Lifestyle - The Korea Times

Clubs

Clubs The Octagon Nonhyeon-dong This club recently opened near the New Hilltop Hotel in Nonhyeon-dong. The venue offers a club stage, lounge bar and dining area in a hip and modern setting. Leave via exit 4 of Hakdong Station on subway line 7. Call (02) 516-8847 for more information. Club Volume Itaewon Located in the Crown Hotel near Noksapyeong Station, Club Volume offers the finest venue for specially themed weekly events and world-class DJs. Club Volume was listed by TIME magazine among the “10 things to do in 24 hours in Seoul.” For more information, call 1544-2635. Le Nuit Blanche Cheongdam-dong Formerly Club Answer, Le Nuit Blanche is a posh restaurant, theater and club. Located in front of the Hotel Prima in Cheongdam-dong, Le Nuit Blanche offers Cirque du Soleil-type performances. World-class DJs from all over the world perform at the club. For more information, call (02) 514-4311. W.E. Listen Samcheong-dong This cafe reinterprets traditional Korean desserts. The menu not only offers American-style coffee but also sweet

Jul 19, 2012

Classical Concerts

Classical Concerts Great Mountains Music Festival & School Alpensia Concert Hall Through Aug. 5 The Great Mountains Music Festival & School will be held in Gangwon Province. Renowned cellist Chung Myung-hwa and her sister violinist Chung Kyung-hwa serve as the artistic directors of this chamber music festival to be held at the Apelnsia Concert Hall in PyeongChang. This year’s theme will explore the relationship between dance and music. Tickets cost 40,000 to 250,000 won. For more information, call (02) 725-3394. Gidon Kremer and Kremerata Baltica Seoul Arts Center Oct. 16 Gidon Kremer, a Latvian violinist and conductor, will perform with Kremerata Baltica, a chamber orchestra he founded that consists of young musicians from Baltic countries. The orchestra won a Grammy Award in 2002 for its recording of Mozart pieces. Tickets cost 50,000 to 150,000 won. For more, call (02) 580-1300. Located near exits 4 and 5 of Nambu Bus Terminal on subway line 3. Call (02) 580-1300 or visit www.sac.or.kr/eng. Mariss Jansons and Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra Se

Jul 19, 2012

Modernity and tradition coexist in 'Kongchilpal'

By Kwon Mee-yoo The story of two women who jumped in front a moving train in April 1931 has been made into the musical “Kongchilpal Saesamryuk.” The title is an old Korean phrase meaning to talk about this and that behind people’s back. It was widely used in modern Seoul in the early 1900s. It is also the name of a children’s song by composer Hong Nan-pa, who was the uncle of the musical’s heroine Ok-im, who wrote a children’s poem by the same title. Penned by Yi Su-jin with music by Naomi Lee, the show brings an unfamiliar subject to Korean musicals — lesbian lovers. Subtitled “Love Story in Springtime Seoul,” the musical revolves around two young ladies — Ok-im (played by Choi Mi-so) and Yong-ju (Shin Eui-jung) — and their desire to be liberated in Seoul in 1930. Ok-im, a freshman at the music department of Ewha College (now Ewha Womans University), is excited about being a “modern” girl with newly-cut bobbed-hair. She is a bubbly, ahead-of-the-curve girl from a rich family and her father Hong Seok-hu is one of the first modern doctors in Korea. He

Jul 18, 2012By Kwon Mee-yoo

Decaying town eyes artful comeback

Sunset Janghang Festival kicks off town’s renaissance effort By Kwaak Je-yup JANGHANG — The vacation traffic jams clogged up the main freeways out of Seoul last Saturday. But as this reporter’s car approached the smallish seaside town, only a few other cars were in sight, the promotional flags attached to lampposts outnumbering the vehicles on the road. Such is the reality this town in the South Chungcheong Province faces today. Located at the mouth of Geum River next to the Yellow Sea, it was one of the four main ports of the Joseon Kingdom (1392-1910) and a fledgling metal refinery center under Japanese rule (1910-1945). Then, it was fast forgotten after the refinery closed in 1989. The population, which reached 100,000 at its height, is now down to only around 13,000. The facility’s gigantic chimney still stands, neglected and ignored. Now the town is trying to recapture its lost glory with a full-fledged cultural project with the backing of Seocheon County, which comprises of Janghang and 12 other municipalities at the southwestern end of the province. “Young

Jul 17, 2012

Calder's 'Black' world comes to Korea

By Kwon Mee-yoo Black mobile and stabile sculptures of Alexander Calder (1898-1976) grace the white cube of Kukje Gallery K3 in central Seoul at an exhibition named “Noir.” Some of them hang from the ceiling, while others rise from the floor. Black metal sheets and wires create exquisite balance in various shapes. Though there are only six works on display, they are enough to represent the quintessence of Calder’s world of art. The American artist originated the concept of the mobile sculpture and presented solids without mass in his wire works. This exhibit features works from the late 1930s to ’60s, showing how color and property of matter affected his pieces. Alexander S. C. Rower, chairman of the Calder Foundation and grandson of the artist, visited Korea last week to celebrate the opening of the exhibition and the 30th anniversary of Kukje Gallery. These works were hand-picked from Calder’s oeuvre by Rower himself. “The idea was to choose only abstracts works in black, without color,” he said. The centerpiece of the exhibit is the 1954 work “Black Mobile wi

