Lifestyle - The Korea Times

'Apres-Girl' revisits Korea's first female film director Park Nam-ok

Lee So-yeon as Park Nam-ok in a scene from "Apres-Girl," a performance about Korea's first female film director / Courtesy of National Theater of KoreaBy Kwon Mee-yooFrom past to present, many of the world's greatest film directors started as cinephiles and Park Nam-ok (1923-2017), Korea's first female film director, is no exception. Having maintained a strong interest in film from a young age, she quit Ewha Women's Professional School to write film reviews for a newspaper and worked as a scripter and assistant editor at a film company after the 1950-53 Korean War. Park was one of the few who blazed a trail for women in Korea's movie industry."Apres-Girl," a joint production of three troupes under the National Theater Company of Korea (NTCOK), brought to the stage last week the tale of the woman who famously directed a film with a baby on her back. The National Changgeuk Company of Korea, the National Dance Company of Korea and the National Orchestra of Korea all joined hands for the first time in nine years after “Kim Hong-do” in 2011. The production, which was scheduled

Jan 26, 2021By Kwon Mee-yoo

'Apres-Girl' revisits Korea's first female film director Park Nam-ok

Balance of Joseon royal court interpreted through contemporary design

Installation view of "Sense of Balance: The Culture of Joseon Royal Court," hosted by the Design Institute of Cultural Commodities at Korea National University of Cultural Heritage / Courtesy of KNUCH By Kwon Mee-yooStudents at the Korea National University of Cultural Heritage (KNUCH) are presenting a series of daily objects inspired by the work-life balance of the Joseon Kingdom's royal court. "Sense of Balance: The Culture of Joseon Royal Court" is one of the three research projects the Design Institute of Cultural Commodities at KNUCH organized last year under the theme, "Transmission of Senses.”The original prototypes are on display at Mumokjeok in Seochon, central Seoul, while the products themselves are on sale at a pop-up store in Maison de Gru, about a 10 minute walk from the gallery. Kim Su-yeon, director of the Design Institute of Cultural Commodities, said the exhibit aims to add storytelling to the products, not just commercially promote them. "When you

Jan 23, 2021By Kwon Mee-yoo

Balance of Joseon royal court interpreted through contemporary design

National Theater Company pursues barrier-free, reduction of carbon footprint

Kim Kwang-bo, artistic director of National Theater Company of Korea, speaks during an online press conference, Monday. Courtesy of NTCK'Angels in America' to premiere in KoreaBy Kwon Mee-yooThe National Theater Company of Korea (NTCK) will strengthen its online screening repertoire, pursue a barrier-free theater experience and reduce its carbon footprint this year. Kim Kwang-bo, the new artistic director inaugurated about two months ago, said that during his three-year term, the NTCK will embrace new, relevant discourse into productions as he believes that the value of a play should be enjoyed by everyone, equally.The three major tasks of the NTCK this year are strengthening public awareness, guaranteeing freedom of expression and participating in actions to mitigate climate change. Kim is a seasoned director who gained experience in “art management” as artistic director at the Seoul Metropolitan Theatre from 2015 to 2020. "It's been 70 days since I was officially inaugurated and about 100 days including the take-over period. The NTCK from the insider's perspective is qu

Jan 22, 2021By Kwon Mee-yoo

National Theater Company pursues barrier-free, reduction of carbon footprint

Korean National Ballet, KBS criticized for dangerous filming location

Stills of “We, Again: The Ballet” Courtesy of KBSBy Park Ji-wonThe Korean National Ballet (KNB) and public broadcasting network KBS, have come under fire for filming dancers in dangerous locations for a ballet program.According to documents acquired by Rep. Jeon Yong-gi of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea, the labor union of dancers at KNB said they were treated badly and some of them were injured due to the dangerous locations for the filming of KBS's special one-off program “We, Again: The Ballet,” which aired on Dec. 24. The labor union criticized the dance company and the network for failing to protect the health and safety of the cast.The show was a joint project organized by the dance company and the network aimed at giving hope to those who are suffering from the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic by showing the dancers performing in various places in Korea. Filming took place in seven different locations, including a salt pan, airstrip, and forest.“Dancers had to jump on an asphalt airstrip at Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) in Sacheon, Sout

Jan 22, 2021By Park Ji-won

Korean National Ballet, KBS criticized for dangerous filming location

Three works inspired by traditional art forms to be performed on stage

“New Shimbanggok” by Sinnoi Courtesy of ARKOBy Park Ji-wonArts Council Korea (ARKO) announced Tuesday three new performances inspired by traditional art forms as part of its ARKO Selection, a program supporting promising new and revived performing arts productions.Three new works this year are “New Shimbanggok” by crossover band Sinnoi, “New Pansori: Leafie: A Hen Into the Wild” by director and pansori singer Ji Gi-hak, and “Sound goeng” by Lim Young-ju of the band GongMyoung.The pieces emphasize the use of profound traditional sounds that have endured for many centuries and have been made to fit modern tastes.“New Shimbanggok,” is a performance exploring the possibilities of traditional music ensembles featuring Shimbanggok, or Sinawi, a traditional form of folk music used in shamanistic rituals. Sinnoi is made up of three musicians from various genres, such as jazz bassist Lee Won-sool, traditional music singer Kim Bo-ra, and ambient sound musician and singer-songwriter haihm.“Shimbanggok has been used in many genres

