Lifestyle - The Korea Times

Around Town 1

  Sumi JoSejong Center for the Performing Arts*Sept. 11 Soprano Sumi Jo will hold a concert at the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts on Sept. 11 to mark the release of her first popular music-based album. Through her impressively resounding and clear voice, Jo has accrued a remarkable resume as one of the leading sopranos of today. For this particular concert, she will be accompanied by, among others: harmonica player Jeon Jae-duk, vocalist Sohyang, Korean musical actor Yoon Yeong-suk, and the Gwacheon Symphony Orchestra, led by Choi Yeong-sun. Ticket prices range from 50,000 to 150,000 won. For more information, call (02) 3461-0976 or visit smi-entertainment.com. Paik Kun-wooSeoul Arts Center*Sept. 22 Pianist Paik Kun-woo will hold a solo piano recital in southern Seoul at the Seoul Arts Center on Sept. 22. For this particular evening, Paik will delight the audience with his rendition of Alexander Scriabin’s “24 Preludes, Op. 11” and Sergei Rachmaninoff’s “Piano Sonata No. 1, Op. 28.” Ticket prices range from 50,000 to

Aug 13, 2015

Around Town 2

 Club OctagonNonhyeon 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 VolumeItaewon 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 MoonApgujeong 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 AnswerCheongdam Cl

Aug 13, 2015

Photo exhibit held at hotel restaurant

Photographer Cho Seung-yeon is holding an exhibition at the Park Café at Marriott Executive Apartments Seoul in Yeouido through Aug. 16.The Park Cafe, which is primarily a restaurant, is hosting the exhibition in an effort to transform into a cultural space instead of just a place to eat.Rather than focusing on inaccessible or arcane art pieces, the restaurant-gallery aims to maximize its popular appeal and exhibit works to which visitors can relate. The exhibition features some 40 works of Cho’s photography under the theme “People, Advertisement and Architecture.” The exhibition is open to the public free of charge."Park Cafe will continue to serve as a cultural complex, rather than merely a place to eat and drink,” says Bokrye Kim, head of food and beverages at the Yeouido Marriott Hotel. “This will be the first of many art and photo exhibitions to be held here in the coming months.” 

Aug 11, 2015

Virtuoso inspired generations of dancers

The late Lee Mae-bang (1927-2015) performs “seungmu” in this 1985 file photo./ Korea TimesBy Do Je-haeMusic is the greatest source of inspiration for a dancer.I have seen performers unable to interpret the music they are dancing to and this really becomes an annoyance for the audience. So I have always believed that a solid basis for a great dancer is his or her appreciation of music.In the field of Korean traditional dance, the late Lee Mae-bang, who died on Aug. 7, was a leader among a rare breed of dancers who were able to mesmerize the audience by becoming one with the music.I have seen a spellbinding combination of musical understanding and dancing ability produce magic in ballet, my favorite dance genre, particularly in the performances of  American Ballet Theatre legend Alessandra Ferri and former Paris Ballet Opera “etoile” (principal dancer) Agnes Letestu.I never knew that similar kind of magic was possible in traditional Korean dance, a genre that is increasingly losing touch with young Koreans, until I learned about Lee.The first time I ca

Aug 9, 2015By Do Je-hae

Virtuoso inspired generations of dancers

Traditional dance master Lee Mae-bang dies at 88

Dansaekhwa on the rise

Artist Ha Chong-hyun’s “Conjunction” series are on display at the “Dansaekhwa” exhibit at Palazzo Contarini-Polignac in Venice through Aug. 15. / Courtesy of Kukje GalleryBy Kwon Mee-yoo "Dansaekhwa" is the talk of the art community across the globe these days. This seminal movement in Korean modern art is gaining attention for its unique form of Korean modernism.Dansaekhwa literally translates into "monochrome painting", but the term does not necessarily mean simple solid-color artwork.Yoon Jin-sup, critic and professor at Honam University who was the curator of a major Dansaekhwa exhibition at the Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Korea in 2012, was the first to come up with the term Dansaekhwa during the 2000 Gwangju Biennale when he organized a special exhibition, “The Facet of Korean and Japanese Contemporary Art,” to distinguish Korean monochromatic painting that shaped the nation’s modern art.Installation view of Kim Whan-ki’s works at the “Dansaekhwa” exhibit at Palazzo Contarini-Polignac in Veni

