Lifestyle - The Korea Times

Museum opens to display remains of Joseon-era market

In 2008, cultural heritage officials faced an embarrassing problem: Whether they should approve the construction of a new building on the site of a newly found cultural property. The place in Jongno, one of the busiest shopping streets in Seoul, was where a market known for selling six items -- silk, raw silk, cotton, paper, ramie fabric and fish -- stood during the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910). In the market called "yukeuijeon," only government-approved merchants were able to sell those items in shops owned by the government. They were obliged to meet government offices' need of the items on sale. Remains of "haengrang," a room attached to one of those shops for use as a storage or a living space, were discovered at the construction site of the building months before. After having heated debate over the historical value of the remains, a committee of the Cultural Heritage Administration decided to ban the construction and preserve the site. The owner of the building then devised a brilliant idea along with a civic activist named Hwang Pyeong-wu: to build a new building wit

Aug 30, 2012

Classical concerts

Classical Concerts Radu Lupu Piano Recital Seoul Arts Center* Nov. 17 Radu Lupu is a Romanian pianist, the holder of the most prestigious awards for classical piano. He is especially noted for performances of works by great 19th century pianists. For the coming concert in Korea, Rapu Lupu is scheduled to play pieces by Schubert and Beethoven interpreted through his own unique playing. Tickets cost 70,000 to 130,000 won. For more information, call (02) 541- 3183. Deutsche Radio Philharmonie Orchestra Sejong Center Nov. 21 A leading German orchestra, the Deutsche Radio Philharmonie Orchestra, is led by Carel Mark Chichon. In their first concert in Korea, it will be accompanied by world-renowned violinist Viviane Hagner. Tickets cost 40,000 to 110,000 won. For more information, call (02) 399-1114 or visit www.sejongpac.or.kr. Ryuichi Sakamoto Trio Tour 2012 Japan & Korea Sejong Center Dec. 9 Japanese pianist Ryuichi Sakamoto, based in Tokyo and New York, will tour Japan and Korea with violinist Judy Kang and cellist Jaques Morelenbaum. Sakam

Aug 30, 2012By Do Je-hae

Clubs, Art Exhibitions, Kids, Sports Games, Horseracing

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. Call (02) 516-8847 for more information. Club Volume Itaewon Offering the finest venue for specially-themed weekly events and world-class DJs, Club Volume is located in the Crown Hotel near Noksapyeong subway 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. Dojo Kyounglidan Work hard, play hard, sleep later! Lying underground Noxa in the thriving Kyounglidan 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. W.E. Listen Samcheong-dong This caf

Aug 30, 2012By Do Je-hae

Jeon tells stories on water lilies

By Kwon Mee-yoo Korean-American artist Kyung Jeon portrays her personal history through water lilies at a dual exhibition currently at Kukje Gallery in Sagan-dong, central Seoul. At first, Jeon’s works look sweet and bright with pastel hues. When examined closely, boys and girls on lily pads have many stories, some of them are dark or violent. Jeon was born in New Jersey in 1975 and she explores her experience of growing up as a Korean-American in her works. Her new series is inspired by Claude Monet’s “Water Lilies” paintings and she portrayed her family history on water lilies. “I use fantasy and fairy tales to bring dark, difficult themes to art so it can be easier to digest,” Jeon said. Even her business card bears one of her characters, shedding tears and wearing pink underwear and a hairpin. “Another inspiration was the passing of my two grandfathers within a month of each other. My grandfather on my father’s side had one last wish to find his family in North Korea if Korea’s ever united,” she said. Her paternal grandparents married in North Korea and later move

Aug 29, 2012By Kwon Mee-yoo

Fair to feature Latin American art

Meet Botero, Cruz-Deiz, Soto next month By Kwon Mee-yoo The Korea International Art Fair (KIAF) 2012, the largest of its kind in Korea, will offer a variety of artwork and related events at COEX in Samseong-dong, southern Seoul, from Sept. 13 to 17. Organized by the Galleries Association of Korea, KIAF aims to become the hub of the Asian art market. In 2012, 181 galleries from 20 countries will offer a variety of works. Out of the 181, 120 are Korean galleries and 11 are from Germany while 10 are from Japan. Galerie Emmanuel Perrotin from France is set to take part in KIAF for the first time this year. Latin American art KIAF 2012's guest countries are from Latin America, celebrating the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties with 12 countries among 16 in the region. Galleries from seven — Argentina, Mexico, Chile, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Uruguay and Venezuela — and U.S. galleries specializing in Latin American art will present works of 84 artists from the early 1900s to contemporary art. The selection, featuring painting, photography, sculpt

