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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

Marianne and Margaret of Sorok Island revisited through musical

Jung Woon-sun, left, plays Margaret and Baek Eun-hye plays Marianne, the two nurses who volunteered at the leper community of Sorok Island for over four decades, in a scene from the musical “An Island: 1933-2019.” Courtesy of Pro's LabBy Kwon Mee-yooAustrian nurses Marianne Stoeger and Margaret Pissar are known for their four decades of work on Sorok Island, looking after Hansen's disease patients with all their hearts. The nurses' 40 years there is revived on stage through "An Island: 1933-2019," a new musical created by the Voice Project, at Wooran Art Scape 2, located in the Wooran Foundation headquarters in Seongsu-dong, Seoul.The Voice Project is a collaboration among three creators ― director Park So-young, composer Lee Sun-young and playwright Jang Woo-seong.The trio was formed in 2017 with the purpose of restoring the voices of people who could serve as good role models. Their inaugural project was the musical "Taeil," which was based on the life of the labor activist Jeon Tae-il who died of self-immolation, based on his actual words from memoirs and diaries and s

Jul 21, 2019By Kwon Mee-yoo
Marianne and Margaret of Sorok Island revisited through musical
Arts & Theater

Kangta to star in musical 'Hedwig'

Kangta will play Hedwig in the musical “Hedwig and the Angry Inch” starting Aug. 16 / Courtesy of ShownoteBy Kwon Mee-yooKangta, a first-generation K-pop star from the now-defunct H.O.T., will wear a blond wig to portray Hedwig, the transgender rocker from East Berlin, in the hit musical "Hedwig and the Angry Inch," starting Aug. 16.This is the singer-songwriter's second appearance in a musical, after making his stage debut as photographer Robert Kincaid in "The Bridges of Madison County" in 2018. Debuting as the lead singer of five-member boy band H.O.T. in 1996, Kangta has been a versatile entertainer as he also acted in Korean and Chinese dramas and worked as a long-time radio DJ.“Hedwig,” written by John Cameron Mitchell and composed by Stephen Trask, revolves around a rock musician from East Germany and his journey to the States, forming a rock'n'roll band named the Angry Inch. The rock musical, premiered in Korea in 2005, is a steady hit here. It has been performed over 2,150 times across the nation with the record of highest seat occupancy rate and high

Jul 16, 2019By Kwon Mee-yoo
Kangta to star in musical 'Hedwig'
Sports

Gwangju FINA Championships make splash with 'Fountain of Light'

Dancers perform during the opening ceremony at the FINA World Swimming Championships Gwangju 2019, Friday. /YonhapBy Kwon Mee-yooThe world's best swimmers have gathered in the southwestern city of Gwangju for the FINA World Championships Gwangju 2019 that kicked off Friday.Gwangju, about 330 kilometers south of Seoul, is hosting the largest-ever FINA world championships in six water sports over 17 days. Over 2,600 athletes from 194 countries have signed up and will be vying for 76 gold medals in swimming, diving, water polo, artistic swimming, open water swimming and high diving.Despite the host city's effort to invite North Korean swimmers by exceptionally extending the registration period to the opening day, Pyongyang had not responded as of Friday afternoon, essentially failing to attend the international swimming competition.The opening ceremony themed "Fountain of Light" was held at the Gwangju Women's University Universiade Gymnasium. The theme was inspired from the city's name, which means the city of light in Korean.The ceremony began at the May 18 Democracy Square, where the

Jul 12, 2019By Kwon Mee-yoo
Gwangju FINA Championships make splash with 'Fountain of Light'
Sports

