The Korea Times

Recent book

Traditional Village Markets in Korea Text and photography by Juoung Yong-sin; Noonbit Publishing; 480 p While they may not be the first choice for shoppers in this day and age, traditional markets offer a unique look at the culture, history and life of Koreans. Photographer and novelist Juoung Yong-sin has toured traditional markets around the country for the past 25 years. He has put together 430 photos in this book, adding stories of his experiences at 82 famous markets. There are some 1,500 traditional markets nationwide. The number keeps dwindling as more traditional markets close due to the overwhelming expansion of discount chains and department stores. The photos are categorized per nine provinces. The author also gives information about the regional specialties to be found in the markets. A photo exhibition of the author’s works is underway at the Dukwon Gallery in Insa-dong. — DO JE-HAE Public Opinion Walter Lippmann; Translated from English to Korean by Lee Choong-hoon; Kachi Publishing: 409 pp., 20,000 won This classic was written by Walte

Aug 17, 2012By Kwon Mee-yoo

Arts & Theater

Korean porcelain goes to Brazil

By Kwon Mee-yoo Ninty-six pieces of traditional and modern Korean ceramics presenting the nation’s cultural diversity are on show in Brazil. The National Museum of Korea (NMK) opened “The Diverse Spectrum: 600 Years of Korean Ceramics” at the Sao Paulo Museum of Art (MASP) Wednesday. Co-hosted by the Korea Foundation and MASP, the exhibit is a part of the Korea Festival to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Korean immigration to Brazil. A group of 103 Koreans left their home country in December 1962 and arrived in Brazil in February. The special exhibition aims to enhance the understanding of Korea in the South American country. “This exhibit is the first to introduce Korean cultural assets to South America. Brazilians can experience the clean and simple beauty of white porcelain from Korea through it,” Kim Young-na, director of the NMK, said at the opening of the exhibit in Brazil’s largest city. A Portuguese catalogue will be published next month to help locals better understand Korean culture and ceramics, Kim added. Blue-and-white porcelain from Joseon King

Aug 17, 2012By Kwon Mee-yoo

Trends

Seung’s ‘Bonghwa Village Graveyard’ to feature at Venice architect fest

By Kwon Mee-yoo The Venice Biennale of Architecture is held on even-numbered years and Korea is ready to present the essence of its architectural talent from Aug. 29. Seung Hyo-sang, 60, has been invited to this year’s International Architecture Exhibition of La Biennale di Venezia . Seung, who was commissioner of the Korean pavilion in 2008, is the only local architect attending the main exhibition themed “Common Ground.” He will introduce 10 of his residential works, including “Bonghwa Village Graveyard,” the burial ground and memorial for late President Roh Moohyun. It is the only house for the dead among participating works. “The concept of burial grounds usually comes from an abstraction of residential areas of the living. The Bonghwa graveyard borrowed the idea from ’woldae,’ or broad stone platforms of the royal shrine at Jongmyo,” the architect said. This year’s theme of the Korean Pavilion at the acclaimed architecture biennale is “Walk in Architecture.” Commissioner Kim Byung-yoon, professor at Daejeon University, said he aims to show the dynamism of Kore

Aug 14, 2012By Kwon Mee-yoo

Arts & Theater

Seoul Musical Festival celebrates homegrown shows

By Kwon Mee-yoo The Seoul Musical Festival (SMF), Korea’s first-ever for musical theater people, wrapped up the eight-day event with a gala performance, Monday. Held at various venues of Chungmu Art Hall in central Seoul, the festival began on Aug. 6 with a variety of exhibits and lectures. The “Korean Musical History” exhibition is taking place on the first floor at Chungmu Gallery. Featuring selected costumes and photographs of homegrown works from famous “The Last Empress” to recent “Moby Dick, ” it runs through Aug. 19. Yegreen Encore showcased five musicals — “Lee Chae,” “The Goddess Is Watching,” “Addiction,” “Abboccato” and “Fly, Mrs. Park” — in development from Aug. 7-11. Producers as well as general audiences came to see the shows and selected which would be further developed. “The Goddess Is Watching” and “Fly, Mrs. Park” won the competition and received 100 million won funding for future production. Academic programs included five conferences discussing issues such as how Korean musicals should make their way overseas and how to establish educatio

Aug 13, 2012By Kwon Mee-yoo

Arts & Theater

Yun Dong-ju's poems revived in musical

By Kwon Mee-yoo The life and dreams of Yun Dong-ju (1917-1945), a poet who protested against the Japanese occupation through literary works, have been revived through a musical performance and a memorial hall with handwritten manuscripts of his works. Seoul Performing Arts Company’s “Yun Dong-ju Shoots the Moon,” presented at the Opera Theater of Seoul Arts Center in southern Seoul from Friday to Sunday, brought the ephemeral poet’s agony and literature back to life through music and dance. The company said it is a Korean-style musical, which focuses on emotions instead of Western-style spectacles of musical comedies. The creators of the hit musical “Hero” — writer Han A-reum and composer Oh Sang-joon — teamed up again to shed new light on the poet’s life. The first act revolves around Yun and his friends in Gyeongseong, the former name of Seoul, in the 1930s. Yun attended Yeonhui Technical School, now Yonsei University, and the show describes how Yun and his friends lived in the time mixed with anxiety and modernity. The musical is about the horrendous r

Aug 12, 2012By Kwon Mee-yoo

Arts & Theater

Ko Doo-sim graces ‘Dance Lesson’

