Around Town 1

Clubs

The Octagon

Nonhyeon-dong

Near the New Hilltop Hotel in Nonhyeon-dong, this club is notable for its stylish interior and elite clientele. The venue offers a club stage, lounge bar and dining area to satisfy any night out after work or on the weekend. Near exit 4 of Hakdong Station on subway line 7. For more information, call (02) 516-8847.

Club Volume

Itaewon-dong

Offering a venue for specially-themed weekly events and world-class DJs, Club Volume is located in the Crown Hotel near Noksapyeong Station. Club Volume was listed by Time magazine among the “10 things to do in 24 hours in Seoul.” For more information, call 1544-2635.

Once in a Blue Moon

Apgujeong-dong

Once in a Blue Moon is one of the best known and well established jazz clubs in the city. It features live jazz sets from two different bands every night, usually starting at 7:30 p.m. It is located between the Hakdong intersection and the Galleria department stores in the posh district of Apgujeong-dong. For more information, call (02) 549-5490 or visit www.onceinabluemoon.co.kr.

Club Answer

Cheongdam-dong

Club Answer, chosen as one of the five hottest clubs in Seoul by CNN, provides spacious interior and brilliant lighting systems, filling the stage by world’s renowned DJs. Club Answer is located in prosperous area of Cheongdam-dong, a district known to lead the party culture of Seoul. Located near exit 13 of Cheongdam Station on subway line 7. For more information, call (02) 514-4311 or visit www.clubanswer.co.kr.

Club Ellui

One of the largest clubs in Asia and located under Hotel Ellui, world-class DJs such as Alex Kenji and Ferry Corsten feature in weekend lineups. Located near exit 13 of Cheongdam Station on subway line 7. For more information, call 1577-9669 or visit www.ellui.net.

Luv Superlounge

Nestled in the heart of Itaewon, Luv Superlounge offers a wide selection of drinks, and a solid sound system with resident DJ Andi Numan from New Zealand. Located near exit 1 of Itaewon Station on subway line 6. For more information, call (02) 794-8898 or visit ko-kr.facebook.com/luvsuperlounge.

Club Double Eight

Sinsa-dong

Opened in 2010, Club Double Eight takes clubbing to a whole new level. Located in Gangnam, it provides diverse hotel promotions and features weekend lineups with global DJs. Located near exit 1 of Sinsa Station on subway line 3. For more information, call (02) 543-8803 or visit cafe.naver.com/doubleeight.

Club Mute

Club Mute is a boutique club with exquisitely designed decorations and a custom-tailored sound system. Located near exit 1 of Itaewon Station on subway line 6. For more information, call (02) 796-6853 or visit www.clubmute.com.

Platoon Kunsthalle

Platoon Kunsthalle is a cultural space offering various facilities, including a large, open hall, library lounge, art studios and a bar and restaurant for multi-purpose events. It is open from Monday through Saturday from 11 a.m to 1 a.m. and DJ nights are on Thursday and Friday from 10 p.m. Located near exit 10 of Hakdong Station on subway line 7. For more information, call (02) 3447-1191 or visit www.kunsthalle.com.

Dojo

Work hard, play hard, sleep later! Lying underground Noxa in the thriving Kyoungridan neighborhood, Dojo is the latest edition to the clubbing nightlife in Seoul. Popular local DJs offer nonstop tunes for energetic dancing until dawn with weekday drink specials and enthusiastic crowds of longtime expats. For more information, call (02) 790-1334.

Art Exhibitions

Lee Ho-do

Gallery Illum

Jan. 7-16, 2013

Photographer Lee Ho-do will hold a solo exhibition in central Seoul. The photographer is known for delivering delicate and intense scenes. Located near exit 11 of Euljiro 3-ga Station, subway lines 2 and 3. For more information, call (02) 2263-0405 or visit www.galleryillum.co.kr.

Bae Mi-jung

Gallery Dos

Through Jan. 1, 2013

Painter Bae Mi-jung, chosen as a young artists by the 34th JoongAng Fine Arts Prize, offers an exhibition titled “Love Map.” For this show, the artist interviewed dozens of people, asking them about their favorite or memorable places, and then created pictures of the places based on the interviews. Located near exit 1 of Anguk Station, subway line 3. For more information, call (02) 737-4678 or visit www.gallerydos.com.

