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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

Steinway Piano Gallery opens in Seoul hoping to expand high-quality piano market

Steinway Piano Gallery in Seoul / Courtesy of Cosmos CorporationBy Park Ji-wonThe German-American piano company Steinway & Sons has opened the largest exhibition hall for the instrument in Korea. The Steinway Piano Gallery opened in downtown Seoul in early June, displaying 18 Steinway pianos in the 600-square-meter space.Cosmos Corporation, one of the largest classical instrument companies in Korea and the exclusive distributor of Steinway & Sons products here, opened the gallery on the first floor of its headquarters building, presenting selected items worth some 4 billion won ($3.58 million), including a concert grand piano Steinway D-274 that costs a cool 295 million won. In addition to the analog pianos, it also displays a Spirio digital piano, which can automatically play up to 6,000 pieces mimicking actual techniques of performers such as pianists Kim Sun-wook and Vladimir Horowitz. It took months for Cosmos Corporation to win approval to open the store from the German-American piano company, which made strict orders about keeping the pianos in top shape while bringing

Jun 28, 2021By Park Ji-won
Steinway Piano Gallery opens in Seoul hoping to expand high-quality piano market
Music

Korean traditional music lecture program in English to begin in July

Poster for “Korean Music Lecture Series” / Courtesy of Seoul Donhwamun Traditional Theater By Park Ji-won Kim Hee-sun, professor at Kookmin University / Courtesy of Seoul Donhwamun Traditional Theater The year 2020 was may be the memorable year for Leenalchi, an alternative pop group consisting of four traditional pansori vocalists, two bassists and one drummer, as it rose to stardom with its addictive music. Many were surprised at the possibilities presented by traditional music thanks to the band's popularity, and Korea's rich music traditions, but not many know the origins and history of pansori, a traditional style of narrative music.For those who want to broaden their understanding, the Seoul Donhwamun Traditional Theater is launching a new English-language lecture program on traditional Korean music to provide foreign residents of Korea with pr

Jun 26, 2021By Park Ji-won
Korean traditional music lecture program in English to begin in July
Music

Pianist Cho Seong-jin releases online recording, music video before new Chopin album in August

Pianist Cho Seong-jin / Courtesy of Universal MusicBy Park Ji-wonCover image for pianist Cho Seong-jin's new album, “Chopin: Piano Concerto No. 2 Scherzi” / Courtesy of Universal MusicPianist Cho Seong-jin will release a recording of Chopin's “Scherzo No. 2,” as well as a music video, via online platforms on Friday, before releasing his new album of Chopin's works in August. The winner of the 17th International Chopin Piano Competition in 2015, he is set to release the new album, titled, “Chopin: Piano Concerto No. 2 Scherzi,” with Deutsche Grammophon, covering Chopin's “Piano Concerto No. 2” and four Scherzos.It has been a little over a year since he released his last album, “The Wanderer,” featuring pieces by Schubert, Berg and Liszt, in May of last year. Deutsche Grammophon's parent company, Universal Music, has said that this new album is Cho's first recording of Chopin's “Piano Concerto No. 2.”The digital album and a deluxe edition to be released exclusively online in Korea will include an additional three w

Jun 25, 2021By Park Ji-won
Pianist Cho Seong-jin releases online recording, music video before new Chopin album in August
Books

INTERVIEW Priest and Sogang University president translates book on LGBT people to bridge gap

Fr. Sim Jong-hyeok, a Jesuit priest and president of Sogang University, poses during an interview with The Korea Times at the university in western Seoul, Friday. Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chulBy Park Ji-wonFr. Sim Jong-hyeok, a Jesuit priest and president of Sogang University, recently translated a book into Korean to help bridge the gap between religious people and sexual minorities. The book, titled “Building a Bridge,” introduces actual tips like helpful Bible lines for both religious people and sexual minorities to communicate more effectively with each other. The original English-language book was written by Fr. James Martin in 2017 under the title “Building a Bridge: How the Catholic church and the LGBT Community Can Enter into a Relationship of Respect, Compassion, and Sensitivity.” It is known as the first book in Korean by the Catholic ministry on sexual minorities. The Korean edition came out in April, at a time when the Protestant church has been engaged in fierce resistance against LGBT people's rights and acceptance in society. While the Cat

Jun 24, 2021By Park Ji-won
[INTERVIEW] Priest and Sogang University president translates book on LGBT people to bridge gap
Arts & Theater

INTERVIEW Traditional music form 'sanjo' embodied in dance

A scene from “Sanjo” by the National Dance Company of Korea / Courtesy of National Dance Company of KoreaBy Park Ji-wonKorean traditional music is often stereotyped as being rigid and bound by rules, allowing little if any room for deviation. But traditional musical genre “sanjo” which literally means “scattered melodies” in Korean, is characterized by improvisational and impromptu rhythms and melodies. In fact, the genre embodies the essence of free-style improvisation more commonly associated with other genres.Sanjo features a musical performance by a soloist accompanied by a percussionist playing “janggu,” an hourglass-shaped drum. The featured solo instrument in sanjo is usually “gayageum,” “geomungo” (plucked zithers), “daegeum” (bamboo flute), “haegeum” (bowed string instrument) and “piri” (double-reed instrument) some of the better known traditional Korean instruments.Artistic director and fashion designer Jung Ku-ho is particularly fascinated by sanjo's improvisational

Jun 24, 2021By Park Ji-won
[INTERVIEW] Traditional music form 'sanjo' embodied in dance
Arts & Theater