Aug 9, 2015

Folk museum sheds light on Gyeonggi Province folklore

Masks that the itinerant troupe members wear while performing in the market are on display at the National Folk Museum of Korea in Seoul. / Korea Times photo by Baek Byung-yeulBy Baek Byung-yeulGyeonggi Province, home to Seoul, has been a bridge between the capital and provincial areas for a long time.With favorable geographical conditions -- high mountains in the east, the coast in the west, a wide stretch of lowland in the south and a big river in the north -- the province has historically served as the nation’s political, economic, social and cultural center.On the occasion of “2015 Gyeonggi Folk Culture Year,” the National Folk Museum of Korea is holding an exhibition, “What Is Gyeonggi Folk Culture!” aiming to offer a glimpse of the provincial folklore, culture and heritage.Comprised of three parts -- “About Gyeonggi,” “Gyeonggi as a Melting Pot” and “Gyeonggi as a Trading Center” -- the exhibition, which opened Wednesday, definitely makes the audiences feel like travelling to every nook a

Aug 7, 2015

Folk museum sheds light on Gyeonggi Province folklore

Around Town 2

 Club OctagonNonhyeon 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 VolumeItaewon 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 MoonApgujeong 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 AnswerCheongdam Club Answer, c

Aug 6, 2015

Around Town 1

  Sumi JoSejong Center for the Performing ArtsSept. 11 Sumi Jo, Korea’s foremost, Grammy Award-winning soprano, will  hold a concert at the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts on Sept. 11 to mark the release of her first popular music-based album. Through her impressively resounding and clear voice, Jo has accrued a remarkable resume as one of the leading sopranos of today. For this particular concert, she will be accompanied by, among others: harmonica player Jeon Jae-duk, vocalist Sohyang, Korean musical actor Yoon Yeong-suk, and the Gwacheon Symphony Orchestra, led by Choi Yeong-sun. Ticket prices range from 50,000 to 150,000 won. For more information, call (02) 3461-0976 or visit smi-entertainment.com. Sabine Meyer TrioLG Arts CenterSept. 22 Sabine Meyer, who is considered to be one of the most accomplished soloists of today, will hold a clarinet recital at the LG Arts Center on Sept. 22./ Courtesy of the LG Arts Center Sabine Meyer, who is considered to be one of the most accomplished soloists of today, will hold a clarinet re

Aug 6, 2015

Pharrell Williams, Maroon 5 to hit town this fall

American rock band Bon Jovi will perform at the Seoul Sports Complex in Jamsil, southern Seoul, on Sept. 22. / Courtesy of Live Nation KoreaPharrell Williams will perform at the Olympic Gymnastics Arena on Aug. 14. / Courtesy of Access EntertainmentBy Kwon Ji-younAs summer hits its peak and the music festival season concludes, artists including Pharrell Williams, Maroon 5 and Bon Jovi are bringing live shows to Korea to help fill the void.First up is award-winning, multi-platinum superstar Pharrell Williams, whose first live concert in Seoul will take place at the Olympic Gymnastics Arena on Aug. 14.A singer-songwriter, rapper, record producer, philanthropist and fashion designer, Williams has a string of accolades, including ten Grammys, two BBC Music awards and two BET awards. His single “Happy,” which has sold over 12 million copies, gave him his first Academy Award nomination and two Grammy nominations, and was Billboard’s number one single for 2014.Williams, also the lead vocalist of hip-hop and funk-rock band N.E.R.D, has produced for artists includi

Aug 5, 2015

Pharrell Williams, Maroon 5 to hit town this fall

Old bathhouse gets makeover as hip gallery

 A bathhouse in western Seoul has been temporarily transformed into an exhibition hall.Under the title "City Game," the 34-year-old bathhouse in Mok2-dong, Yangcheon-gu, is presenting the works of artists Dozer Kim and Choi Suk-young.The works include reflections of the old neighborhood, such as pictures of residents’ faces and the residents’ rooms and belongings.The exhibition runs through Wednesday.The bathhouse, which is being repaired, will resume its original role when work is completed.For more information, call 02-2642-5361.

Aug 3, 2015By Kim Bo-eun

Arts & Theater

Arts & Theater

Around Town 1

Around Town 2

Photo exhibit held at hotel restaurant

Virtuoso inspired generations of dancers

Dansaekhwa on the rise

Folk museum sheds light on Gyeonggi Province folklore

Around Town 2

Around Town 1

Pharrell Williams, Maroon 5 to hit town this fall

Old bathhouse gets makeover as hip gallery

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