Musei Vaticani

Seoul Arts Center

Through March 31, 2013

Renaissance collections of the Vatican Museum are on exhibit in Korea. The 73 works including paintings, decorative arts, and sculptures from the Early to High Renaissance are on show. Famous artwork from the High Renaissance period such as Leonardo da Vinci’s “St. Jerome in the Wilderness,” Raffaello Santi’s “Charity” and Michelangelo Buonarroti’s “Pieta” will be also on display. Tickets cost 6,000 won for preschoolers, 8,000 won for elementary students, 10,000 won for middle and high school students, and 15,000 won for adults. For more information, call 1544-8755 or visit www.museivaticani.co.kr.

‘Transcending Vision: American Impressionism 1870-1940’

Seoul Arts Center*

Through March 29, 2013

To celebrate the 130th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the U.S. and Korea, 130 American Impressionism paintings by 90 artists are to be exhibited. American Impressionism first started at the Hudson River School and then developed in various regions. In the exhibition, the pieces are on display according to the artists’ main schools and regions for the purpose of representing the history of American Impressionism. Tickets cost 4,000 won for children over four, 5,000 won for elementary school students, 8,000 won for middle and high school students and 12,000 won for adults. For more information, call (02) 580-1300 or visit www.americanimpressionism.kr.

Seoul Photo Festival

Seoul Museum of Art

Through Dec. 30

The Seoul Photo Festival is on view in central Seoul under the title “Thousands of Villages, Thousands of Memories.” Hosted by Seoul Metropolitan City, the photos taken by 21 professional photographers and Seoulites show landscapes and people of the capital from the 1950s to the present. The Seoul Museum of Art, the main venue for the exhibition, is located near exit 1 of Seoul City Hall Station, subway line 1. Admission is free. For more information, call (070) 8240-9902 or visit www.seoulphotofestival.com.

Lim Choong-sup

National Museum of Contemporary Art, Korea

Through Feb. 24, 2013

Installation artist and sculptor Lim Choong-sup holds a solo exhibition under the title “Luna, and Her Thousand Reflections.” Lim attained a bachelor’s degree in painting at Seoul National University, and left for the United States in 1973. He has been working in such diverse genres as painting, sculpture, media arts, and installations for over 50 years. This exhibition presents some 70 pieces including previously undisclosed works. Located near exit 2 of Seoul Grand Park Station, subway line 4. For more information, call (02) 2188-6000 or visit www.moca.go.kr.

Yuki Matsueda

Keumsan Gallery

Through Dec. 29

Japanese artist Yuki Matsueda offers a solo exhibition under the title “Be Ready to Run.” This 32-year-old artist is the winner of the 2010 Nippon Paint Design Center Award, known for his three-dimensional artwork. His recent pieces such as “Escape” are on display. Located near exit 1 of Hoehyeon Station, subway line 4. For more information, call (02) 3789-6317 or visit www.keumsan.org.

Back Seung-woo

Gallery Now

Photographer Back Seung-woo offers a solo exhibition at Gallery Now, central Seoul. In his exhibition, photos taken from daily life on the way to and from work are on view. Located near exit 6 of Anguk Station, subway line 3. For more information, call (02) 725-2930 or visit gallery-now.com.

Sparkling Secrets — Swarovski

Daelim Museum

Through Feb. 17, 2013

This exhibition brings together the diverse collections and stories of Swarovski’s jewelry. It includes pieces that have been loved by numerous celebrities such as Audrey Hepburn, Madonna, and Lady Gaga and dresses from collaborations with Giorgio Armani, Vera Wang, and Vivienne Westwood. Visitors can take a photo wearing Swarovski items in the experience room. Tickets cost from 2,000 to 5,000 won. Located near exit 3 of Gyeongbokgung Station on subway line 3. For more information, call (02) 720-0667 or visit www.daelimmuseum.org.

Anish Kapoor

Leeum Samsung Museum of Art

Through Jan. 27, 2013

Installation artist Anish Kapoor’s first major museum show in East Asia is under way at the Leeum. Born in Mumbai, India in 1954, Kapoor started to showcase his works from the 1970’s in England. He is known for using a variety of materials in his work including paint, fiberglass, stone, PVC, stainless steel, wax and cement. In this exhibition, “Void,” large-scale monochromatic works, and stainless steel sculptures dominate. The show is the first to occupy the museum’s entire exhibition space including the garden. For more information, call (02) 2014-6901 or visit leeum.samsungfoundation.org.

Van Gogh in Paris: A Dialogue with Modernism

Hangaram Design Museum, Seoul Arts Center*

Through March 24, 2013

Post-Impressionist painter, Vincent van Gogh’s works are on show in Seoul. This exhibition focuses on the painter’s time in Paris (March 1886-February 1888) where he changed his style from Realist to Modernist. Most of the masterpieces are from the Van Gogh Museum in the Netherlands including one of the museum’s finest pieces, “Self-Portrait with Grey Felt Hat” (1887). Tickets cost 15,000 won. For more information, call (02) 724-2900 or visit vangogh2.com.

