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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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Shows & Dramas

King of K-pop is back

Catch TVXQ if you can By Kwon Mee-yoo The king of K-pop is here. TVXQ returned to the Korean music scene with a long-awaited sixth album “Catch Me.” The duo shared what they have been doing and what is in their newest album at an interview with The Korea Times. U-Know, 26, and Max, 24, appeared for the interview in casual attire — U-Know in black sweat shirt and silver pants and Max in red knit sweater and shorts. They were relaxed, yet exuded professionalism. The sixth album “Catch Me” came a year and nine months since their previous album “Keep Your Head Down” was released in January 2011. “When we perform overseas, we feel responsible for what we do and sometimes lonely. We are jumping up and down with joy for presenting a new album in Korea,” U-Know said. “We were not just resting for the last 21 months. I think we have sang ‘Keep Your Head Down’ for more than 100 times,” Max added. TVXQ was busy indeed — the boy band has been touring Paris and New York as part of SMTOWN Live concert in 2011 and drew a record audience of 550,000 to their “Ton

Oct 4, 2012By Kwon Mee-yoo
Travel & Food

Aussie chef explores Korean food for Seoul Gourmet

By Kwon Mee-yoo Tetsuya Wakuda, an acclaimed chef from Australia, visited Korea a month ahead of Seoul Gourmet 2012 to taste local food and explore ingredients before preparing for a special dinner for Korean guests in November. Seoul Gourmet is an event that introduces Korean food to top international chefs. Born in Japan, Wakuda moved to Australia when he was 22. He worked at a restaurant to learn English but the experience changed his life and he became one of the most successful and creative chefs in Australia. His eponymous Tetsuya’s in Sydney is one of the top restaurants in the city. In addition to Tetsuya’s, he runs Waku Ghin in Singapore. During his visit to Korea, Wakuda went to the capital’s Noryangjin Fisheries Wholesale Market and SSG Food Market in southern Seoul. He showed photos of fish he took while browsing the markets including halibut, shrimp and ribbon fish. “There were lots of live fish in the market. Now I have an idea of what I can get in Seoul,” the chef told The Korea Times. Wakuda had lunch at Congdu in central Seoul, a restaurant serving mode

Sep 28, 2012By Kwon Mee-yoo
Arts & Theater

Artsonje's Chung wins Montblanc

Chung Hee-ja, right, founder of Artsonje Center speaks at a press conference Wednesday. / Coutesy of Working P CompanyBy Kwon Mee-yoo Chung Hee-ja, founder of Artsonje Center, was honored in Seoul Wednesday as the Korean recipient of this year’s Montblanc de la Culture Arts Patronage Award. The 72-year-old was recognized for her contributions in promoting Korean contemporary art and film. She is the wife of Kim Woo-choong, founder of now-disbanded Daewoo Group. Chung was a senior executive in the hospitality industry at the Millennium Seoul Hilton and hotels in Vietnam and China in the 1990s. Her interest in contemporary art began when she needed pieces to decorate her hotels. “I thought I had to return the profits from the hotel business to society. I became interested in art and wanted to help young artists who have talent,” Chung said at a press conference Wednesday. She established the Artsonje Museum — the first private contemporary art museum in Korea — in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province in 1991. She introduced modern masters such as Ale

Sep 26, 2012By Kwon Mee-yoo
Arts & Theater

When palace meets contemporary art

By Kwon Mee-yoo Light is projected across royal audience hall Junghwajeon while three Korean mattresses lie in the royal bedchamber of Hamnyeongjeon at the storied Deoksu Palace. “Deoksugung Project,” a series of commissioned works by the National Museum of Contemporary Art, Korea (NMOCA), revives the palace’s 400-year history in central Seoul. Co-organized by the NMOCA and the Deoksugung Office of Cultural Heritage Administration, the exhibition brings the past into the present and infuses new life into the palace buildings. Nine artists from varying genres including design, dance and sound art, have unleashed their imaginations on the palatial edifices and grounds. The history of Deoksu Palace began in the late 16th century, when King Seonjo of Joseon Kingdom (1392-1910) returned to Seoul after the Imjin War, or Japanese invasion of Korea in 1592 and stayed there. However, the palace was not in use for centuries until King Gojong arrived there from refuge at the Russian Legation in 1897. He renamed the nation the Daehan Empire and tried to protect it while res

Sep 24, 2012By Kwon Mee-yoo
Arts & Theater

‘Phantom of the Opera’ to return in December

By Kwon Mee-yoo Musical fans who have yet to see “The Phantom of the Opera,” one of the most popular musicals in Korea, will have a chance this winter as the Phantom will return to Seoul in December at Blue Square in Hannam-dong. In the Korean segment of the tour, Brad Little will play the role of the Phantom, the tragic, disfigured man living under the Opera Populaire. Little is a veteran Broadway actor who has performed in the Phantom over 2,200 times on Broadway, on a U.S. tour and in Asia. He is also popular in Korea for his previous performance as the Phantom, as well as for playing Jekyll in “Jekyll and Hyde” and Colonel Grayson in the Korean musical, “Tears of Heaven.” Little will again portray the brutal yet delicate sentiment of the musical genius. Claire Lyon from Australia will play Christine, the beautiful and talented soprano who is cherished by the Phantom. Lyon performed the role of Christine in the Australian production of the Phantom sequel “Love Never Dies.” She also appeared in various classical operas including “Aida,” “La Traviata” and “Madame Butte

