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Kwon Mee-yoo

Korea Times Politics & City Reporter

Often found at theaters and museums, Kwon Mee-yoo has covered a wide range of cultural fields from K-pop and dramas to theater and fine art for over a decade. Now as K-Culture Desk editor, she tries to connect Korean culture with global readers through fresh perspectives.

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Arts & Theater

Han Kang's 'Human Act' inspires Korean, Polish thespians

A scene from "Human Fuga," based on Han Kang's novel "Human Acts" / Courtesy of Namsan Arts CenterBy Kwon Mee-yooHan Kang's novel “Human Act,” also known as “The Boy is Coming” in Korean, revolves around one of the most significant events in Korea's modern history ― the 1980 Gwangju Uprising in which citizens of the city of Gwangju launched popular pro-democracy protests. Director Bae Yo-sup of Performance Group TUIDA adapted the novel into “Human Fuga,” a stage performance created in collaboration with the Namsan Arts Center, where it is staged through Sunday. The performance begins with the same lines as the novel, when Dong-ho, a 15-year-old boy, cleans and tags corpses for identification at a municipal gymnasium in Gwangju during the violent military crackdown on civilians. The troupe has been focusing on exploring the relationship between object and body and its experiment continues in “Human Fuga” where the audience enters the theater from under the stage and actors read lines from the novel while portraying the raw emotions of th

Nov 13, 2019By Kwon Mee-yoo
Han Kang's 'Human Act' inspires Korean, Polish thespians
Arts & Theater

INTERVIEW Musical 'Aida' prepares for last journey in Korea

Associate director Keith Batten, right, and associate choreographer Tracey Langran Corea of musical “Aida” pose for a photo at Blue Square in Seoul on Nov. 6. Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chulBy Kwon Mee-yooDisney's musical “Aida” has seen particular popularity in Korea, where it has been running for the past 14 years. Best known for its beautiful music by Elton John and lyrics by Tim Rice, the musical has lived a long life in Korea, over three times longer than its Broadway run. Associate director Keith Batten and associate choreographer Tracey Langran Corea, sent straight from Disney Theatrical Productions, are busy adding final touches to the fifth and last production of "Aida" in Korea, which opens on Nov. 13.The musical premiered in Korea in 2005 and has been successful throughout its four previous productions, attracting over 730,000 audience members over its 732 performances.Seensee Company, which is in charge of the musical's production, said this is going to be the final staging of the current version of Aida, as the Disney theatrical headquarters i

Nov 10, 2019By Kwon Mee-yoo
[INTERVIEW] Musical 'Aida' prepares for last journey in Korea
Books

US historian campaigns for return of 'Jikji'

Richard Pennington holds a banner for "Bring Jikji back to Korea" in front of Heungdeok Temple. Courtesy of Richard PenningtonBy Kwon Mee-yooCover of "Jikji, and One NGO's Lonely Fight to Bring It Home" by Richard Pennington"Jikji Simche Yojeol," or simply known as "Jikji," is the world's oldest surviving book printed with movable metal type. The Buddhist document was published during the Goryeo Kingdom in 1377, at the Heungdeok Temple in Cheongju, North Chungcheong Province. This was 78 years before the Gutenberg Bible, the "42-Line Bible," printed by Johannes Gutenberg, which was widely known as one of the earliest books printed using metal type.Despite its historical significance, "Jikji" was only officially confirmed as the world's first movable metal type printing in 2001, being inscribed on UNESCO's Memory of the World list. The remaining pages of "Jikji" are kept at the National Library of France, not the book's home in Korea.Richard Pennington, a historian from Texas, founded the Committee to Bring Jikji Back to Korea and wrote "Jikji, and One NGO's Lonely Fight to Bring It H

Nov 8, 2019By Kwon Mee-yoo
US historian campaigns for return of 'Jikji'
Arts & Theater

