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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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Arts & Theater

Korean National Ballet to present Balanchine's 'Jewels'

Members of the Korean National Ballet rehearse “Jewels” choreographed by George Balanchine in this undated photo. Courtesy of Korean National BalletBy Park Ji-wonPoster for the ballet “Jewels” / Courtesy of Korean National BalletThe Korean National Ballet (KNB) will showcase the full-length George Balanchine's “Jewels” for the first time in Korea. The KNB led by artistic director Kang Sue-jin will premiere the ballet choreographed by legendary choreographer and dancer Balanchine at the Seoul Arts Center from Oct. 20 to 24.The work consists of three acts with three different composers to express each jewel; Emeralds, or the first stage, is set to the music of Gabriel Faure; Rubies, or the second stage, to the music of Stravinsky; and Diamonds, or the third stage, to music by Tchaikovsky. The choreographer came up with the dance performance inspired by the artistry of jewelry designer Claude Arpels.It is the dancing of divertissement, which is a show of dancers' skill in a performance without advancing any plot or character development.“Of cour

Oct 8, 2021By Park Ji-won
Korean National Ballet to present Balanchine's 'Jewels'
Music

Vienna Philharmonic likely to perform in Seoul

Poster for the concert by the Vienna Philharmonic conducted by Riccardo Muti / Courtesy of Sejong Center for the Performing ArtsBy Park Ji-wonThe Vienna Philharmonic, one of the world's most prestigious orchestras, could perform in Korea next month, becoming the first foreign orchestra with more than 100 members to hold concerts in Korea since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.The Sejong Center for the Performing Arts said Tuesday that the health authorities here are considering giving the 120-member company a quarantine exemption for a six-day visit. Anyone who entering Korea is obliged to undergo a two-week quarantine, but if the visit is for “important business purposes,” academic interest or humanitarian reasons, the government has been lifting the mandatory quarantine after reviewing applications.The center said the orchestra has made its application and is awaiting a government review for the exemption.There is a chance for the art troupe could be exempted as a number of conductors or musicians have visited Korea over the past few months without quarantine requi

Oct 6, 2021By Park Ji-won
Vienna Philharmonic likely to perform in Seoul
Arts & Theater

First commercial theatrical work of Korea reborn as immersive show

A group of actors perform during a showcase of “Sochundaeyuhui: 100-year-old Clown” at the National Jeongdong Theater, Seoul, Tuesday. Courtesy of National Jeongdong TheaterBy Park Ji-wonThe National Jeongdong Theater has been at center of the establishment of public theater in Korea's modern history. Marking the 40th anniversary of the enthronement of the self-proclaimed Emperor Gojong, his Korean Empire founded Hyopyulsa, the first modern indoor theater, near Gwanghwamun, central Seoul in 1902, where they formed a group of legendary singers and musicians who performed pansori and traditional shows. After it was closed in 1906, it opened again with a new name, Wongaksa, in 1908 where Changgeuk, Korean traditional operatic performances, were presented to audiences.But amid the growing influence of then Imperial Japan, which annexed Korea in 1910, it was closed again in November 1909 and destroyed by a fire in 1914.Aiming to continue the legacy of the two theaters, the National Jeongdong Theater was opened in 1995. Since its opening, the theater has been presenting various

Oct 6, 2021By Park Ji-won
First commercial theatrical work of Korea reborn as immersive show
Arts & Theater

Universal Ballet to present 'Giselle' in October

A scene from the ballet “Gieselle” / Courtesy of Universal Ballet By Park Ji-wonThe Universal Ballet Company will present its performance of “Giselle” at the Seoul Arts Center from Oct. 29 to 31. The work was performed online last year due to the pandemic. The classic ballet that was first performed in 1841 with music composed by Adolphe Adam is one of the works the ballet company has been widely known for since “Giselle's” first performance in Korea in 1985.The story revolves around a young and innocent peasant girl named Giselle. She falls in love with Count Albrecht, a philandering noble in disguise. After learning that Albrecht is already engaged and has betrayed her, Giselle dies of heartbreak, but pursues her eternal love as part of the Wilis sisterhood, the ghostly spirits of young women who died following betrayals by their lovers and thus seeking revenge.With this performance, the Korean company made its first European debut in 1999, performing the work in

Oct 5, 2021By Park Ji-won
Universal Ballet to present 'Giselle' in October
Arts & Theater

Odaesan Mountain Culture Festival to give sneak peek at Buddhism-inspired musical

Ven. Jeong Nyum, center, head monk of Woljeongsa Temple, and Kolleen Park, right, director of the musical, pose during a recent press conference held at the headquarters of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism, Seoul. YonhapBy Park Ji-wonAudiences will be able to see a part of the musical, “Lepaka Muryang,” inspired by Buddhism during the 18th Odaesan Mountain Culture Festival, an annual event held by the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism to promote Korean Buddhist culture at Woljeongsa Temple in Pyeongchang, Gangwon Province from Oct. 8 to 10. The temple is one of Korea's five biggest temples and a cultural relic built during the Silla Dynasty (57 B.C.-A.D. 935), making it over 1,000 years old.The musical revolves around a stonecutter and the queen of a Buddhist country who wishes to build a stone pagoda. Queen Hyeryu, who seized power in an early age, decides to build the pagoda to help build her political power.“'Lepaka' means 'stonecutter' in Sanskrit … The musical centers around the journey of Muryang, a young stonecutter who has an attachment to stone while

Oct 5, 2021By Park Ji-won
Odaesan Mountain Culture Festival to give sneak peek at Buddhism-inspired musical
Arts & Theater

