Around Town 2

The Octagon

Nonhyeon

Near the New Hilltop Hotel in Nonhyeon, 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

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

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 Galleria department stores in the posh district of Apgujeong. For more information, call (02) 549-5490 or visit www.onceinabluemoon.co.kr.

Club Answer

Cheongdam

Club Answer, chosen as one of the five hottest clubs in Seoul by CNN, provides a spacious interior and brilliant lighting systems, with world renowned DJs filling the stage. Club Answer is located in the classy area of Cheongdam, 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 AndiNuman 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

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 and sleep later. Lying underground Noxa in the thriving Kyonggridan 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.

‘Red'

National Theater of Korea

June 11-13

The National Dance Company of Korea will stage a production of “Red” from June 11 to 13. / Courtesy of The National Theater of Korea

The National Dance Company of Korea will stage a production of "Red" from June 11 to 13. This piece marks the exciting first collaboration of Choi Jin-wook, the principal choreographer of the dance company, ImPil-seong, director of "Scarlet Innocence," Mowg, music director for various respected films, such as "The Crucible," "Masquerade," and "Miss Granny," and Park Seung-gun, the esteemed costume designer for top brand pushBUTTON. Set to the invigorating sounds of the aforementioned music director, "Red" tells the story of an inherently human emotion that controls us all: desire. Ticket prices range from 20,000 to 50,000 won. For more information, call (02) 2280-4114 or visit www.ntok.go.kr.

‘Hanjin Shipping: The Box Project 2015'

National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Seoul

Through Sept. 13

The National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art in Seoul is holding a special exhibition for the annual "Hanjin Shipping Box Project" through Sept. 13. Installations by Argentine conceptual artist Leandro Erlich, "Port of Reflections," will be displayed. Located near exit 2 of City Hall Station on subway line 1 and 2. Tickets cost 4,000 won. For more information, call (02) 3701-9500 or visit www.mmca.go.kr.

‘Artist's Portfolio'

SAVINA Museum

Through June 6

Following the museum's successful pilot project last year, the SAVINA Museum will be holding its second "Artist's Portfolio" from March 18 to June 6. Unlike other exhibitions, which only display the final product, the organizers of "Artist's Portfolio" showcase the in-house painters and designers' entire portfolio, allowing visitors to view and fully experience the strenuous and visceral process by which each participant was able to arrive at his or her art. Through this rather revolutionary approach, one can attempt to delve into each artist's mind and understand his or her artistic philosophy, as opposed to merely scratching at the proverbial surface. Tickets cost 3,000 won for adults and 2,000 for children. Located near exit 1 of Anguk Station on subway line 3. For more information, call (02) 736-4371 or visit www.savinamuseum.com.

Mark Rothko

Seoul Arts Center*

Through June 28

The Seoul Arts Center will be holding an exhibition of the work of abstract expressionist painter Mark Rothko in southern Seoul from March 23 to June 28. This exhibition is not only a fortuitous occasion to view and admire Mark Rothko's multi-form paintings, but also an examination of the intersection of Steve Jobs and Mark Rothko, two dominant figures in their respective fields. In his final year of life, Steve Jobs became rabidly inspired by Rothko's philosophy of simplicity: expressing the complex and chaotic in simple terms. The exhibition is divided into multiple parts, all of which are dedicated to celebrating Rothko's influential working philosophy. Tickets cost 15,000 won for adults, 10,000 won for adolescents, and 8,000 for children. For more information, call (02) 532-4407 or visit covana.co.kr.

‘Magnum's First'

The Museum of Photography, Seoul

Through Aug. 15

To herald in the 130th anniversary of bilateral relations between Korea and France in 2016, a retrospective photography exhibition will be held at the Museum of Photography from April 4 to Aug. 15. Organized in part by Magnum Photos, one of the world's most eminent photography agencies, "Magnum's First" will feature photo-essays composed of original black and white vintage prints shot by the eight iconic photo journalists featured: Henri Cartier-Bresson, Marc Riboud, IngeMorath, Ernest Haas, Jean Marquis, Werner Bischof, Robert Capa and Erich Lessing. Located near exit 2 of Mongchontoseong Station on subway line 8. For more information, call (02) 0418-1315 or visit www.photomuseum.or.kr.

