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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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Travel & Food

Van Gogh in Paris

A part of Vincent Van Gogh’s “Garden with Courting Couples: Square Saint-Pierre” (1887)Vincent van Gogh“I can’t change the fact that my paintings don’t sell. But the time will come when people will recognize that they are worth more than the value of the paints used in the picture.”By Kwon Mee-yoo"Paris is Paris. There is but one Paris and however hard living may be here, and if it became worse and harder even ― the French air clears up the brain and does good ― a world of good," Dutch painter Vincent van Gogh wrote in a letter to English artist Horace Livens. The French capital was a land of opportunity for Van Gogh, as he met many artists when he lived there from 1886 to 1888.Some 60 of the renowned Post-Impressionist's works are on display at “Van Gogh in Paris: a Dialogue with Modernism," at Hangaram Design Museum in Seoul Arts Center in southern Seoul.“Self-Portrait with Grey Felt Hat”(1887) by Vincent van GoghIt sheds light on the two years of the artist's works when he moved from the Netherlands to Paris and

Dec 20, 2012By Kwon Mee-yoo
Van Gogh in Paris
Arts & Theater

Why not Shakespeare?

Actors perform a scene of “King Rear,” directed by Koh Sun-woong, at LG Arts Center in southern Seoul. The play runs through Dec. 28.                                                                                            / Courtesy of LG Arts Center'King Lear,' 'Romeo & Juliet' reborn with contemporary touchBy Kwon Mee-yooThe year’s end is a good time for big musical productions such as “The Phantom of the Opera” and “Aida.” But for those desiring something other than the glamour of musicals, two Shakespearean plays with modern twists await Korean audiences.Though Shakespeare passed away some 400 years ago, his works penetrate into fundamental issues such as good and evil, and love and hatred. The style and themes of Shakespeare are contemporary and that is probably why so many directors are attracted to

Dec 16, 2012By Kwon Mee-yoo
Why not Shakespeare?
Global Community

Multicultural Awards held in festive mood

"Little Psy" Hwang Min-woo, a recipient of the 1st Multicultural Youth Awards, dances to Psy’s “Gangnam Style” during the award ceremony at the Korea Press Center in downtown Seoul, Thursday. The Korea Times hosted the annual awards. / Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chulBy Kwon Mee-yoo"Little Psy" Hwang Min-woo and Nigerian Vanessa Ossy were among the recipients of the 1st Multicultural Youth Awards at the Korea Press Center in central Seoul, Thursday, in recognition of their outstanding achievements in promoting diversity.Hwang born to a Vietnamese mother and Korean father brought down the house with his performance of Psy’s Gangnam Style. More than 100 recipients and parents together with dignitaries attending “oohed and aahed” to every stunning dance move he made.Organized by The Korea Times and supported by the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, and the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, the inaugural award was launched to enhance cultural diversity and support talented children from multi-ethnic families.Photos of th

Dec 13, 2012By Kwon Mee-yoo
Multicultural Awards held in festive mood
  • 2 hours of jubilation
Arts & Theater

'Sweet, Come to Me Stealthily' returns

Kim Sun-young, left, playing Aerang in the musical “Sweet, Come to Me Stealthily,” holds hands with Patti Kim, the original Aerang in 1966. A revival of “Sweet, Come to Me Stealthily,” the first Korean homegrown musical, will be staged at CJ Towol Theater of Seoul Arts Center in southern Seoul from Feb. 19.                                                                                          / Courtesy of CJ E&MKorea's first musical brought back to life with modern twistBy Kwon Mee-yooForty-seven years ago, a musical “Sweet, Come to Me Stealthily” raised its curtain at Seoul Citizen Center, now the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts.The first Korean homegrown show opened on Oct. 26, 1966, starring pop diva Patti Kim as the leading lady Aerang. The show received rave reviews from the audience and even ticket touts

Dec 11, 2012By Kwon Mee-yoo
'Sweet, Come to Me Stealthily' returns
Arts & Theater

'Magnet' portrays loneliness of modern life

A scene from the play “Our Bad Magnet,” which is on stage at Art One Theater in Daehangno, central Seoul. The play revolves around four friends, from left, Paul, Gordon, Alan and Fraser.                   / Courtesy of Aga CompanBy Kwon Mee-yooDouglas Maxwell’s play “Our Bad Magnet,” is one of the hottest plays in Daehangno, Korea’s small theater cluster in central Seoul, this winter. Currently at Art One Theater it is attracting full houses most days.It revolves around four boys — Fraser, Paul, Alan and Gordon, more frequently called Giggles. They first met when they were 9 and form a rock band when they are 19. When they are 29, three of them gather for a reunion to tie up the details of what happened to Gordon 10 years earlier.The play portrays the boys as they grow up and the loneliness of modern people as they push each other away like magnets of the same polarity. The title of the piece comes from the story about Gordon.It premiered in Korea in 2005 and was staged three times between 200

Dec 7, 2012By Kwon Mee-yoo
'Magnet' portrays loneliness of modern life
People & Events

