The Korea Times

Iljoong Calligraphy Hall opens

By Kwon Mee-yoo The Iljoong Memorial Foundation opens the Iljoong Calligraphy Hall, a permanent exhibition hall dedicated to late calligrapher Kim Choong-hyun (1921-2006), in Insa-dong, central Seoul, today. The hall is located on the third floor of the Baekak Art Center and exhibits Kim’s calligraphy works and and keepsakes. Born in 1921, Kim is one of the nation’s most celebrated calligraphers, who produced work in both Chinese characters and Hangeul, Korean text. In his time, he was a calligrapher without equal, especially in the palace style of Hangeul. Iljoong is Kim’s pseudonym. A series of seminars on Kim’s work and life is scheduled for today at 3 p.m. Choi Wan-soo of Gansong Art Museum will talk about his life and personality, while Yoon Yang-hee will discuss his Hangeul calligraphy and Kwon Chang-ryun offers an overview on his Chinese calligraphy work. Lee Dong-kuk, curator of Seoul Calligraphy Art Museum, will give a lecture on Kim’s impact on Korean calligraphy. The foundation also hosts the Iljoong Calligraphy Award that commemorates the work of Kim and pr

May 30, 2012By Kwon Mee-yoo

Films

Korea's oldest silent film revived

By Kwon Mee-yoo As the black and white film began rolling, a four-piece band — keyboard, violin, cello and piano accordion — played music and a narrator explained the first scene of the film “Crossroads of Youth” at Ewha Centennial Hall located in Jeong-dong, central Seoul, Saturday. The silent film was revived with a modern twist after enormous effort from staff including a programmer, a director, a composer, musicians, singers and a narrator. Though the picture was grainy, audiences were absorbed in the melodramatic story of Yeong-bok, Gye-sun, Yeong-ok and Gae-cheol in Seoul during the 1930s.The film was accompanied by a live music performance. Seasoned actor Cho Hee-bong sat at a small desk with a light on stage left and narrated the movie entertainingly. He was the “byeonsa,” or silent-film narrator, who reads lines, gives background information and even provides sound effects such as cows mooing. Noted musical actors Yang Joon-mo, who played the Phantom in the Korean production of “The Phantom of the Opera,” and Lim Moon-hee, whose credits includ

May 30, 2012By Kwon Mee-yoo

Arts & Theater

Life and art of late Lee In-sung

“On an Autumn Day”(1934) by Lee In-sung is currently on exhibit at the newly reopened National Museum of Art branch at Deoksu Palace, central Seoul. / Courtesy of National Museum of Contemporary Art, KoreaBy Kwon Mee-yoo An exhibition sheds new light on the art and life of the late Lee In-sung (1912-1950), a painter who sought native hues. The National Museum of Art at Deoksu Palace hosts an exhibition that looks into the artistic world of Lee through Aug. 26. “The Centennial Celebration of Lee In-sung’s Birth” highlights the short life of the artist from the beginning to his last days. It features some 75 artworks and 200 archives of his. Often dubbed the “Paul Gauguin of Korea,” Lee is well-known for his bold, indigenous use of color. “On an Autumn Day” (1934), in which a topless woman stands in front of exotic plants such as sunflowers, reminds one of Gauguin’s paintings depicting pristine nature. However, the exhibit gives a more comprehensive look at the artist, covering everything from pastoral sceneries to portrai

