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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

'Pride and Prejudice' reinvented as two-hander

Kim Ji-hyun, left, as Lizzy and Lee Dong-ha as Mr. Darcy in the play “Pride and Prejudice” / Courtesy of Dal CompanyBy Kwon Mee-yooJane Austen's 1813 "Pride and Prejudice" is one of the most popular romance novels with lively characters bantering and arguing with each other. This prototype of the contemporary romantic comedy has spawned many screen and stage adaptations, including a 2013 two-actor version by Two Bit Classics, which arrived in Seoul last month. There are so many distinct characters in "Pride and Prejudice," but this adaptation by Joanna Tincey, created on the occasion of the 200th anniversary of the novel's publication, stands out by casting only two actors.This no-frills approach makes audiences focus on one-on-one relationships and the conversations between the characters, rediscovering each of them in a new way. There are 21 characters of all ages in the play, from the five Bennet sisters and their parents to new neighbor Charles and Caroline Bingley and their friend Fitzwilliam Darcy. Unlike traditional theater in which women play Lizzy and Jane Bennet

Sep 22, 2019By Kwon Mee-yoo
'Pride and Prejudice' reinvented as two-hander
Music

Symphonic poem on Sejong heads to New York in November

Lin Byung-taik, CEO of the Sejong Cultural Foundation, speaks during a press conference announcing the world premiere of "Symphonic Poem Yeomillak: Homage to King Sejong the Great" at Press Center in Seoul, Wednesday. YonhapBy Kwon Mee-yooKorea's new administrative capital Sejong City is named after King Sejong, the fourth king of the 1392-1910 Joseon Kingdom who invented the Korean alphabet, Hangeul. The city's cultural foundation sheds light on the musical achievements of Sejong by composing a symphony dedicated to the great king. "Last year was the 600th anniversary of the enthronement of King Sejong. We embarked on a project last October looking into Sejong as a music expert and cultural producer," Lin Byung-taik, CEO of the Sejong Cultural Foundation, said at a press conference, Wednesday. "Sejong City needs cultural content worthy of its name, so we commissioned Lee Shin-uh to compose orchestral music inspired by King Sejong." Lee is the first female professor of composition at Seoul National University and was recently named the 2019 Associate of the Royal Academy of Music in

Sep 19, 2019By Kwon Mee-yoo
Symphonic poem on Sejong heads to New York in November
Arts & Theater

'Phantom of Opera' returns to Korea after 7 years

Cast of the international tour of "The Phantom of the Opera" which will perform in Busan, Seoul and Daegu / Courtesy of S&COJonathan Roxmouth to play titular roleBy Kwon Mee-yoo"The Phantom of the Opera," one of the world's most successful musicals, will arrive in Korea in December, seven years after its sold-out run in Seoul in 2012.The Andrew Lloyd Webber musical, based on the 1910 French novel of the same name by Gaston Leroux, is set at the Paris Opera House and tells the story of young soprano Christine Daae and a mysterious masked figure living under the theater through dramatic melody.The highly anticipated tour will start its journey in Korea at the newly built Dream Theater in the southern port city of Busan. This is the first time the worldwide hit musical is being staged in Busan.This is part of a world tour of the Webber musical, started in February this year in Manila, the Philippines, with following destinations of Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Tel Aviv and Dubai. This is one of the musical's largest international tours, covering Asia and the Middle East, including four

Sep 16, 2019By Kwon Mee-yoo
'Phantom of Opera' returns to Korea after 7 years
Arts & Theater

Paik Nam-june's video tower to keep CRT monitors

Paik Nam-june's “The More the Better” at the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Gwacheon after restoration in 2015 / Courtesy of MMCABy Kwon Mee-yoo"The More the Better," the largest video installation by avant-garde artist Paik Nam-june, at the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art (MMCA), Gwacheon has been switched off since February 2018 due to safety issues. After 19 months of suspension, the museum decided to turn it on again while maintaining its original state as much as possible, including hundreds of now-defunct cathode ray tube (CRT) monitors.Composed of 1,003 monitors, the 18.5-meter-tall video tower was installed at the nation's flagship art museum back in 1988 in commemoration of the 1988 Seoul Olympics which was a breakthrough for South Korea to step up in the international community.Youn Bum-mo, director of MMCA, said the museum strived to restore the iconic tower at its Gwacheon branch. "'The More the Better' is one of the major works of our museum since Paik installed it in 1988. It has been turned off since last year due to deterior

Sep 15, 2019By Kwon Mee-yoo
Paik Nam-june's video tower to keep CRT monitors
Arts & Theater

Performing arts festival questions contemporary society

"Kafka," directed by Kirill Serebrennikov of Russia's Gogol Center, will open this year's Seoul Performing Arts Festival (SPAF) on Oct. 3. Courtesy of SPAFBy Kwon Mee-yooOne of the most anticipated moments in the performing arts scene in Korea is the Seoul Performing Arts Festival (SPAF), which provides an opportunity to see the world's most artistic theatrical events in Seoul while promoting homegrown plays and dances.This year, the festival is packed with diverse performances transcending genres and portraying the anxiety of the time.Kim Do-il, president of the Korea Arts Management ServiceKim Do-il, president of the Korea Arts Management Service (KAMS) which organizes the festival, said SPAF aims to embrace diversity in performing arts through experimental theater. "This year's SPAF features 19 productions, reflecting a contemporary sense of sociality and artistry, which sheds light on human desire, conflict and irrationality. While previous editions of SPAF centered on traditional plays and dance, we blur the boundary between genres and include multidisciplinary performances this

Sep 15, 2019By Kwon Mee-yoo
Performing arts festival questions contemporary society
Arts & Theater