‘Special Exhibition of Donated Works of Jung Tak-young'

National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Deoksugung

The National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art is currently showcasing a special collection of works by Korean artist Jung Tak-young at its Deoksugung branch in Seoul through June 28. Jung Tak-young is widely regarded as Korea's expert in abstract ink paintings, an art form he has labored over since the beginning of his distinguished and illustrious career. The exhibition is divided into four separate sections, each dedicated to works created during a specific time in Jung's life, and stands as a singular opportunity for visitors to vividly visualize the dynamic evolution of Jung's aesthetic approach. Admission is free. For more information, call (02) 2022-0600 or visit www.mmca.go.kr.

Frida Kahlo

SOMA Museum of Art

June 6-Sept. 4

“Self-Portrait as a Tehuana”by Frida Kahlo will be held on display at the SOMA Museum of Art from June 6 to Sept. 4. / Courtesy of The SOMA Museum of Art

The SOMA Museum of Art will be holding an exhibition of the enigmatic yet widely revered artist Frida Kahlo's work from June 6 to September 4. Best known for her vivid self-portraits, trademark uni-brow, and tempestuous and volatile marriage with fellow Mexican artist Diego Rivera, Kahlo is celebrated globally for her depiction of indigenous Mexican culture and unflinching portrayal of the female form and experience. More than 100 of her best-known paintings and sketches will be on display. Tickets cost 13,000 won for adults, 10,000 won for adolescents, and 6,000 won for children. For more information, call (02) 801-7955 or visit www.somamuseum.org.

Fernando Botero

July 11-Nov. 4

The Seoul Arts Center will be holding an exhibition of Fernando Botero's work from July 11 to November 4. Botero is a figurative artist and sculptor from Colombia. He is prevalently considered to be the most recognized artist alive today hailing from Latin America. Botero's endearing artistic style, which sees him molding or painting figures in extremely rotund, corpulent form, has enchanted people from all walks of life for many decades, and will be sure to captivate Korean visitors as well. For more information, call (02) 580-1300 or visit www.sac.or.kr.

‘Hwang Gyu-baik: Seen and Unseen'

National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Gwacheon

Through July 5

The National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art is currently holding an exhibition titled "Hwang Gyu-baik: seen and unseen," which aims to honor renowned Korean printmaker Hwang Gyu-baik's oeuvre, through July 5 at its Gwacheon branch, south of Seoul. Born in Busan in 1932, Hwang relocated first to Paris, then New York, the hub of contemporary art. Inspired by the highly fertile artistic environment, he began to hone his printmaking techniques, incorporating mezzotint, a time-tested skill he had mastered along the way, into his repertoire, all the while revamping certain traditional components of printmaking to shape his own unique style. Perhaps as a reflection of his meticulous and global search and pursuit towards his art, Hwang is globally recognized for his restrained yet shockingly vivid prints, even being commissioned to draw the poster for the 1984 Sarajevo Winter Olympic Games. The exhibition is divided chronologically into three parts, from his early print works in Paris and New York, to his most recent creations. Admission is free. For more information, call (02) 2188-6000 or visit www.mmca.go.kr.

‘Huh Young-man: The Secret of Creations'

Through July 19

A retrospective of the work of Huh Young-man, Korea's most prominent "manhwa" (comics) artist, is being held at the Seoul Arts Center through July 19. After splashing onto the cartoon and comics scene in 1974 through a competition hosted by the HankookIlbo, The Korea Times' sister paper, Huh became a veritable household name with the publication of action-adventure comic "Gaksital," translated as bridal mask. Since then, Huh's works have been recognized and cherished for their literary value and general fun. Indeed, some of his comics have been adapted to the silver screen, while several of his smaller cartoon strips have even become serialized in local dailies. Tickets cost 12,000 won for adults, 10,000 won for teenagers and 8,000 won for children. For more information, call 070-7533-8998.

‘Visual Scandal'

KT & G Sang SangMadang Gallery

Through Aug. 30

A comprehensive exhibition featuring a lifetime's worth of work by preeminent graphic artist Raymond Savignac is currently being held at the KT & G Sang SangMadang Gallery through August 30. One would be hard-pressed to find anyone who is unable to identify an original Savignac poster, for his use of explosively vivid colors, and humorous wit and simplicity are emblematic of the French illustrator's modus operandi. Tickets cost 7,000 won. For more information, call (02) 330-6223 or visit www.sangsangmadang.com.