May 28, 2012By Kwon Mee-yoo

Arts & Theater

Art of Yoo Young-kuk revisited

By Kwon Mee-yoo Yoo Young-kuk (1916-2002) explored the world of abstract painting throughout his life. Unlike other artists who started with figurative painting and then turned to Abstractionism, Yoo was an abstract artist from the outset. An exhibition commemorating the 10th anniversary of Yoo’s death is currently at Gallery Hyundai Gangnam Space in Sinsa-dong, southern Seoul. Some 60 highlights from more than 800 of Yoo’s works are on display. The exhibit kicks off with the small abstract painting “Work” (1940). This is the only piece left from Yoo’s days in Japan. Born in Uljin, then-Gangwon Province, in 1916, Yoo studied abroad at the Tokyo Art Academy’s College of Fine Arts in Japan. Influenced by geometric abstraction such as Piet Mondrian’s “Composition,” Yoo’s early works use simple lines and achromatic colors. His second phase is more nature-inspired by subjects such as mountains and the sea. After returning from Japan, Yoo was forced to stop painting and work for a living due to Japan’s colonial rule. He went back to his hometown and worked for a fishery

May 25, 2012By Kwon Mee-yoo

Travel & Food

Weekender Neighborhood revamped with 'Someday Festa'

By Kwon Mee-yoo Just across a road from the bustling area of Hongik University, or Hongdae, is Sangsu-dong. The two neighborhoods share a close vicinity but the atmosphere of each is quite different. Sangsu is much quieter and more intimate than the jammed pack roads of Hongdae. A festival organized by a local resident will call attention to the small but artistic cafes and old-fashioned local fixtures of calmer, next-door Sangsu. “Someday Festa in May” will be held at some 40 venues scattered around the Sangsu-dong area — from exit No. 4 of Sangsu Station on subway line No. 6 to Dangin-li Power Plant starting Saturday until Monday. Kim Nam-gyun, the organizer of the event, said Someday Festa in May is a festival that focuses on individuals and daily life. Having grown up in Seoul’s small theater neighborhood of Daehangno, Kim studied Western painting and later worked as an experimental artist and cultural planner. He currently runs Space of Art Etc, a gallery and cafe in Sangsu-dong. “Everyone on this street has a story of their own, so I have to have at lea

May 24, 2012By Kwon Mee-yoo

Shows & Dramas

YouTube celebrates 7th anniversary with K-pop

By Kwon Mee-yoo As YouTube celebrated its seventh anniversary, K-pop singers from TVXQ to Kara performed and rocked Silicon Valley. YouTube, which is now Google/YouTube, and Korean broadcaster MBC co-hosted Monday the “MBC Korean Music Wave in Google” at Shoreline Amphitheatre in Mountain View, Calif., to celebrate the anniversary of the world’s largest video sharing service. Google took over YouTube five years ago. More than 20,000 K-pop fans formed a queue almost 1 kilometer long to enter the theater and sing along to the songs of Girls’ Generation, Wonder Girls, Super Junior, B2ST, MBLAQ, f(x) and Sistar. Alex Carloss, head of entertainment at YouTube, said K-pop has now become a “phenomenon” but was surprised that the 22,000-seat theater sold out within an hour. Some 6,000 Google and YouTube employees and their families also enjoyed the concert. Google originally planned to hold the concert at a smaller venue at its headquarters, but moved to the bigger Shoreline Amphitheatre due to requests from local K-pop fans. The concert was streamed live through YouT

May 23, 2012By Kwon Mee-yoo

People & Events

Cardinal celebrates Buddha's birthday

By Kwon Mee-yoo Cardinal Nicholas Cheong Jin-suk, the archbishop of Seoul, delivered a congratulatory message on Buddha's birthday, which falls on May 28 this year, to the Jogye Order, the country's largest Buddhist sect, Monday. "We wish that the mercy of Buddha, who came to this world to save all creatures in agony, spreads to everyone, especially for those who are poor and pitiful. We also hope that Buddha's lessons give true joy and happiness of life to those who are not able to find the meaning of life," the cardinal said in the message. The Seoul Archdiocese will congratulate the 2556th anniversary of Buddha’s Birthday by posting a banner that reads, "Celebrating Buddha's birthday together" at Myeongdong Cathedral in central Seoul from Friday. Monk Jeongyul will sing a hymn at Sunday's mass at the cathedral. Once a student of vocal music, he will sing "Ave Maria" and "Centering Prayer" at the mass. Other Catholic churches will also express congratulatory wishes. Seongbuk-dong Catholic Church, which maintains a good neighborly relationship with nearby Gilsa