Violinist Kim Bomsori releases 1st album through Deutsche Grammophon

Violinist Kim Bomsori performs during a press conference held to promote her first Deutsche Grammophon album, “Violin on Stage,” and recital tour at ODE Port, Seoul, Monday. YonhapBy Park Ji-wonViolinist Kim Bomsori poses during a press conference held to promote her first Deutsche Grammophon album, “Violin on Stage,” and recital tour at ODE Port, Seoul, Monday. YonhapViolinist Kim Bomsori has released her first album, “Violin on Stage,” on Deutsche Grammophon (DG). In it, she focuses on playing violin arrangements of opera and ballet repertoires since commencing her contract with the label in February.Kim is the third Korean who has signed an exclusive agreement with DG, after pianist Cho Seong-jin and soprano Park Hye-sang in January 2016 and November 2020, respectively. It is known that the label spotted her after she performed in a duo recording for DG with Polish pianist Blechacz, released in January 2019.“Legendary violinists in the 20th Century, such as Kreisler and Heifetz, arranged opera arias or ballet music and played them. I made

Jun 22, 2021By Park Ji-won
Violinist Kim Bomsori releases 1st album through Deutsche Grammophon
Arts & Theater

Play 'SWEAT' may show future of Korea hit by labor, racial issues: director

A scene from the play “SWEAT” by the National Theater Company of Korea (NTCK) / Courtesy of NTCKBy Park Ji-wonThe Pulitzer-winning play, “SWEAT,” by playwright Lynn Nottage may have played a big role in portraying the realities for American workers and thus questioning the way of living in the Trump era and the modern industrialized world.Set in Reading, Pennsylvania, the United States from the early 2000s to the present, the play focuses on the issues of economic inequality as well as gender and racial fracturing among blue-collar friends when their jobs at the local factory are threatened following the companies' shifting of operations to developing countries to cut costs.The background of the play is set far from Korea, but the show, which has been performed by the National Theater Company of Korea (NTCK) from June 18 through July 18, may be a realization of the situation in Korea and Korean society in the future where labor and racial issues surface as major problems, director said.“I think Korea is the most prejudiced and hierarchical country when i

Jun 21, 2021By Park Ji-won
Play 'SWEAT' may show future of Korea hit by labor, racial issues: director
Music

Baritone Kim Gi-hoon wins BBC Cardiff Singer competition

Baritone Kim Gi-hoon / Courtesy of TLi Art CenterBy Park Ji-wonBaritone Kim Gi-hoon has won the BBC Cardiff Singer of the World competition held in the United Kingdom, Saturday, local time. This is the first time that a Korean won the main award at the competition, which started back in 1983.BBC announced that the biennial contest chose Kim as the winner this year. He received 20,000 pounds ($27,623) in prize money and the Cardiff Trophy. The competition drew 16 competitors from 15 countries. Along with Kim, bass-baritone Park Ju-sung, also competed in the event.There are three categories of the show; “Singer of the World,” or main prize, “Song Prize” and “Audience Prize.” Baritone No Dae-san (1999) and bass Park Jong-min (2015) have been winners of the “Song Prize” category.“It has been an inspiring journey ― and one that I will definitely remember for the rest of my career,” Kim was quoted as saying by BBC after his victory.David Jackson, artistic director of the competition, was quoted as saying by BBC, “This year's

Jun 20, 2021By Park Ji-won
Baritone Kim Gi-hoon wins BBC Cardiff Singer competition
Arts & Theater

Largest traditional music festival to be held offline this year

Festival director Park Woo-jae speaks during a press conference held at the National Theater of Korea (NTOK), Seoul, Wednesday. Courtesy of NTOK By Park Ji-won Poster for 2021 Yeowoorak Music Festival / Courtesy of NTOK Yeowoorak Music Festival, the largest gugak-themed music festival, is coming back to in-person events this year after being held online last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The 12th festival will present up to 13 Korean traditional music-based performances in four categories ― “Director's Pick,” “Yeowoorak Collaboration,” “Yeowoorak Choice” and “Director's Lab” ― at the National Theater of Korea from July 2 to 24.“I gathered artists who create original music. We themed this year's festival with three keywords: line, irregularity and hyper-connection. We gathered artists who break existing boundaries and create something original as

Jun 17, 2021By Park Ji-won
Largest traditional music festival to be held offline this year
Arts & Theater

INTERVIEW Universal Ballet to present hope amid pandemic in 'Triple Bill'

Dancers of the Universal Ballet practice “The Butterfly Lovers,” the second work of Universal Ballet's “Triple Bill” in this undated photo. Courtesy of Universal BalletBy Park Ji-wonArtistic director Yoo Byung-hun of Universal Ballet Courtesy of Universal BalletFollowing the outbreak and global spread of COVID-19, last year was the toughest year in memory for theaters and ballet companies. Performances were cancelled one after another. Relying heavily on ticket sales for their survival, ballet companies were forced to undergo restructuring. Some companies laid off staff, while others altogether ceased or suspended operations.For Universal Ballet's artistic director Yoo Byung-hun, however, the toughest year enabled him to find time to think and create his first project after seven years.“Triple Bill,” choreographed by Yoo, consists of three contemporary ballet works; “Bun(Anger): Paganini Rhapsody,” “Ae(Love): The Butterfly Lovers” and “Jeong(Affection): Korea Emotion." They will be performed at the Seoul Arts Center fr

Jun 16, 2021By Park Ji-won
[INTERVIEW] Universal Ballet to present hope amid pandemic in 'Triple Bill'
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