ANNIVERSARY MMCA director pursues friendly museum

Youn Bum-mo, director of the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, poses for a photo at the museum's Seoul branch on Oct. 18. Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chulBy Kwon Mee-yooYoun Bum-mo, director of the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art (MMCA), believes that a museum should be like a neighborhood, friendly and open."Most people think art is distant from them. It's not. Art plays an important role in everyday life. Art has been a daily necessity even from primitive times, as shown in cave paintings. However, it has become an object of appreciation now, distancing it farther from the public. I think that's where a museum has to play to deliver the goods," Youn told The Korea Times.Youn, 68, took the director position at the nation's flagship art museum back in February. His extensive knowledge of art and his diverse experience in the sector has shaped his leadership at the MMCA."I have covered all kinds of occupations named art. I was an art critic one day, became a curator another day and worked for an art organization the next day," Youn said. "Since I've spe

Nov 5, 2019By Kwon Mee-yoo
[ANNIVERSARY] MMCA director pursues friendly museum
Books

Exhibition looks into modern publishing history

A visitor looks at books on display at “Publishing a Book ― 100 Years of Modern Publishing in Korea,” an exhibition at the Samseong Museum of Publishing in central Seoul. YonhapBy Kwon Mee-yoo"Publishing a Book ― 100 Years of Modern Publishing in Korea," an exhibition at the Samseong Museum of Publishing, sheds light on the history of modern publishing in Korea, which is full of ups and downs."The history of publishing is the history of publishers,” Kim Jong-gyu, founder of the museum, nestled in Gugi-dong, Jongno-gu, said. “Korean publishers have been printing books despite tough times, such as the annexation of Korea by Japan and censorship by the government. We organized an exhibition to take a look at Korea's modern publishing industry by publishing house." Kim is a man of publishing, who took over the family business Samseong Publishing Company and ran it successfully. The museum is also based on Kim's personal collection of 100,000 printed works, including a National Treasure and nine Treasures.The exhibit showcases 110 rare publications from 37 publishe

Nov 1, 2019By Kwon Mee-yoo
Exhibition looks into modern publishing history
Arts & Theater

Ivo van Hove's 'Roman Tragedies' offers thought-provoking experience

A scene from Ivo van Hove's five-and-30-minute play "Roman Tragedies" / Courtesy of LG Arts CenterBy Kwon Mee-yooNo talking, no food or drinks and no cell phones are typical pre-show announcements for typical theatrical productions. However, Belgian theater director Ivo van Hove breaks all these rules in his "Roman Tragedies."The revolutionary production, which combines three Shakespeare plays “Coriolanus,” “Julius Caesar” and “Antony and Cleopatra,” runs for five hours and 30 minutes without an interval. Imagining being stuck in a small theater seat for six straight hours focusing on what is happening on the stage might make one have ants in one's pants, but audiences can move around the seats, eat food or get drinks at a bar on the stage and take a photo and upload their thoughts about the show on their social media during “Roman Tragedies,” which will hit the LG Arts Center in southern Seoul from Nov. 8 to 10. Premiered at the Holland Festival in 2007 by van Hove's International Theater Amsterdam, the play marathon has been travellin

Oct 31, 2019By Kwon Mee-yoo
Ivo van Hove's 'Roman Tragedies' offers thought-provoking experience
Arts & Theater

Park invites viewers beyond doors

Installation view of "Twelve-Door Handles" by Park Yoon-young at Ilmin Museum of Art / Courtesy of Ilmin Museum of ArtBy Kwon Mee-yooArtist Park Yoon-young presents new pieces at her solo exhibition "YOU, Live!" at the Ilmin Museum of Art in downtown Seoul. This is the artist's first exhibition in Korea in nine years. Park majored in Oriental Painting at university, but explored new creative outlets by directing films and writing scenarios. She received the Hermes Foundation Misulsang in 2009."Twelve Door Handles" is a multidisciplinary piece that incorporates writing, video, sound, drawing, sculpture and more. Visitors explore a whimsical setting, following a script of 12 mixed timelines.The artist said her background influences her work. "I studied Oriental Painting and I come from a Christian family. I read the Bible every morning and evening and it is natural for me to take an interest in Armageddon," Park said. So she researched modern issues such as the Chernobyl disaster, the 2011 Tohoku tsunami and the United Kingdom's intervention in Libya. "There are some images that linger