Gwangju mayor vows successful World Aquatics Championship

Lee Yong-sup, Gwangju Mayor and chairman of the organizing committee for the 2019 FINA World Aquatics Championships / Courtesy of 2019 FINA World Aquatics Championships Gwangju organizing committeeBy Kwon Mee-yooLee Yong-sup, mayor of Gwangju and chairman of the organizing committee for the 2019 FINA World Aquatics Championships, is busier than ever as he is putting the finishing touches to the preparations for the FINA World Championships Gwangju 2019, which will kick off Friday.Upon hosting the largest event of the international swimming body, South Korea will become the fourth country in the world to hold all five mega sport events ― the Summer and Winter Olympics, the World Cup and the World Championships in Athletics ― following Germany, Italy and Japan."This is going to prove to the world that South Korea is a true sports powerhouse and we will promote the globalization of Gwangju and national status of South Korea," Lee said in an email interview with The Korea Times.Gwangju was announced as the host city of the 2019 World Aquatics Championships during the General Congress of

Jul 10, 2019By Kwon Mee-yoo
Gwangju mayor vows successful World Aquatics Championship
  • North Korea urged to participate in Gwangju swimming event
  • Six things you must know to enjoy FINA World Championships Gwangju 2019
Sports

Six things you must know to enjoy FINA World Championships Gwangju 2019

High Diving / Courtesy of FINA World Championships Gwangju 2019By Kwon Mee-yooThe FINA World Championships Gwangju 2019 is just around the corner and the southwestern city is busy gearing up for the mega event, which will make Korea the world's fourth country to host all of the top five mega sporting events, also including Summer and Winter Olympics, World Cup and the World Championships in Athletics, after Germany, Italy and Japan.The World Aquatics Championships is the biggest FINA event, featuring competitions in all six aquatic disciplines ― swimming, diving, high diving, open water, artistic swimming and water polo. This is the first time for the international swimming body's signature event to be held in Korea.The 18th edition of the FINA World Championships is going to be the largest by number of participating athletes in the history of Aquatics Championships as 2,639 players from 194 countries registered for the entry list as of July 3. Including those taking part in multiple competitions, a total of 5,128 swimmers will vie for 76 gold medals from July 12 to 28.Swimming / Cou

Jul 9, 2019By Kwon Mee-yoo
Six things you must know to enjoy FINA World Championships Gwangju 2019
  • North Korea urged to participate in Gwangju swimming event
  • Gwangju set to host largest-ever FINA world championships
  • Gwangju mayor vows successful World Aquatics Championship
Arts & Theater

Ahn Eun-me is the future

Dancer and choreographer Ahn Eun-me celebrates her 30th career anniversary in an unusual way for a performer ― an exhibition at the Seoul Metropolitan Museum of Art titled "Known Future." Courtesy of SeMAChoreographer makes museumgoers danceBy Kwon Mee-yooAhn Eun-me speaks during a press preview of her exhibition "Known Future" at the Seoul Metropolitan Museum of Art on June 26. YonhapChoreographer and dancer Ahn Eun-me is a person of eccentricity. She shaves her head, wears colorful clothes and is constantly moving her body. The unforgettable dancer decided to celebrate the 30th anniversary of her career not at a traditional theater, but in an art museum. "Known Future," which opened at the Seoul Metropolitan Museum of Art (SeMA) on June 26, suggests a new kind of art exhibition where visitors dance under mirror ball lights, instead of solemnly looking around at paintings and sculptures.Though the exhibit's English title is "Known Future," the Korean title literally translates to "Ahn is the future" or "This is Ahn Eun-me," ― a dual meaning in Korean."Most dancers would commemorate

Jul 7, 2019By Kwon Mee-yoo
Ahn Eun-me is the future
Korean Heritage

Korea's seowon gain UNESCO heritage listing

Nine “seowon,” or Korean Neo-Confucian academies from the Joseon Kingdom (1392-1910), were inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list, Saturday. YonhapBy Kwon Mee-yooNine “seowon,” or Korean neo-Confucian academies from the Joseon Kingdom (1392-1910), became the 14th South Korean site to be inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list, Saturday.The decision was officially made during the 43rd session of the World Heritage Committee in Baku, Azerbaijan, in recognition of “outstanding universal value.”"The seowon illustrate a historical process in which neo-Confucianism from China was adapted to Korean conditions," UNESCO said in a statement.Seowon was a type of private education institution in the mid- and late-Joseon era and consists of a school to prepare for "gwageo," or the Confucian-based civil service examination, and a shrine to pay tribute to Confucius and other prominent Confucian figures. Major architectural elements of a seowon include lecture hall, dormitory, shrine and pavilion.The nine inscribed academies are Sosu Seowon in Yeongju, Ok

