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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

Take a walk through modern history at Korean Rhapsody

By Kwon Mee-yoo The dynamic history of 20th-century Korea has inspired a museum exhibition, featuring some 80 artworks in various forms ranging from Japanese “ukiyoe” and paintings from the period to contemporary media art. “Korean Rhapsody: A Montage of History and Memory,” ongoing at the Leeum, Samsung Museum of Art, in Hannam-dong, Seoul, sheds new light on the country’s modern history with a creative fresh perspective. “Koreans miss places where memories were made and this is related to social amnesia,” Lee Joon, deputy director of Leeum, said. “The contemporary history of Korea embodies both the past as well as the present, so we placed 100-year-old works next to contemporary artists’ work, juxtaposing our histories side-by-side.” Seemingly odd matches of old and new works direct the viewer’s attention to Korea’s tumultuous past. The exhibition is presented in two sections. The Black Box of Leeum hosts the first part in “Symbols of Modernity,” portraying the time from when ports were opened to foreigners to when Korea was liberated from Japan in 1945¬ . I

Mar 18, 2011By Kwon Mee-yoo
Arts & Theater

Weekender Seoul Art Space Sindang — Art blooms in underground arcade

By Kwon Mee-yoo Jungang Market showcases traditional Korean stalls full of vitality. However, on heading downstairs through colorful entrances to the underground arcade a new wonderland of artists unfolds before one’s eyes. This is Seoul Art Space Sindang (SASS), an old underground shopping arcade turned into some 40 artists’ studios with a small exhibition hall and common work area. Opened in October 2009, located near Sindang Station on subway lines No. 2 and 6, SASS infused a fresh atmosphere to the market which was established in 1971 and had already passed its heyday. Some 50 out of 99 stores in the arcade were empty, but the art space has brought more vitality and diversity. “This is an example of an idle urban space renovated to support artists,” Kim Hyo-jin of SASS said. The artists are from various fields from fabric, paper art, pottery and metal to book art, embroidery, glass and media art. Visitors can see work in progress through glass doors and windows. Some of the pieces are on sale at Art Market Dosirak, at the center of SASS. Joy o

Mar 17, 2011By Kwon Mee-yoo
Arts & Theater

AJA lends support for Japan

The Asia Journalist Association (AJA) announced a statement supporting Japan as it recovers from triple disasters — earthquakes, tsunami and radiation leaks from nuclear power plants. Led by Singaporean journalist Ivan Lim, the AJA encouraged the people and government of Japan in need of determination and fortitude in facing the overwhelming chain of natural destruction. “We viewed the footage of the scenes of devastation caused by the tsunami and the deaths of thousands of innocent Japanese people with a heavy heart,” Lim said in a press release. “The AJA extends our deepest condolences to the families of those who perished in the quake and flood.” The AJA will continue to lend their moral and material support for Japan, weathering the national crisis. “Grave challenges are ahead, including the unfolding nuclear emergency, and we are confident the Japanese people and government will come together and show spirit and determining in overcoming them,” the association said. They paid tribute to their fellow journalists who are braving the danger to give the world vi

Mar 16, 2011By Kwon Mee-yoo
Trends

SML creates bizzare but cute world

By Kwon Mee-yoo Round, colorful and armless figures wearing gray hooded sweatshirts line up at creative studio Sticky Monster Lab’s (SML) third exhibition “03 by Sticky Monster Lab” at Platform Place in Sinsa-dong, southern Seoul. The five-member group is composed of art directors Fla and Boo, figure artists Inae and C+ and producer Nana and is difficult to define with only a few words. They make animated films, design characters and even figurines. The team was formed in 2007 when freelance illustrator Fla and Boo joined up with Nana, then a planner for a digital film festival. Figure designers Inae and C+ came later, widening the studio’s horizons. They have produced three short animated films — “The Runners” in 2007, “The Monsters” in 2008 and “The Father” in 2009. Their characters are simple and colorful. The nine-minute animation “The Monsters” features a variety of characters. “The main character does not have arms. We visualized a weakness everybody has — some do not have legs and the others have their body split,” art director Boo told The Ko

Mar 16, 2011By Kwon Mee-yoo
Films

Dream comes true at The Age of Twenty-Nine

“I think film is a refined way of conveying a message to society. This is a movie about neglected people. There was a part-time employee who worked at our call center while studying to be a reporter.” By Kwon Mee-yoo Directing one’s own movie is a dream that only few achieve. Jeon Hwa-seong, 35, CEO of CNT Tech, has realized just this, from writing a script and directing to seeing his work screened at a movie theater. The 93-minute movie “The Age of Twenty-Nine,” directed by Jeon, was released last week at Seoul Cinema in Jongno, central Seoul. “I am a film enthusiast, watching at least three movies a week. I think film is a refined way of conveying a message to society,” Jeon said at an interview with The Korea Times. He has directed several short films, but this is his full-length debut. “I looked at every audience member’s face as they watched the movie. The film had to be worth 8,000 won for these paying viewers.” The idea of the movie came from his company. CNT Tech is a medium-sized firm that outsources ordering systems such as call centers and websites for rest