Sep 23, 2012By Kwon Mee-yoo
Arts & Theater

Kim weaves life through ‘Thread Routes’

By Kwon Mee-yoo Artist Kim Soo-ja creates a tapestry of her insights on life, nature and the universe through her new work “Thread Routes” at the “To Breathe” exhibition at Kukje Gallery in Sogyeok-dong, Seoul. Known for her works “A Needle Woman” and “Bottari” series, Kim has explored the universe and nature using a needle, blanket and bottari, or fabric to tie bundles in Korean, for some 30 years. An artist could find one’s theme of a lifetime in an unexpected way and Kim is a clear example. She was inspired by the movements of a needle and thread when she was sewing up a duvet with her mother in 1983. “There was an impact when the needle point touched the fabric and I saw the possibility of needlework from there,” she said. Moving often — at least twice a year — due to her soldier father throughout childhood also affected her creativity. Currently based in New York City, Paris and Seoul, the 55-year-old artist usually wears black and pulls her gray hair back into a tight ponytail, just as seen in the “A Needle Woman” video. Kim’s latest interest is thr

Sep 21, 2012By Kwon Mee-yoo
Travel & Food

Seoul Museum

Lee Jung-seob’s “Bull” is on display at the newly-opened Seoul Museum near Mt. Inwang, Seoul.By Kwon Mee-yoo Seoul Museum opened at the foot of Mt. Inwang in central Seoul in late August with rare paintings of prominent Korean artists such as Lee Jung-seob, Park Ko-Suk and Han Mook. Founded by art collector Ahn Byung-gwang, CEO of Union Pharmacy, it is a treasure trove of modern Korean art. Making the museum more special is its site, built next to Seokpajeong, a historic pavilion from the Joseon Kingdom (1392-1910). After looking at the collection, visitors look at the villa and imagine the lives of their ancestors. Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama’s “Pumpkin” is on outdoor exhibit, against the backdrop of Mt. Bugak. The selection of the location, the restoration of Seokpajeong and the quality of the museum’s collection prove the discerning eye of its owner. He could have kept the place and pieces to himself but decided to build a museum to share with the public. With rich tradition, artworks and support from the founder, Seoul Museum is g

Sep 20, 2012By Kwon Mee-yoo
Shows & Dramas

Musical as next ‘hallyu’

By Kwon Mee-yoo A Korean production of musical “Jack the Ripper,” successfully opened at the Aoyama Theater in Tokyo, Sunday. Despite the high price of 9,500-16,000 yen ($120-$200) a ticket, the first night starring Sung Min of Super Junior was sold out and some 1,200 audience members gave it a standing ovation. The show, revolving around a serial murder case in London in 1888, is originally a Czech musical, but Japan wanted to stage the Korean adaption. The Korean rendition has new characters and choreography, adding more of a spectacle to the show. “Hallyu,” or Korean wave, stars such as Ahn Jae-wook and Sung Min attracted more than 40,000 foreigners to the show here following its Korean premiere in 2009. The show’s success is the result of endless efforts by Korean producers and actors to make inroads abroad. More and more foreigners are filling the seats of Korean theaters. According to ticket vendor Interpark, tickets worth about 3.5 billion won were sold last year through its global website and that of Visit Seoul, around 0.7 percent of total annual ticket sales of

Sep 18, 2012By Kwon Mee-yoo
Arts & Theater

After 38 years, sculptor breaks out in fine arts

By Kwon Mee-yoo Yang Hong-sup, a sculptor for 38 years, is holding his first fine art solo exhibition, “Breaking the Mold” at KOSA Space in Gwanhun-dong, central Seoul. The 54-year-old is presenting some 15 metallic sculptures, in a move toward fine art. Yang made the objects in geometric forms and cast them in molds of harder metals such as stainless and carbon steel. Then the objects were put into a furnace at over 1,700 degrees Celsius, resulting in random shapes created by happy accidents. The sculptures are not in a fixed form but a result of unexpected shapes coming out of the mold. Such a process reflects Yang’s thoughts on art. “In a society, there are people with vested rights and their world. The artistic community is no exception. If you don’t have proper educational background, it is hard to hold an exhibition,” Yang said. He began sculpting in 1974, when he graduated middle school. He is one of the best casters in Korea and has made a replica of a golden incense burner from the Baekje Kingdom (18 B.C.- 668 A.D.) in 1995. He also sculpted a statue of Gen. Wal

Sep 17, 2012By Kwon Mee-yoo
Travel & Food

Best seats in a theater

By Kwon Mee-yoo Going to a theater is always an experience, making one's heart flutter, whether it is to see a magnificent classical concert, spectacular musical comedy or elegant ballet performance. Seat choices are just as diverse as the program and many people try to get the best in the house or at least the best value for their money. Generally, the most expensive tickets are for the best seats. However, depending on the theater there can be good seats at affordable prices. The choice can be subjective and vary according to the type of performance and each person's priorities _ overall view, better sound or vivid details. The Korea Times visited various theaters in Seoul to find the seats that were good value for the ticket price. It’s the center seats By Kwon Mee-yoo For big musical productions, middle row seats in the center section are considered the best. Kang So-ra of Doosan Art Center in Jongno, central Seoul, recommends the seventh row as the best seats of its Yonkang Hall. "The best seat will be different for everybody and change from show t

Sep 13, 2012By Kwon Mee-yoo
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