INTERVIEW 'Hadestown' director hopes for Seoul run to show solidarity amid pandemic

A scene from the musical “Hadestown” / Courtesy of S&CoBy Park Ji-wonThe musical “Hadestown,” the winner of eight 2019 Tony Awards including Best New Musical and the 2020 Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album, hit the stage in Korea for the first time outside of Broadway last month and will be run at LG Arts Center through Feb. 27 next year.The sung-through Broadway musical, written by singer-songwriter Anais Mitchell and directed by Rachel Chavkin, draws on the Greek myth of “Orpheus and Eurydice” ― and also “Hades and Persephone” ― revolving around a young couple: Orpheus, a musical genius, and his wife Eurydice. The author adds a modern interpretation and gives voice to female characters, who have remained submissive in the mythical story, by depicting Eurydice as a proactive woman who chose to die and work in the underworld to overcome financial difficulties, while introducing key concepts of the myth such as Orpheus being unable to look back at Eurydice while leaving the underworld.Needless to say, the show is full of qua

Oct 5, 2021By Park Ji-won
[INTERVIEW] 'Hadestown' director hopes for Seoul run to show solidarity amid pandemic
Arts & Theater

Korea Day event held to promote intercultural exchanges in Seoul

Diana Park, center in the first row, head of the World Culture Association, and participants pose during the 2021 Korea Day Festival & Celebration event held at the Grand InterContinental Seoul, Sunday. Courtesy of World Culture AssociationBy Park Ji-wonThe 2021 Korea Day Festival & Celebration event, a cultural festival aimed to promote Korean culture and create opportunities for gatherings between the 85 million people on the Korean Peninsula and 7.5 million in other countries, was held in Seoul on Oct. 3 marking the National Foundation Day which fell on the same day.About 300 people, including some 60 foreign embassies officials and other people from various countries, gathered for the event at the Grand InterContinental Seoul which was organized by the World Culture Association led by Diana Park. It was also livestreamed on YouTube.Under the slogan “Korea Day and intercultural exchange” this year, an international seminar was held on the sidelines of the event, where participants shared opinions about promoting international networks across cultures.The event

Oct 4, 2021By Park Ji-won
Korea Day event held to promote intercultural exchanges in Seoul
Trends

2022 Spring-summer Seoul Fashion Week to be held online

The poster for Seoul Fashion Week / Courtesy of Seoul Fashion WeekBy Park Ji-wonThe 2022 spring-summer Seoul Fashion Week will be held online from Oct. 7 to 15, with Korea's major and emerging designers presenting their collections in videos shot at historic locations in Seoul.Up to 37 fashion films made by 26 established designers and 11 emerging designers will be shown during the seven-day event. In the “Seoul Collection,” leading designers will present their new creations, while up to 11 rookie designers will present their works in a separate event, called “Generation Next.” The videos were taken in various places, such as royal palaces, in Seoul.The films will be available via Seoul Fashion Week's official website, as well as various online channels such as YouTube and Naver TV, from Oct. 7.According to the organizer, nine brands have focused on using eco-friendly materials or aimed to avoid using animal-based materials in their works. Vegan Tiger, a fashion brand seeking to create clothes using sustainable materials that were not made from slaughtered ani

Oct 2, 2021By Park Ji-won
2022 Spring-summer Seoul Fashion Week to be held online
Arts & Theater

Theater companies offer discounts to vaccinated audiences

A scene from the musical “Billy Elliot” / Courtesy of Seensee CompanyBy Park Ji-wonAs the COVID-19 vaccination rate increases in Korea, theatrical play and musical production companies, which have been hit hard by the pandemic, have started to offer discounts to vaccinated audiences to promote their shows as the government seeks to introduce a “living with COVID-19” scheme by November, shifting focus to treating serious cases only.Audiences who received their first COVID-19 vaccine shot could get a 20 percent discount on tickets from Oct. 4 to 22 for the musical “Billy Elliot,” which was adapted from the 2000 film of the same title. The musical “Hadestown” will offer a 10 percent discount on some of its seats for the vaccinated, while the musical “Excalibur” will offer a 20 percent discount on tickets until Oct. 8.The Seoul Arts Center has been providing a 20 percent discount since June on some tickets for people who have received their first vaccine shot. The Sejong Center for the Performing Arts also provides up to a 30 pe

Oct 1, 2021By Park Ji-won
Theater companies offer discounts to vaccinated audiences
Arts & Theater

National Chorus of Korea to sing historic narrative of Hangeul's creation

By Park Ji-wonPoster for the show “Hunminjeongum” / Courtesy of National Chorus of KoreaThe National Chorus of Korea (NCK) will showcase an original chorus performance specially made to mark the 575th anniversary of the creation of Hangeul, the Korean alphabet.The show, titled “Hunminjeongum,” consists of three parts ― behind the scenes of Hangeul's creation, its creation and its dissemination to the people ― and will explore the process of creating the unique writing system in new cantatas made based on historic recordings and music of the 1392-1910 Joseon Kingdom such as the sillok (veritable records) of King Sejong and daechwita (military music). It is also aimed to depict the impact of Buddhist culture in the early Joseon period and the impact of foreign culture on the creation of the letters.“While following dramatic incidents surrounding characters in the show, we could witness the agony of King Sejong. We also could see the excitement of the people who first witness the birth of the letters and the opposition of the conservative faction devoted to

Oct 1, 2021By Park Ji-won
National Chorus of Korea to sing historic narrative of Hangeul's creation
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