Mar 16, 2011By Kwon Mee-yoo
Others

Walk or run in the Turtle Marathon

By Kwon Mee-yoo Spring can’t decide whether to stay or not but eager participants in this month’s walkathon scheduled to take place at Mt. Nam this Sunday will not be de-motivated. The 404th Turtle Marathon hosted by The Korea Times' sister paper, The Hankook Ilbo is a monthly event that has drawn more than 120,000 people since 1978. Unlike an ordinary marathon, the Turtle Marathon allows participants to move at their own pace, enjoying the early morning air and natural surroundings. Lee Jong-yong, president of Renew System, will lead this month's marathon. Renew System is a construction material company specializing in environment-friendly waterproofing materials. Afterwards at the plaza, Korean traditional percussion music group Harang and fusion Korean quartet Heyya will perform traditional Korean music with a modern twist. All participants will be given beverages from Nongshim during the walk and middle and high school students who participate in the cleanup afterwards will receive certification for two hours of volunteer work. This month's raffle prizes includ

Mar 15, 2011By Kwon Mee-yoo
Arts & Theater

Monte Cristo returns with stronger revenge

By Kwon Mee-yoo The musical “The Count of Monte Cristo” has returned to the stage with the top musical actors from last year’s production and a strengthened story emphasizing the Count’s revenge. The curtain went up here on March 1 on the musical based on Alexandre Dumas’s 19th-century novel of the same name at the Grand Theater of Chungmu Art Hall in central Seoul. Edmond Dantes, a sailor of Marseilles promoted to captain, is sent to a prison on an isolated island through the actions of three conspirators during his engagement party — his friend Mondego, who loves Dantes’ fiancee Mercedes, Danglars, a junior officer on Dante’s ship who is jealous of him, and Villefort, an ambitious prosecutor from Marseilles. During his time in prison, Dantes learns philosophy, languages, mathematics and more from a priest Abbe Faria and escapes from jail, reborn as the Count of Monte Cristo. He finds hidden treasure on the island of Monte Cristo and seeks revenge on those who took everything from him. Shin Sung-rok, an avid actor on both the small screen and stage, plays th

Mar 14, 2011By Kwon Mee-yoo
People & Events

Kara to appear on Japanese TV

By Kwon Mee-yoo Girl group Kara, successful both in Korea and Japan, will appear on Japanese television for the first time after a dispute with their agency, DSP Media. According to Japanese newspaper Sponichi Annex, Kara will participate in "Music Station," a live music program on TV Asahi, on March 18. This is the first time for the group to take part in a live music show since three members of the group, Han Seung-yeon, Nicole Jung and Kang Ji-young, notified their agency of their wish to terminate their contract in mid-January. The five-member girl group plans to perform their hit song "Mister" and a new single "Jet Coaster Love," which is scheduled to be released on March 23. The members have been filming the Japanese drama "URAKARA" since the dispute. The members, currently staying in Japan, will return to Korea on Saturday to film their new music video and return to Japan next week. They also plan to appear on a live program filming at Universal Studios Osaka on March 20. The group topped Oricon's weekly DVD chart for two weeks in a row with their DVD "Kara

Mar 10, 2011By Kwon Mee-yoo
Shows & Dramas

String of talent shows trail Superstar K

By Kwon Mee-yoo Following the smash success of “Superstar K2,” some 10 talent shows will be on air throughout the year, covering from singer, designer and model to announcer and actor. Mnet’s “Superstar K3,” will start auditions for the third season of the hit talent show, Thursday, through phone and UCC (user-created content). After regional preliminaries, the show will start airing from Aug. 12 to Nov. 11, when the third winner will be announced. The show received more than 1.3 million applicants last year and expects even more this time. Huh Gak, the winner of “Superstar K2,” shot to stardom from working as a fan repairman and other finalists such as John Park and Jang Jae-in are also working on albums. Kim Yong-beom, the program’s producer, said this season’s keyword would be diversity at a press conference for the show last week. “This year we will separate the applicants by soloists and groups,” Kim said. “Previous competitions were based on individuals and even competent group members could not survive by themselves. We will give chances to such groups.” Vete

Mar 8, 2011By Kwon Mee-yoo
People & Events

Hyun Bin joins Marine Corps

By Kwon Mee-yoo Heartthrob actor Hyun Bin, 29, joined the Marine Corps training camp in Pohang, North Gyeongsang Province, Monday, to begin his 21-month military service. Hyun gained popularity after playing Kim Ju-won in the recent television soap opera “Secret Garden” and two movies released in February, “Late Autumn” and “Come Rain, Come Shine.” He held a short press conference before entering the training center. "I received so much love from fans from around the end of last year. I don't know how to express my gratitude," Hyun said. "I will spend my two years in the army well and repay my fans." He took off his cap and showed his new haircut and bowed deeply to fans with tears in his eyes, before entering the camp. Some 500 fans, including some from Japan, China and other countries came to the camp to bid farewell to the actor. Hyun's enlistment with the Marine Corps has been drawing public attention as some celebrities shun their military duties through illegal means. His agency AM Entertainment said the actor did not want to join the Army’s ente

Mar 7, 2011By Kwon Mee-yoo
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