‘Ways of Recording’

Gallery Baton

Through June 27

“Broken Bones” by Cindy Wright is currently on display at Gallery Baton through June 27. Courtesy of Gallery Baton

Gallery Baton is hosting an exhibition of five artists titled “Ways of Recording” through June 27. With the advent of photography as the prime medium utilized to record and capture time as accurately and precisely as possible, painters and purveyors of other channels were released from their former duties, and instead were encouraged to pursue other forms of artistic expression that placed considerable emphasis on each artist’s own imagination and creative energy as a means to frame personal memories from an unflinchingly personal perspective. As previously mentioned, this exhibition will provide an opportunity for a host of emerging Korean and international artists to display their work and personal approach. For more information, call (02) 597-5701 or visit www.gallerybaton.com.

‘SeMA Collection: The Faces’

Gangnam Foundation for the Arts and Culture

Through June 14

The Gangnam Foundation for the Arts and Culture is holding a retrospective dedicated to photojournalist Joo Myung-duck’s work, entitled “The Faces,” in collaboration with the Seoul Museum of Art through June 14. Born in 1940, Joo is most well known for his photographs depicting the harsh struggles and realities of post-war Korean society. The exhibition is divided into two separate parts, each of which encapsulates his lifetime’s work. The first part, “Blended Names,” deals with his work in relation to Holt’s Orphanage. Among the numerous ramifications of the brutal Korean War, the swelling number of interracial children born from Korean mothers and American G.I.s became a real social issue, for they represented an anomaly within an otherwise homogenous Korean society, and were subsequently treated like social pariahs and ostracized by their neighbors. Within this hostile environment, Holt’s Orphanage was born. Established by Harry and Bertha Holt, an ordinary couple from Midwestern America, Holt’s Orphanage grew from a family operation to become a massive humanitarian organization and adoption agency, working to facilitate international adoptions from more than ten countries. Completely pared down and unfalteringly stark, Joo’s portraits of the biracial orphans and abandoned children of the Holt orphanage are an honest depiction of their lives, stripped of sentimentality and contrived emotion. Joo’s photo-essays on the literary, musical, and cultural life of Korea after the 1960 is accounted for in “Artist’s Series,” the latter part of the exhibition. Admission is free. For more information, call (02) 6712-0534 or visit www.gfac.or.kr.

The Children's Museum

National Museum of Korea

Open Run

The Children's Museum run by the National Museum of Korea provides an opportunity for children to see the lifestyles of Koreans in the past. The museum also exhibits duplicated versions of Korea's national treasures, which visitors can touch. In the "hands-on" activity room, children can play traditional Korean music instruments. Located near exit 2 of Ichon Station, subway line 4 and Jungang Line. Admission is free. For more information, visit www.museum.go.kr.

Gwacheon National Science Museum

Gwacheon, Gyeonggi Province

The museum has revamped its programs, highlighted by a wider variety of natural history items such as dinosaurs and also items on space technology. Located near exit 5 of Seoul Grand Park Station, subway line 4. Tickets cost 2,000 won for children and 4,000 won for adults. For more information, call (02) 3677-1500 or visit www.sciencecenter.go.kr.

K-League Classic

Saturday, May 30

Pohang vs. Daejeon

Pohang 2 p.m.

Gwangju vs. Jeju

Gwangju at 2 p.m.

Jeonnam vs. Busan

Busan at 4 p.m.

Sunday, May 31

Seongnam vs. Jeonbuk

Seongnam at 2 p.m.

Incheon vs. Suwon

Incheon at 2 p.m.

Seoul vs. Ulsan

Seoul at 4 p.m.

KBO League

Friday, May 29

Hanhwa vs. Lotte

Ulsan at 6:30 p.m.

NC vs. KIA

Gwangju at 6:30 p.m.

Doosan vs. KT

Suwon at 6:30 p.m.

Samsung vs. LG

Jamsil at 6:30 p.m.

Nexen vs. SK

Moonhak at 6:30 p.m.

Ulsan at 2 p.m.

Suwon at 5 p.m.

Jamsil at 5 p.m.

Moonhak at 5 p.m.

Suwon at 2 p.m.

Jamsil at 2 p.m.

Tuesday, June 2

Hanhwa vs. Nexen

Mokdong at 6:30 p.m.

KIA vs. Doosan

LG vs. NC

Masan at 6:30 p.m.

Lotte vs. Samsung

Pohang at 6:30 p.m.

SK vs. KT

Wednesday, June 3

Thursday, June 4

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 Racecourse Park Station, subway line 4, exit 3. For more information, call (02) 509-1114 or visit

www.kra.co.kr.