Russian painter holds solo exhibition

Russian artist Irina Miklushevskaya poses in front of her works on display at Ara Art in central Seoul, Wednesday.                                                                     / Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chulBy Kwon Mee-yoo, Baek Byung-yeulRussian artist Irina Miklushevskaya is holding a solo exhibition at Ara Art in central Seoul, featuring some 50 watercolor paintings.“I like to have an exhibition in Korea. Koreans really like my painting because it is not a common style in Korea. I am also honored to hold my exhibition in Seoul for the first time,” said Miklushevskaya, in an interview with The Korea Times at the opening of her exhibition, Wednesday.Most of her paintings are still-life with flowers or landscapes, mainly set in Vladivostok where she comes from. Layers of color blend to describe the lush nature of Russia. She uses traditional watercolor technique, adding layers over coats

Dec 5, 2012By Kwon Mee-yoo
Russian painter holds solo exhibition
Arts & Theater

Yuko Shiraishi explores color and space

Yuko Shiraishi’s 2009 work “Space Elevator Tea House” is on display at Kukje Gallery in central Seoul.                                    / Courtesy of Kukje GalleryBy Kwon Mee-yooThe world of Yuko Shiraishi, a Japanese artist based in London, is of color and space. She unravels it at a solo exhibition going on at Kukje Gallery in Samcheong-dong, central Seoul.Titled “Space Space,” the exhibit sheds light on the 56-year-old artist’s endless pursuit of color and space, combined with architectural experiments and intuition. Her works “emphasizes the resonan­ ce between bodies of color and the relationship of the work to its surrounding space,” according to Kukje Gallery.Shiraishi built a tea house in the gallery, named “Space Elevator Tea House.” The house does not have walls or pillars, but is composed of stainless steel poles. A column of light penetrates the center of the house, coming from the floor of the gallery to beyond the ro

Dec 3, 2012By Kwon Mee-yoo
Yuko Shiraishi explores color and space
Travel & Food

Tour of Taiwan

Taiwan will touch your heartBy Kwon Mee-yooTAIPEI — Only two-and-a-half hours from Seoul, Taipei is a great option for a quick getaway. The Taiwanese capital has everything from rare ancient Chinese relics and splendid Confucian temples to a wide array of local cuisine and lots of places for a shopping spree. It is modern, clean and safe, not too different from other cosmopolitan cities.Taipei has a combination of rich tradition, a subtropical climate and kind people that gives the city a unique atmosphere. Geographical proximity is another bonus for travelers to Taiwan from Korea. You can even leave after work and enjoy a beautiful night view from the observatory of the signature Taipei 101 building the same day. The Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall was built to commemorate Chiang Kai-shek, former President of Taiwan, the Republic of China.It is a city of many faces, where the splendor of China and modernity coexist. Taiwan is beckoning Korean tourists who showed some 34 percent increase in 2011. This time of the year is a nice time to visit Taiwan, as it

Nov 29, 2012By Kwon Mee-yoo
Tour of Taiwan
Arts & Theater

Oldenburg turns things upside down

“French Horns, Unwound and Entwined” (2005) by Claes Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen is on display at PKM Trinity Gallery in southern Seoul./ Courtesy of the Oldenburg van Bruggen Studio and Pace GalleryBy Kwon Mee-yooTwo French horns bent and intertwined together, a disintegrated collar and bowtie, and a Swiss army knife-shaped ship are part of the witty, surrealistic world of Claes Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen now on show at PKM Trinity Gallery in southern Seoul.For those who are not familiar with their names they need only look at “Spring,” a conch-shaped red and blue sculpture located at the entrance of Cheonggye Stream. This was created by Swedish-born American sculptor Oldenburg, 83, and his now deceased wife and artistic partner Van Bruggen.They are well-known for making solid objects soft in their soft sculpture series and blowing up ordinary objects in large-scale public art pieces such as “Spoonbridge and Cherry,” “Saw, Sawing” and “Cupid’s Span.”The exhibitions at the PKM Trinity Gallery and the Ti

Nov 23, 2012By Kwon Mee-yoo
Oldenburg turns things upside down
Arts & Theater

Life of Daehan's royals is revealed through exhibition

Princess Deokhye and her husband Count So Takeyuki pose in this photo taken in 1931By Kwon Mee-yooThe ups and downs of the royal family from the Daehan Empire, which existed from 1897 to 1910 at the end of Joseon Kingdom, is revealed through photographs in an exhibition.Titled “Photographs of the Daehan Imperial Family: 1880-1989,” the exhibit is currently under way at the National Museum of Art, Deoksu Palace in downtown Seoul.The history of the Daehan Empire interlocks with the time when photography was first introduced to Korea. “Previously, the history only existed as text, but photography opened a new era,” said Lee Sa-bine, curator of the exhibit.Works on display are borrowed from some 18 organizations and individuals, including the Smithsonian Institute and the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.Though the royal family “didn’t live a happy life,” it is interesting enough to see how they reacted to the new culture from the West, introduced by Japan. There were no designated royal photographers, but Westerners such as Percival Lowell as well as

Nov 20, 2012By Kwon Mee-yoo
Life of Daehan's royals is revealed through exhibition
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