a manual published by Hangyo of Hunryeondogam, Joseon's military training office, under King Seonjo's order following the 1592-98 Japanese invasions of Korea, as a training guide designed for Korea's warriors. The author describes six close-range combat skills and ways to make weapons, many of which were compiled from “Jixiao Xinshu” a military manual of the Chinese Ming Dynasty, with illustrations.It specifically shows how to

Oct 30, 2021By Park Ji-won
Korea's oldest combat techniques text to become national treasure
Music

Cellist Han Jae-min wins third prize at Geneva International Music Competition

Cellist Han Jae-min / Courtesy of Pie PlansBy Park Ji-wonCellist Han Jae-min, 15, has won third prize at the 75th Geneva International Music Competition, Switzerland, Thursday (CET). It was the first time for a Korean cellist to win an award in the competition in about 50 years, since cellist Chung Myung-wha won first prize in 1971, the Kumho Cultural Foundation said.Founded in 1939, the international competition has been held for musicians under the age of 29 for various instruments including cello, oboe, piano, flute, and voice. Also a string quartet category and a composers' category have been categories of the competition. This year, the competition for the categories of cello and oboe were held. The competition for the same category is held every four years. In addition to the third prize, Han was also awarded the special Rose-Marie Huguenin prize.Japanese cellist Michiaki Ueno, 25, and Canadian Bryan Cheng, 24, won the first and second prizes, respectively. Han played Elgar's “Cello Concerto in E minor, Op. 85,” accompanied by the Orchestre de la Suisse Romande, co

Oct 29, 2021By Park Ji-won
Cellist Han Jae-min wins third prize at Geneva International Music Competition
Trends

CHA defers construction companies' revision plan near UNESCO-designated tomb

Site for Geomdan New Town in Incheon / Korea Times fileBy Park Ji-wonThe Cultural Heritage Administration (CHA) rejected Thursday a revised plan offered by construction companies for what it called the “illegal” building of an apartment complex near Jangneung Royal Tomb, a UNESCO-listed site dating back to the 17th century in Gimpo, Gyeonggi Province, asking the firms to submit a better one.The CHA Heritage Committee said that it would “defer” a final decision on the plan. “The plan cannot guarantee the preservation of the historic and cultural value of the heritage site,” it said in a statement. “So, the administration decided to defer a decision and will form another committee to discuss the issue further.”A deferral is the third-lowest in a four-tier system that includes "approval," "partial approval," "defer" and "not approved.”The move came after the CHA found out in May that the three firms ― Daebang Construction, Daekwang Construction and Kumsung Baekjoe ― had not undertaken the preliminary procedures required to build a st

Oct 28, 2021By Park Ji-won
CHA defers construction companies' revision plan near UNESCO-designated tomb
Music

Pianist Paik Kun-woo fires back at MBC, in-laws over his actress wife

Pianist Paik Kun-woo speaks during a press conference held to refute allegations that he is mistreating his wife, actress Yun Jung-hee, at White Hall in Seoul, Thursday. YonhapPaik takes legal action, denying allegationsBy Park Ji-wonPianist Paik Kun-woo denied allegations that he and his daughter abandoned his wife, actress Yun Jung-hee, who is suffering from Alzheimer's disease, and that his daughter has failed to fulfill her duty as a guardian, claiming they are false accusations.He has taken legal action against his in-laws who made the allegations.“Yun forgets everything within a few minutes … It is not good for an Alzheimer's patient to change the living environment and it's best to live with family … You don't have to worry about (Yun's treatment). She is surrounded by a lot of good people next to her and they are always taking care of her with affection,” he said during a news conference on Thursday. “Please leave us alone so that we can go back to normal.” He went on to say that in addition to Paik's daughter, who visits Yun every day wh

Oct 28, 2021By Park Ji-won
Pianist Paik Kun-woo fires back at MBC, in-laws over his actress wife
Music

INTERVIEW Singer-songwriter Seori talks about Shang-Chi OST, her music

Seori / Courtesy of ATISPAUSBy Park Ji-wonThe list of artists who were featured on the 18-track soundtrack for Marvel Studios's "Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings," the first Asian hero-led movie in the action film series, came as a surprise to many Koreans as the album, produced by Sean Miyashiro and 88rising, included a lot of Korean musicians, such as DPR Ian, DPR Live, BIBI and Mark Tuan of GOD7.The biggest surprise was that singer-songwriter Seori, 24, who debuted last year, sang one of the main tracks, “Warriors,” for the film with Indonesian rapper Warren Hue. The duo was a good match partly because of Seori's charismatic but haunting and ethereal vocal style She recorded her singing in Korea, being remotely directed by 88rising, which is now in charge of promoting her in the U.S. and overseas.“The collaboration was something beyond my imagination. As a fan who has been loving the Marvel series, it means a lot to me. So I wanted to be a good part of the film with good music. I enjoyed the process and feel happy for being able to get closer to the film

Oct 27, 2021By Park Ji-won
[INTERVIEW] Singer-songwriter Seori talks about Shang-Chi OST, her music
Arts & Theater

Jeju shamanistic ritual to be designated as intangible cultural heritage

Jeju Keungut / Courtesy of Cultural Heritage AdministrationBy Park Ji-wonJeju's biggest shamanistic ritual for wellbeing will be designated as national intangible cultural heritage, according to the Cultural Heritage Administration (CHA).The CHA said it decided to designate heritage status for “Jeju Keungut,” (a big shamanic ritual performed on Jeju Island) after a month of review.The ritual has been passed down on Jeju Island for centuries. It is a full set of traditional rituals, or “gut,” covering a variety of traditional art forms, such as traditional music, dance and game as well as other local island culture. It is normally carried out by more than five people, including the simbang, or lead shaman, and continues for about seven to 14 days.Jeju Keungut / Courtesy of Cultural Heritage AdministrationThe CHA said that Jeju Keungut retains the original format of Korean shamanic rituals. It is valuable in that it preserves Jeju islanders' worldviews on the creation of the Earth, life and death in a shamanic narrative folk song, which includes Jeju's unique di

Oct 25, 2021By Park Ji-won
Jeju shamanistic ritual to be designated as intangible cultural heritage
Politics

Coex Artium to reopen with more seats

COEX Artium / Courtesy of InterparkBy Park Ji-wonThe COEX Artium, which was run by SM Entertainment as a concert hall from 2015 to 2020, will reopen in December with more seating available. Interpark Theater, an affiliate of online commerce company Interpark which will run COEX Artium for the next five years, said it will increase the number of seats to 1,004 from 774 and reopen the hall Dec. 10. Interpark Theater runs various theaters in Seoul, including Bluesquare and Fan Square.The hall has also been equipped with a new sound system and mechanisms to allow faster set changes.The first show marking its reopening will be the musical “Fan Letter” that will run from Dec. 10 to March 20 next year. The musical revolves around novelist Kim Hae-jin, aspiring writer Jung Sae-hun and another novelist named Hikaru during the 1930s when Korea was under Japanese occupation.

Oct 25, 2021By Park Ji-won
Coex Artium to reopen with more seats
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