Sculptors' furniture

Installation view of “Furniture” by Gwon O-sang and Kim Min-ki at Arario Museum in Space / Courtesy of Arario MuseumBy Kwon Mee-yooFurniture is a product of function and beauty. Two sculptors, Gwon O-sang and Kim Min-ki, have joined hands to create artistic furniture, which are currently on view at the Underground in Space, an exhibition hall in the Arario Museum in Space in central Seoul.The exhibition is titled simply "Furniture," suggesting that the two have gone back to the basics with their concept of furniture. Gwon is an internationally renowned artist for his iconic photo-sculptures and series such as "The Sculpture," "Relief" and "New Structure."Kim is a sculptor and furniture designer. This project began about two years ago when Gwon asked Kim to make furniture for his studio. "At first, I thought of more conventional design similar to existing furniture such as a console table with luxurious legs and doors. As we discussed, it became more unique, with sculptural touches," Gwon said. "I used them as furniture as they are fully functional. But Kim prefers it to b

Sep 9, 2019By Kwon Mee-yoo
Sculptors' furniture
Arts & Theater

Fred Sandback's ethereal yarn sculptures come to Seoul

Fred Sandback's "Untitled (Sculptural Study, Mikado)" is on display at Gallery Hyundai in central Seoul. Courtesy of Gallery HyundaiBy Kwon Mee-yooAmerican sculptor Fred Sandback / Courtesy of Gallery HyundaiFred Sandback (1943-2003) was a sculptor, but his art is a long way from traditional sculpture. His work is made with yarn or cords stretched across spaces, presenting a more delicate and subtle installation.The American conceptual sculptor's pieces following the color scheme of white, black, blue, yellow and red ― a color scheme called “obangsaek” in Korean ― are on view at the first solo exhibition of the artist's work in Korea at Gallery Hyundai in central Seoul through Oct. 6.The Fred Sandback Estate, which manages the late artist's oeuvre, suggested the theme of obangsaek to the gallery first. "He did not create anything related to or inspired by Korea, but the estate ran by his family came up with the idea of selecting and exhibiting works in the five colors for the Seoul exhibition," the gallery said.Sandback's sculptures are made by tightly securing lines of a

Sep 4, 2019By Kwon Mee-yoo
Fred Sandback's ethereal yarn sculptures come to Seoul
Arts & Theater

Kim Soun-gui discovers creativity from laziness

Kim Soun-gui's "Situation Plastique ― Octobre a Bordeaux" (1973) / Courtesy of MMCABy Kwon Mee-yooArtist Kim Soun-gui speaks during a press conference of her retrospective “Soungui Kim: Lazy Clouds” at National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Seoul on Aug. 29. YonhapArtist Kim Soun-gui, 73, has been living ahead of her time. She has been creating livestream videos and performance art since 1971 and performed with video art pioneer Paik Nam June in 1983 in Paris.Born in 1946, Kim is a graduate of Seoul National University Department of Painting. She went to France in 1971 on a scholarship from the French government and lived and worked there. Now the artist gets the proper treatment at her home country as the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Korea (MMCA) offered her a solo exhibition. Since Kim is based in France, she is less well-known in Korea, but MMCA's chief curator Kang Seung-wan "discovered" her. Kang said one of the roles of the nation's flagship museum is to establish art history by researching and exhibiting artists. "We fill up holes in Kor

Sep 3, 2019By Kwon Mee-yoo
Kim Soun-gui discovers creativity from laziness
Arts & Theater

Filipino art showcases diversity, dynamism

Norberto Roldan's "Fugitives from years of captivity xx_assemblage with old photographs and found objects" (2018) / Courtesy of Hansae Yes24 FoundationBy Kwon Mee-yooArt exhibition “The Hybridity and Dynamism of the Contemporary Art of the Philippines” commemorates the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the Philippines and the Republic of Korea. The Philippines is the first Asian country to establish diplomatic relations with Korea. The Philippine archipelago comprises over 7,000 islands with rich indigenous cultures and the country went through Spanish colonization from the 16th-19th century and was strongly influenced by the United States and Japan in the 20th century, resulting in an adoption of modern art along with a resistance to Imperialism.The six-day exhibit is part of a series of art exhibitions shedding light on ASEAN countries organized by the Hansae Yes24 Foundation. Founded by Hansae Yes24 Holdings CEO Kim Dong-nyung, the foundation has introduced over 60 artists through exhibitions centering on Vietnam, Thailand and Myanmar since 2014.Kyonggi

Sep 1, 2019By Kwon Mee-yoo
Filipino art showcases diversity, dynamism
Travel & Food

Daegak Temple, Buddhist center of Korea's independence movement

Ven. Dongbong, chief monk of Daegak Temple in Jongno-gu, central Seoul, speaks during an interview with The Korea Times, Aug. 21. Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chulBy Kwon Mee-yooThe year 2019 marks the 100th anniversary of the March 1 Independence Movement, which provided a catalyst for the Korean independence movement. Over 2 million took part in the demonstrations and some 47,000 people were arrested and taken into custody.Thirty-three representatives, consisting of various people including prominent members of the Catholic Church and Protestant Church as well as distinguished Buddhist monks, gathered and signed the Korean Declaration of Independence. The two delegates representing Buddhism were Han Yong-un, a Buddhist monk and poet better known as Manhae, and Baek Yong-seong, or Ven. Yongseong. Among the two, Han is more widely known due to his poetry, which is included in Korean literature textbooks. The other figure, Ven. Yongseong (1864-1940), who established the foundation of the Jogye Order, the largest sect in Korean Buddhism, was based at Daegak Temple, which is in the he

Aug 29, 2019By Kwon Mee-yoo
Daegak Temple, Buddhist center of Korea's independence movement
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