May 21, 2012By Kwon Mee-yoo

Arts & Theater

'Korean Eye' takes 34 artists to London

By Kwon Mee-yoo “Korean Eye,” an exhibition to introduce contemporary Korean artists to the world, revealed the 34 who will present their work at the 2012 show at the Saatchi Gallery in London from July 25 to Sept. 23. “Korean Eye” was founded by Parallel Media Group chairman David Ciclitira to promote Korean art in cooperation with the Saatchi Gallery. The project has hosted a series of shows introducing rising Korean artists since 2009. The first exhibition themed “Moon Generation” was held in Seoul and London in 2009 and the 2010 “Fantastic Ordinary” was held in London, Singapore and Seoul. “Energy and Matter” previewed in Seoul last September and moved to New York and Abu Dhabi. The project also published a book on Korean contemporary art with Skira. The third exhibition in London coincides with the London Summer Olympics, which runs from July 27 to Aug. 12. The Saatchi Gallery is known for discovering promising artists. The gallery owner and collector Charles Saatchi has bought works and supported the Young British Artists, including Damien Hirst and Tracey E

May 21, 2012By Kwon Mee-yoo

Shows & Dramas

Pioneering 'hallyu' actor Song returns

By Kwon Mee-yoo Heartthrob Song Seung-heon is coming back to his fans through the small screen. Despite 16 years passing since his debut, Song, 35, remains as handsome and single as ever, coupled now with better acting ability. As one of the pioneers of “hallyu,” or the Korean wave, his popularity continues to the rise, both in Korea and overseas. Song began his career in 1995 as a model and then starred in dramas such as “A￢ utumn in My Heart” (2000) and “Summer Scent” (2003). He tried taking on a tough image in the 2008 drama “East of Eden” then turned into the perfect man in the romantic comedy “My Princess” (2011). Returning from a year hiatus, Song is ready to rock the small screen again by appearing in the MBC drama “Time Slip Dr. Jin,” which will begin airing on May 26. Based on the original comic by Japanese Murakami Motokai, it has been previously dramatized in Japan. The actor plays Jin Hyeok, a smart and cold-hearted surgeon who takes a journey back through time to the late 19th century Joseon Kingdom (1392-1910). This time warp will be portrayed in his cost

May 15, 2012By Kwon Mee-yoo

Arts & Theater

Paik’s legacy in dispute

Family of late video artist opposes memorial project By Kwon Mee-yoo An effort to commemorate Korean-born video artist Paik Nam-june and his legacy is being objected to by his family and executor. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, KBS and the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education established a committee for a Paik Nam June memorial project in February and set up an office at Jeongdok Library in central Seoul. “We want to revive Paik’s legacy including his creativity and genius. We first aimed to restore Paik’s birthplace in Changsin-dong, but the plan was scrapped due to restrictions. Instead, we will make a place to cherish the memory of Paik near this library,” an official of the committee said. Paik’s family, however, disagree. His nephew Ken Paik-Hakuta, the executor of the Nam June Paik estate, issued a press release Wednesday, saying that they had not given permission for the project being pushed by the ministry, the broadcasting station and the education office. The Paik Nam June memorial committee, led by “gayageum” master Hwang Byung-ki, held a

May 10, 2012By Kwon Mee-yoo

Kwon Mee-yoo

Read more

Iljoong Calligraphy Hall opens

Korea's oldest silent film revived

Life and art of late Lee In-sung

Art of Yoo Young-kuk revisited

Weekender Neighborhood revamped with 'Someday Festa'

YouTube celebrates 7th anniversary with K-pop

Cardinal celebrates Buddha's birthday

'Korean Eye' takes 34 artists to London

Pioneering 'hallyu' actor Song returns

Paik’s legacy in dispute

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