Jul 16, 2012By Kwon Mee-yoo

National museum hosts Korean studies students

By Kwon Mee-yoo A group of 20-and 30-something foreigners visited Changdeok Palace, and Jongmyo, a UNESCO-registered royal shrine from the Joseon Kingdom, in central Seoul, Friday. They were different from other tourists, as they did not take souvenir photographs but rather showed more interest in the history and architecture. The aspiring Korean scholars were invited by the National Museum of Korea, as a part of its fellowship program that began this year. The National Museum of Korea Fellowship (NMK Fellowship) aims to raise the quality of Korean studies, nurture Korea scholars and boost networking of Korean studies experts across the globe. A total of 13 master and doctoral students majoring in Korean or Asian studies participated in the first NMK Fellowship, based on Koreanologists’ recommendation, from July 9 to 20. The fellows are from various countries — the United States, Japan, China, Chile, Germany and Australia. Some of the students have established connections to Korea, while others are new to the country. Maya Stiller, a German studying a doctoral

Jul 15, 2012By Kwon Mee-yoo

Universal triumphs with 'Romeo and Juliet'

Principal Yu Zeung’s Mercutio stands out from rest By Rachel Lee Universal Ballet has once again presented a masterpiece to local audiences. After receiving excellent reviews for John Cranko's Onegin, Universal Ballet, led by Julia H. Moon, staged Kenneth Macmillan's 1965 version of Prokofiev's "Romeo and Juliet" at the Seoul Arts Center's Opera House from July 7 to 14. Scottish-born dancer Macmillan was one of the ballet world's most influential choreographers during his lifetime. Originally created for London's Royal Ballet in 1965, his "Romeo and Juliet" has been one of the most sought-after works, as it adheres most closely to Shakespeare's original play. Except for the intense and passionate balcony pas de deux, the work does not require performances of breathtaking technical bravura. Instead the tragic love story is conveyed perfectly to the audience through skilful acting from the dancers and the overall visual splendor of the production. Universal Ballet achieved what is expected in the original; the dancers vividly portrayed every scene of the st

Jul 13, 2012

Classical concerts

Classical Concerts Great Mountains Music Festival & School Alpensia Concert Hall Through Aug. 5 The Great Mountains Music Festival & School will be held in the Gangwon Province. Renowned cellist Chung Myung-hwa and her sister violinist Chung Kyung-hwa serve as artistic directors of this chamber music festival to be held at the Apelnsia Concert Hall in PyeongChang. This year’s theme will explore the relationship between dance and music. Tickets cost 40,000 to 250,000 won. For more information, call (02) 725-3394. Gidon Kremer and Kremerata Baltica Seoul Arts Center Oct. 16 Gidon Kremer, a Latvian violinist and conductor, will perform with Kremerata Baltica, a chamber orchestra he founded that consists of young musicians from Baltic countries. The orchestra won a Grammy Award in 2002 for its recording of Mozart. Tickets cost 50,000 to 150,000 won. For more, call (02) 580-1300. Located near exits 4 and 5 of Nambu Bus Terminal on subway line 3. Call (02) 580-1300 or visit www.sac.or.kr/eng. Mariss Jansons and Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra Seoul Ar

Jul 12, 2012By Do Je-hae

'Hedwig' fans get excited for new season

By Kwon Mee-yoo Some 100 faithful fans of musical “Hedwig and the Angry Inch,” often dubbed as “Hedheads,” gathered at the Convention Center of Chungmu Art Hall, Monday, with eager expectations for the new production beginning in August. They came to attend “All That Hedwig,” a special event for the fans that featured a screening of a “Hedwig” concert as well as a talk session with the producer and director. The event was hosted by Shownote, the production company of “Hedwig” in Korea. Silver-spangled dresses and curly blonde wigs were on display along with photos of previous productions. Fans took photos of the costumes and posed with props from the show. The musical, based on the book by John Cameron Mitchell with music and lyrics by Stephen Trask, describes the life of a transgender, through monologues and rock music. It was staged in numerous countries, and in Korea it was a big hit among them. More than 700 Korean hardcore fans saw the musical more than 10 times and a particularly dedicated 22 of them watched the show over 300 times, proving genuine affection for He

Jul 11, 2012By Kwon Mee-yoo

NMOCA wins Red Dot Award for monochrome exhibit

By Kwon Mee-yoo The National Museum of Contemporary Art, Korea (NMOCA) has won a Red Dot Award: Communication Design 2012 for its exhibition “Dansaekhwa: Korean Monochrome Painting.” It won in the Event Design category for exceptional use of space, maximizing the appreciation of visitors. “Dansaekhwa.” held at the Gwacheon building of NMOCA from March 17 to May 13, featured some 150 works by 31 artists who portrayed the spirituality of Korea through solid colors. The exhibition was designed to create different scenes with various works depending on the viewer’s stand point. The partition walls of the gallery became a medium for creating communication between the works and the viewers. The concept of looking through window openings in traditional Korean architecture was brought into the design, creating layers of space in the hall. Visitors were able to see the artworks through the walls, experiencing the two-dimensional pieces in a three-dimensional sense. “The design of the Dansaekhwa exhibition was faithful to the narrative of the structure and the winning of t

Jul 10, 2012By Kwon Mee-yoo

Arts & Theater