Jan 20, 2021By Park Ji-won

Three works inspired by traditional art forms to be performed on stage

Journey of Korean court painting from Ohio to Seoul

"Sea, Cranes and Peaches" created in the late Joseon era, and belonging to the collection of the Dayton Art Institute in the U.S., is on view at the National Palace Museum of Korea after undergoing restoration in Korea. / Courtesy of Cultural Heritage AdministrationBy Kwon Mee-yoo"Sea, Cranes and Peaches," a folding screen from the late Joseon era and now in the collection of the Dayton Art Institute in Dayton, Ohio, will be on public view at the National Palace Museum of Korea after being restored in Korea. The exhibit was originally scheduled to be shown through Jan. 10, but it has been extended to Feb. 10 as the museum had to close down a day after its Dec. 4 opening after the number of COVID-19 cases spiked. The painting will return to its home in the U.S. in late February after the extended showing held in cooperation with the Overseas Korean Cultural Heritage Foundation (OKCHF). The painting, also known as "Haehakbandodo" in Korean, was created during the late Joseon era, around the late 19th century to early 20th century. It features images of the sea, cranes and peaches ― thr

Jan 20, 2021By Kwon Mee-yoo

Journey of Korean court painting from Ohio to Seoul

Not-to-miss art exhibitions in 2021

Park Soo-keun's "Grandfather and Grandson" (1960) will be shown at the artist's retrospective at MMCA Deoksugung scheduled in November. Courtesy of MMCAHealing becomes major topic this yearBy Kwon Mee-yooMost creative industries are suffering unprecedented consequences caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and the art world is no exception. Major thematic exhibitions this year will center on thoughts about the post-COVID-19 era or are designed to provide consolation for people suffering from the pandemic.Hakgojae Gallery in central Seoul kicked off the year with new exhibition "38˚C," which refers to the temperature at which someone will be restricted from public spaces in the COVID-19 era. It features works from its collection including Anish Kapoor, Tim Eitel and Lee Woo-sung. The National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Korea (MMCA) is also preparing for a thematic exhibit on the pandemic. Titled "Pandemic ― Catastrophes and Cure," the international exhibition aims to look at the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on individual and social levels and provide contemplation on the post

Jan 19, 2021By Kwon Mee-yoo

A look ahead at ballet performances in 2021

“Don Quixote” by Universal Ballet Courtesy of Kim Kyoung-jinBy Park Ji-wonFor ballet lovers, 2020 was one of the toughest years due to a series of cancellations of performances caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Not a single company presented “The Nutcracker,” the regular repertoire for many troupes in the winter holiday season. Some shows were released online, but many of them just didn't have a chance to meet audiences.Despite the difficult times, ballet companies are ready to show new inspiring works and long-awaited classics this year which could relieve stress from the prolonged pandemic.Svetlana Zakharova, a principal dancer of Bolshoi Ballet of Russia and La Scala Theatre Ballet of Italy, will tour Korea with 25 dancers of Bolshoi Ballet this year. After having last been here in November 2019, she will present her famous piece “MoDanse,” which portrays the life of legendary fashion designer Coco Chanel. The show will be held in BEXCO in Busan on Oct. 9 and 10, at the Seoul Arts Center on Oct. 13 and 14, and at the Daejeon Arts Center on Oct 16

Jan 17, 2021By Park Ji-won

A look ahead at ballet performances in 2021

Chang Uc-chin's love for family, nature revisited

Installation view of "House, Family, Nature and Chang Ucchin" at Gallery Hyundai in central Seoul / Courtesy of Gallery HyundaiBy Kwon Mee-yooArtist Chang Uc-chin (1917-90) is one of the most popular Korean modern painters, best known for pursuing childlike innocence throughout his career. Gallery Hyundai is presenting an exhibition commemorating the 30th anniversary of Chang's passing titled "House, Family, Nature and Chang Ucchin.”The exhibit, held in cooperation with the Chang Ucchin Museum of Art in Yangju, Gyeonggi Province, and the Chang Ucchin Foundation, features about 50 works centering on Chang's lifetime themes of family and nature. Chang Uc-chin during his Myeongnyun-dong era (1975-80) / Courtesy of the artist and Gallery HyundaiBorn in Yeongi, South Chungcheong Province, when Korea was under Japanese colonial rule, Chang studied at the Imperial Art Institute in Tokyo, Japan. After learning Western art styles there, Chang established the Neo-Realist Group, a modernist art group, in Korea in 1947. He worked as an art professor at Seoul National University after the 1

Jan 15, 2021By Kwon Mee-yoo

Chang Uc-chin's love for family, nature revisited

Musical 'Marie Curie' wins big at Korea Musical Awards

Kang Byung-won, president of Live, speaks after receiving the grand prize for the musical "Marie Curie" at the fifth Korea Musical Awards held at Blue Square in central Seoul, Monday. / Courtesy of Korea Musical AwardsBy Kwon Mee-yoo"Marie Curie," a musical focusing on the female scientist's achievements and her solidarity with her friend Anne, bagged five trophies at the fifth Korea Musical Awards held at Blue Square in central Seoul, Monday."Marie Curie" won the grand prize, awarded to the best Korean musical performed in a theater with more than 400 seats, as well as best director, best script, and best music prizes. The musical's producer Kang Byung-won of Live Corp. received the best producer award. “Marie Curie” centers on the scientist's discovery of the new elements polonium and radium and their benefits in the form of cancer treatment, as well as the side effects of radioactive poisoning. The big win scored by the Korean musical reflects the increasing popularity of stories about women.Director Kim Tae-hyung said Marie Curie was a great scientist who was a two-ti

Jan 13, 2021By Kwon Mee-yoo

Arts & Theater