Oct 28, 2019By Kwon Mee-yoo
Park invites viewers beyond doors
Travel & Food

New technology unveils topography of Dokdo

View of Dokdo Island, captured by a LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) equipped drone / Courtesy of National Research Institute of Cultural HeritageBy Kwon Mee-yooULLEUNG ISLAND ― The Dokdo islets, Korea's easternmost territory located some 220 kilometers east of the Korean Peninsula, are preserved as Natural Monument No. 336 for their rich natural resources and ecological value.Consisting of two islets and surrounding rocks, the Dokdo islets were first designated as a Natural Monument in 1982 in recognition of the marine plants growing there. In 1999, it was converted into the Dokdo Natural Reserve, taking into account its unique topography and flora and fauna.However, Dokdo is not up for easy, accessible investigations. Since Dokdo's docking facilities do not have breakwater, ships only can anchor in clear weather and low tides. Moreover, most of the island's terrain consists of steep marine cliffs, which hinders researchers trying to get closer for investigations.Researchers of the National Research Institute of Cultural Heritage fly a LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) equipped

Oct 27, 2019By Kwon Mee-yoo
New technology unveils topography of Dokdo
Arts & Theater

Kwon Dae-sup's moon jar portrays Korean beauty

Kwon Dae-sup's "Moon Jars" / Courtesy of the artist and Park Ryu Sook GalleryBy Kwon Mee-yooKwon Dae-sup, a ceramic artist, has dedicated over four decades of his life to recreating the beauty of the moon jar, a type of plain white porcelain jar in the shape of a moon, originating from the late Joseon Kingdom. An exhibition at the new Park Ryu Sook Gallery features 18 of Kwon's spherical moon jars, which resemble the glistening full moon. This exhibit commemorates the gallery's move from Cheongdam-dong in southern Seoul to a new venue in Itaewon.Opened in 1983, Park Ryu Sook Gallery has been a pioneer in introducing Korean and international contemporary art. Founder and President Park Ryu-sook is deeply interested in Korean artists and craftsmen who showcase “Koreanness,” including "Dansaekwa," a Korean style of monochrome painting."I picked Kwon for the opening exhibition of our new Itaewon gallery as he is the artist who represents the essence of Korean beauty. This is not just a craftwork, but a piece of contemporary art," Park said.Kwon majored in painting at Hongik U

Oct 15, 2019By Kwon Mee-yoo
Kwon Dae-sup's moon jar portrays Korean beauty
Arts & Theater

'Koreans have love affair with Phantom'

From left, Matt Leisy, who plays Raoul in “The Phantom of the Opera,” Claire Lyon playing Christine and Jonathan Roxmouth playing the Phantom pose for a photo during a concert at Everland in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province, Friday. Courtesy of S&COBy Kwon Mee-yooRainer Fried, associate director of "The Phantom of the Opera" / Courtesy of S&COThere is a reason why "The Phantom of the Opera" is the longest-running show in Broadway history, being played to over 140 million people in 41 countries. And the much-hyped production returns to Korea after seven years, traveling to three cities Busan, Seoul and Daegu starting December.Associate director Rainer Fried, a veteran who has been in Korea for the previous productions of "Phantom" as well as "Billy Elliot" shared the secret of success behind "Phantom.""My one word answer is magic," Fried said during a press conference in Seoul last week. "The magic of the show goes back to a group of people coming together, quite dysfunctional. This wasn't smooth ― there were a lot of egos, a lot of opinions and there was friction. But at

Oct 14, 2019By Kwon Mee-yoo
'Koreans have love affair with Phantom'
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