By Kwon Mee-yoo Veteran actress Ko Doo-sim returned to the theater after a five-year break, dancing to her heart’s desire in the play “Six Dance Lessons in Six Weeks” at Doosan Art Center Yonkang Hall in central Seoul. Ko, who made her debut in 1972, is one of the top actresses in Korea. She has mostly played maternal roles in movies and television dramas such as “Twinkle Twinkle” (2011) and “My Mother” (2005), and her theatrical credit in “Mother” (2007). However, she showed what a mature actress can present on stage in “Dance Lesson.” Written by Richard Alfieri, the play portrays how a friendship blooms between Lily Harrison, a retired teacher in her 70s, and her dance instructor Michael Minetti. Their first encounter is riddled with misunderstandings and lies, but they get to know each other’s secrets and scars, and become friends. The two are very different — Lily is a formidable upper-class woman living in an apartment with a breathtaking view, while Michael is a homosexual dancer living from hand to mouth. The elegant woman is halfhearted about this instructor

Aug 6, 2012By Kwon Mee-yoo

Arts & Theater

Kim Ho-young spices up Korean 'La Cage'

By Kwon Mee-yoo It took some 30 years for the Tony Award-winning musical “La Cage aux Folles” to come to Korea. The musical, shortened to “La Cage” here, has been warmly welcomed by audiences here, who are captivated by the show’s spectacle. Premiering on Broadway in 1983, the musical comedy is set in a Saint-Tropez drag nightclub, owned by Georges. His partner Albin is the star of the club with the stage name of Zaza. The middle-aged gay couple’s satisfied life takes an unexpected turn when Georges’ son (from a one-night stand) wants to marry the daughter of an ultra-conservative politician. The musical won the Best Production Tony Award (Best Musical or Best Revival of a Musical) three times. Lee Gi-na, director of the Korean production, said “La Cage” is a timeless musical; and musical masterpieces have good reasons to become so in an interview with The Korea Times at The Cafe in Yeoksam-dong, southern Seoul, last week. Lee is a famed director here for both homegrown and licensed musical productions. Her hits include “Hedwig,” “Guys and Dolls” and “Seopyeonje.” “Prove

Aug 3, 2012By Kwon Mee-yoo

Travel & Food

High1 Resort introduces new zorbing facilities

By Kwon Mee-yoo The High1 Resort now offers zorbing, an extreme sport where people roll in a large, transparent plastic ball, at its outdoor pool. The resort in Jeongseon, Gangwon Province, is better known for its modern ski facilities, but is well-equipped for various summer activities that the entire family can enjoy as well. Zorbing was established in New Zealand and the ball used contains a 1.8-meter orb inside a 2.5-meter one. It is generally performed by rolling down a hill, but High1 offers it as a water sport, similar to a water-walking ball, at its swimming pool. The outdoor pool is located in front of the resort's Mountain Condominium, some 900 meters above sea level. The refreshing pool also has water slides and an air seesaw to add to the fun. There are two pools _ a larger one for adults and a smaller one for children _ open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Aug. 31. Admission is 10,000 won for adults and 8,000 won for children. Zorbing is free for guests staying at the High1 Resort or those who have paid for the Cool Rider skiing, available all year thanks

Aug 2, 2012By Kwon Mee-yoo

Arts & Theater

Daily objects turned upside down

By Kwon Mee-yoo Anti-mosquito coils create funnel-shaped sculptures while enlarged egg-like objects are set on a slope. Wooden fences in the gallery make visitors wonder what is inside. This is a part of the 13th Hermes Foundation Misulsang (art award) exhibition at Maison Hermes Dosan Park in southern Seoul. The three candidates for the 13th Hermes Foundation Misulsang — Koo Dong-hee, Jackson Hong and Lee Mi-kyung — present unusual ways to look at everyday life. The works on exhibit blur the traditional concept of art and daily objects. Koo, who works with multimedia including photo, video, sculpture and installation, experimented with the theme of “Helter Skelter.” The term refers to spiral slide fairground rides, and is also the title of a song by The Beatles. Notorious criminal Charles Manson also referred to the song title in his vision of a race war and it inspired Koo to create four artworks. “Helter Skelter” is a 160-centimeter tall spiral-shaped object made from mosquito coils and a parasol. It looks like a weird parachute and Koo said she trie

Jul 30, 2012By Kwon Mee-yoo

Arts & Theater

'Bungee Jump' tells of complex love story

By Kwon Mee-yoo “Bungee Jumping of their Own,” a popular 2001 film about a love transcending time, space and gender, is being staged as a musical at Blue Square’s Samsung Card Hall in Hannam-dong, Seoul. Composer Will Aronson, who has worked previously with Musical Heaven, the musical’s production company, and lyricist Hue Park told The Korea Times about their work, collaboration and friendship. Aronson studied classical music at Harvard University and the Universitat der Kunste in Berlin and holds a master’s degree from New York University (NYU) Tisch School’s musical theater program. “When I first saw the movie, I thought it has a great story, but I didn’t know I would write songs for it,” Aronson said. When the company asked Aronson to write the music for the musical “Bungee Jump,” he recommended Park for the lyrics. Park, who studied creative writing in Korea, pursued visual art at NYU. He was a K-pop lyricist in Korea and kept it up as a hobby in the States. “Will and I have a lot in common, especially a taste for culture — we like John Brion and Bern

Jul 29, 2012By Kwon Mee-yoo

Kwon Mee-yoo

Read more

Recent book

Korean porcelain goes to Brazil

Seung’s ‘Bonghwa Village Graveyard’ to feature at Venice architect fest

Seoul Musical Festival celebrates homegrown shows

Yun Dong-ju's poems revived in musical

Ko Doo-sim graces ‘Dance Lesson’

Kim Ho-young spices up Korean 'La Cage'

High1 Resort introduces new zorbing facilities

Daily objects turned upside down

'Bungee Jump' tells of complex love story

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