Jul 7, 2019By Kwon Mee-yoo
Korea's seowon gain UNESCO heritage listing
Arts & Theater

Artists reinvent traditional painting

Matthew Stone's "Holding (Removed)" / Courtesy of the artist and Choi & Lager GalleryBy Kwon Mee-yooArt of the 21st century uses a wide range of materials and methods, and more artists are looking for novel ideas to stand out. Amid the surge of new media, painting was once considered dead, but in fact the genre never dies as painters continue to experiment with new methods and reinterpret existential themes through the traditional medium.British artist Matthew Stone is a painter of the digital era. His pieces might look like ordinary oil paintings with visible brushstrokes, but they are digital manipulations.His second solo show in Korea, opened on June 26 at Choi & Lager Gallery Seoul, is titled "Small Awakenings." "We are now used to listening to music digitally. Matthew is a pioneer in painting digitally," the gallery's founder Jari Lager said.Matthew Stone's "Dream" / Courtesy of the artist and Choi & Lager GalleryStone saw pure beauty in the color, composition and shape of dripping paint, but he thinks the traditional medium has done all it can do. So he invented his

Jul 1, 2019By Kwon Mee-yoo
Arts & Theater

Multidisciplinary performance rekindles thoughts on apartment

"Post APT," a multidisciplinary performance exploring the experiences, opinions and possibilities surrounding apartments, will run at Space 111 in the Doosan Art Center, central Seoul, through July 6. Courtesy of Doosan Art CenterBy Kwon Mee-yooApartments are the most common and most popular type of housing in Korea. According to Statistics Korea, there are 10.3 million apartment units in Korea, making up 60.6 percent of the total homes here as of 2018."Post APT," a multidisciplinary performance currently showing at Space 111 in Doosan Art Center (DAC), central Seoul, explores the various experiences, opinions and possibilities surrounding the dominant housing style. This is part of 2019 DAC Humanities Theater "Apartment Nation," a three-month program of lectures, plays and exhibitions revolving around the convenient yet desolate, as some might say, apartment.The production, directed and choreographed by Jung Young-doo, is the result of an interesting collaboration between experts from different fields ― architect Chung I-sak of a.co.lab, composer Kayip, film director Paik Jong-kwan

Jul 1, 2019By Kwon Mee-yoo
Multidisciplinary performance rekindles thoughts on apartment
Arts & Theater

Ha Chong-hyun finds conjunction between spirit and performance

Artist Ha Chong-hyun, 84, introduces his “Conjunction” series at his studio in Goyang, northwest of Seoul, on June 11. Korea Times photo by Choi Won-sukDansaekhwa artist strives for innovation, reinvention in abstract paintingBy Kwon Mee-yooThroughout his career, artist Ha Chong-hyun, 84, has been searching for an answer to a burning question: What are the fundamental elements of a painting?He has explored various challenges and experiments in his well-known “Conjunction” series, which redefines the notion of conventional wisdom of painting by tackling the canvas from behind, in order to answer the question."When people think of painting, whether they are from the East or the West, they immediately relate it to filling up the blank space on canvas or paper. However, I wanted to escape these basics," Ha said during a recent interview with The Korea Times at his studio and showroom in Ilsan, northwest of Seoul.Born in the mountainous Sancheon, South Gyeongsang Province in 1935, Ha graduated from the department of painting at Hongik University, one of the top art

Jun 27, 2019By Kwon Mee-yoo
Ha Chong-hyun finds conjunction between spirit and performance
  • Dansaekhwa artist Ha Chong-hyun presents 'Conjunction' in London
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