Aug 28, 2012By Kwon Mee-yoo

Staggering ‘La Boheme’ tickets sold at discount

By Rachel Lee Dogged by a slack reception from local opera fans here for charging such high prices for tickets, organizers of “La Boheme” partially offered a special discount. This comes in the wake of the recent cancellations of two shows scheduled for Aug. 29 and Sept. 2 at Yonsei University in Seoul. Puccini’s classic opera garnered much attention from the public and media for its high-profile cast and production crew from the Orange Opera Festival, France’s oldest festival. To be performed outdoors with no amplification on the outdoor stage at Yonsei University’s amphitheater and featuring Romanian Soprano Angela Gheorghiu and Italian singer Vittorio Grigolo, the opera however garnered negative press for exorbitant ticket prices. Maestro Chung Myung-whun will lead the Seoul Philharmonic Opera. Forced by sluggish sales, ADL, a local production agency, offered 1,000 “R” tickets for as much as 87 percent off the original price on Ticket Monster, Korea’s top group-buying site. These R-class seats were sold at 120, 000 won for the general audience while it went further

Aug 26, 2012

‘Pillowman’ unravels truth about storyteller

By Kwon Mee-yoo “The Pillowman,” currently on stage at Space 111 of the Doosan Art Center, central Seoul, is a play about a writer of short stories. Playwright and movie director Martin McDonagh is a natural-born storyteller and he unravels a riveting story of writer Katurian and his brother Michal in the 160-minute play with an intermission. The play premiered in Korea in 2007 at the LG Arts Center, starring top actor Choi Min-sik as the protagonist Katurian. This year’s production is denser and more solid at the 100-seat theater. The 2012 production of “The Pillowman” begins with Katurian (played by Kim Jun-won), with his eyes covered, being interrogated by two police detectives Tupolski (Son Jong-hak) and Ariel (Jo Un). He does not know why he is being questioned at first, but later realizes that he is suspected of murdering three children

Aug 26, 2012By Kwon Mee-yoo

Sweet home-coming

Paris Opera Ballet’s Park in Seoul for gala performance By Rachel Lee Korean ballerina Park Se-eun has temporarily returned to her home country to grace the stage at the 2012 Seoul International Ballet Festival, which began on Thursday. Park officially joined the Paris Opera Ballet as of June this year, the first Korean female dancer to be admitted to one of Europe’s foremost troupes. The 22-year-old is to perform a number of repertories including “Romeo and Juliet” and “Adagietto” in Seoul today with Pierre Arthur Raveau, her fellow dancer of the company. “I still can’t believe that I got in,” the dancer told Wednesday The Korea Times during an interview at the Arko Arts Theater in Daehangno in Seoul. “It’s the outcome of all the hard work I’ve done. I did my best to pass the audition.” Born in 1989, Park began dancing when she saw the ballet “The Nutcracker” at the age of 10. “I was absolutely fascinated by the story and the colourful costumes. I told my parents about it and my father suggested I take up ballet,” she said. Park began training at the Seoul Arts Hi

Aug 24, 2012

Clubs

Club The Octagon Nonhyeon-dong Recently opened 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. Call (02) 516-8847 for more information. Club Volume Itaewon Offering the finest venue for specially-themed weekly events and world-class DJs, Club Volume is located in the Crown Hotel near Noksapyeong subway 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. Dojo Kyounglidan Work hard, play hard, sleep later! Lying underground Noxa in the thriving Kyounglidan neighborhood, Dojo is the latest edition to the clubbing nightlife in Seoul. Popular local DJs offer nonstop tunes for energetic danicing until dawn with weekday drink specials and enthusiastic crowds of longtime expats. For more information call 02-790-1334. W.E. Listen Samcheong-dong

Aug 23, 2012By Do Je-hae

Classical concerts

Deutsche Radio Philharmonie Orchestra Sejong Center Nov. 21 A leading German orchestra, the Deutsche Radio Philharmonie Orchestra, is led by Carel Mark Chichon. In their first concert in Korea, it will be accompanied by world-renowned violinist Viviane Hagner. Tickets cost 40,000 to 110,000 won. For more information, call (02) 399-1114 or visit www.sejongpac.or.kr. Ryuichi Sakamoto Trio Tour 2012 Japan & Korea Sejong Center Dec. 9 Japanese pianist Ryuichi Sakamoto, based in Tokyo and New York, will tour Japan and Korea with violinist Judy Kang and cellist Jaques Morelenbaum. Sakamoto’s album “1996,” which is to be performed, includes songs many are aware of, such as, “Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence,” “Rain” and “The Last Emperor.” Tickets cost 50,000 to 160,000 won. For more information, call (02) 599-5743. Lang Lang Piano Concert Seoul Arts Center* Nov. 28 Lang Lang, China’s beloved pianist will perform with one of Korea’s best orchestras, the Suwon Philharmonic Orchestra. Tickets cost 90,000 to 160,000 won. For more, call (02) 580-1300. Located near

Aug 23, 2012By Do Je-hae

Arts & Theater

Arts & Theater

Museum opens to display remains of Joseon-era market

Classical concerts

Clubs, Art Exhibitions, Kids, Sports Games, Horseracing

Jeon tells stories on water lilies

Fair to feature Latin American art

Staggering ‘La Boheme’ tickets sold at discount

‘Pillowman’ unravels truth about storyteller

Sweet home-coming

Clubs

Classical concerts

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