Traditional

National Theater New Year’s Eve Concert 2012

National Theater of Korea

Dec. 31

The National Orchestra of Korea, led by artistic director Won-il, will hold a New Year’s Eve Concert in central Seoul. “Gayageum” (12-string zither) maestro Hwang Byung-ki will play movements from his own compositions, and Korean-Japanese new age pianist Yang Bang-ean will perform numbers from his albums and his own version of Arirang (Korea’s traditional folk song).

A countdown to 2013 event will also be offered to the audience. Tickets cost 50,000 to 100,000 won. For more information, call (02) 2280-4114 or visit www.ntok.go.kr.

‘Dance, Chunhyang’

Through June 16, 2013

The National Dance Company of Korea performs “Dance, Chunhyang,” based on “Chunhyangjeon” that was passed down as “pansori” (traditional Korean narrative music) and then published in print during the Joseon Kingdom (1392-1910). In this traditional love story of a young couple, Jang Yoon-na is Chunhyang, the daughter of a “gisaeng” (courtesan) and Cho Yong-jin plays Mongryong, the son of the governor of Namwon, North Jeolla Province. Choreographed by Bae Jung-hye and directed by Kook Soo-ho. Located near exit 2 of Dongguk University Station, Subway line 3. Tickets cost 20,000 to 70,000 won. For more information, call (02) 2280-4114 or visit www.ntok.go.kr.

‘Song of Chunhyang’

“Pansori” (traditional Korean narrative music) singer Ahn Sook-sun will perform on Dec. 31 in central Seoul. The virtuoso will sing Manjeongje, a version of the“Song of Chunhyang,” which was created by one of the great pansori singers and her teacher, Kim So-hui (1917-1995). Located near exit 2 of Dongguk University Station, Subway line 3. Tickets cost 20,000 won. For more information, call (02) 2280-4114.

Kids

‘I Am an Artist’

Art Center Ida

In this exhibition, 11 renowned artists’ original pictures and about 100 works for children’s books are on display. Three ateliers, classified thematically, are opened to the audience. Tickets cost 10,000 won for adults and 15,000 won for children. Located near exit 1 of Yangjae Citizen’s Forest Station, on the Sinbundang line. For more information, call (02) 3143-4360 or visit www.artcenterida.com.

Garuya Garuya

COEX Artium

Open run

This children’s exhibition allows visitors to play with flour. Activities include baking bread, playing with utensils used for flour, making dough, drawing pictures using flour and more. Tickets cost 17,000 to 23,000 won. Discounts are also available. For more information, call (02) 738-8289.

Rolling Ball Children’s Museum

Anyang Kidsmom Center

In Rolling Ball Children’s Museum, children can play with “rolling balls,” a kind of kinetic art, using a variety of tools. Located near exit 8 of Indeogwon Station, subway line 4. Tickets cost 9,000 won and entry is free for children under 24 months. For more information, call 1544-9986 or visit www.rollingballkids.co.kr.

Sports Games

Basketball

Friday, Dec. 28

Wonju Dongbu Promy vs. Incheon ET-Land Elephants

Incheon Samsan World Gymnasium at 7 p.m.

Seoul Samsung Thunders vs. Ulsan Mobis Phoebus

Ulsan Dongchun Gymnasium at 7 p.m.

Saturday, Dec. 29

Jeonju KCC Egis vs. Changwon LG Sakers

Changwon Indoor Gymnasium at 2 p.m.

Anyang KGC vs. Busan KT Sonicboom

Busan Sajik Indoor Gymnasium at 2 p.m.

Seoul SK Knights vs. Goyang Orions

Goyang Gymnasium at 4 p.m.

Sunday, Dec. 30

Seoul Samsung Thunders vs. Wonju Dongbu Promy

Wonju Chiak Gymnasium at 2 p.m.

Changwon LG Sakers vs. Ulsan Mobis Phoebus

Ulsan Dongchun Gymnasium at 2 p.m.

Goyang Orions vs. Jeonju KCC Egis

Jeonju Indoor Gymnasium at 4 p.m.

Horseracing

Gwacheon Seoul Race Track

The Gwacheon Seoul Race Track holds races from 10:30 a.m. to 5:10 p.m., every Saturday and Sunday. Get off at Seoul Race course Station, subway line 4, exit 3. For more information, call (02) 509-1114 or visit www.kra.co.kr.