Lifestyle - The Korea Times

61st [Portrait] Reflections to behold

By Jesse Chun NEW YORK ― When Hong Hei-kyung entered the sunlight-filled ballroom of the New York Metropolitan Opera, her confident stride and face resembling Sophia Loren’s instantly commanded attention. During the photo shoot Hong did not hesitate to play with the dusty curtains on the wall when asked. Her childlike curiosity revealed a mischievous girly innocence and spunky spirit. However it was not so much her animated gestures, but her sincere gaze that charmed ― the intimate warmth that she brought to every eye contact. As the shoot continued at Hong’s favorite Italian restaurant, her reflection in the mirror revealed every bit of an elegant opera singer that one might easily miss the vulnerability in her eyes. One might not know that behind that glamorous reflection, she was placing a slice of pizza on everyone’s plate and telling us to “eat more,” just like any loving Korean mother would. Hong’s beauty was memorable in the most unpretentious way, just like her singing. Jesse Chun is a fine art photographer whose works have been exhibited and published intern

Oct 27, 2011

Busan to host indie art fest

By Lee Hyo-won An independent art festival featuring various performances and events will take place in Busan this weekend. The inaugural edition of the Busan Independent Art Festival will open Friday for a three-day run through various indoor and outdoor venues around Pusan National University. Pusan National University is the southern port city’s equivalent of Seoul’s Hongdae area, as it represents a thriving underground youth culture. Some 10 unique cafes, theaters and alternative art spaces will turn into stages for over 20 events including hip-hop, “gugak” (Korean traditional music), b-boying and modern dance performances, as well as indie flick screenings and exhibitions. “The Pusan National University area became a place for alternative youth culture in the 1970s and ’80s, and thrived with the introduction of non-mainstream music such as rock and hip-hop as well as the development of mass media,” say festival organizers in a press release. “Alternative independent culture has thrived in niche venues and lifestyles, without the foundation of a set space or sy

Oct 26, 2011

’Sacheon-ga’ interprets Brecht through pansori

By Kwon Mee-yoo "It is practically impossible to live nicely. I am too fat to get a job, not even part-time. Per capita income of the nation is $20,000, but I am still hungry. There are many unsold apartments, but I do not have a place to lay my body down. I want to live nicely, but how could I do so in this expensive world," a "sorikkun," or narrative singer recites in a rhythmical tone. This is a scene from "Sacheon-ga," a “pansori” performance staged at Baekam Art Hall through Sunday. “Sacheon-ga” is an original work written by Lee Ja-ram, 32 that adapts Bertolt Brecht's "The Good Person of Szechwan" in the form of pansori. Pansori is a traditional form of narrative music in Korea, performed by a solo singer who plays all the characters in the story accompanied by a drummer. Lee is one of the most prominent young Korean traditional musicians, who completed singing pansori pieces "Chunhyang-ga," "Sugung-ga," "Jeokbyeok-ga" and "Simcheong-ga." Instead of remaining a talented Korean classical musician, Lee has broadened her boundaries by organizing a folk rock band

Oct 26, 2011By Kwon Mee-yoo

Show highlights transition of ’hanbok’ in 1920s

By Do Je-hae First opened in 1905, the former Seoul Station that now serves as a cultural complex was a befitting choice of venue to show the transformation of “hanbok” since the 1920s. The Korean traditional dress is associated mainly with formal occasions and perceived as irrelevant to everyday life. But sublime variations of hanbok can be practical and fashionable, as demonstrated during a recent fashion show held at the what is now known as the Culture Station Seoul 284 after a three-year restoration project. Held under the theme “Modern Women — the Fashion Leader,” the show is part of the Hanbok Festival 2011 organized by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism to continue through Sunday. Here, the modern women refer to a rare breed of fashion-conscious women in the 1920-30s that went to school or received higher education and ladies of royal and nobility classes. “We planned the show for people to see how hanbok transformed itself to adjust to the changing times. Our focus was on reproducing the fashion trend as it were,” said Seo Young-hee, a Vogu

Oct 25, 2011By Do Je-hae

Symphonic ecstasy of Mahler

Chung’s Seoul Philharmonic to release DG recording of ‘Titan’ By Do Je-hae For lovers of symphonic music, there is nothing quite as exhilarating as the Mahler experience. A common trait among great conductors of the past and present has been a deep affection for the music of the master symphonist Gustav Mahler (1860 — 1911). Chung Myung-whun, who is known more as a specialist of French music and operas, has been building a legacy of his own for Austro-German masters like Beethoven and Mahler with various orchestras here and in Europe. With his Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra (SPO), Chung is undertaking a series of concerts devoted to Mahler on a regular basis. Other Korean orchestras have attempted Mahler cycles, but when it comes to this composer in particular, none have been able to match the success of the SPO in concert or in recording. The SPO recently concluded its second European tour. This summer, the SPO was invited to some of Europe’s most respected musical festivals this year, including the Edinburgh International Festival, the Musikfest Bremen and the R

Oct 24, 2011By Do Je-hae

Joseon life in court painters’ eyes

By Kwon Mee-yoo The life inside and outside of the royal palace of the Joseon Kingdom (1392-1910) seen through court painters’ eyes is on exhibit at Leeum, the Samsung Museum of Art in Seoul. “The Court Painters of the Joseon Dynasty” features some 110 works of court painters, who worked for “Dohwaseo,” or the Royal Bureau of Painting. These court painters, or “hwawon,” led Joseon’s art scene with literati painters. “The court painters in Joseon were talented in various genres of painting, but they were undervalued due to their social status. We will shed new light on these official painters of Joseon through this exhibition,” Hong Ra-young, deputy director of Leeum, said at a press preview of the exhibit. The court painters were professional artists and worked for royal offices, visualizing the authority and governing ideology, while creating a variety of works following requests by their sponsors. They also pioneered the genre painting, depicting scenes from everyday life. “Famous Joseon artists Gim Hong-do, Sin Yun-bok and An Gyeon were all court painters. They com

Oct 23, 2011By Kwon Mee-yoo

Clubs, art exhibitions and kids

Clubs Underlounge Seoul Hongdae or Hongik University Area This is the local club of a hip Japanese chain that also has a branch in Shanghai. Located in the famous clubbing area Hongdae, it’s all flashy with loud music and lights. Spacious, with a supersized mirror ball hanging over your head, DJs from near and far make music while you hang out at the bar or in classy private rooms. Located near the main entrance of Hongik University. Call (02) 325-5715 or visit www.underlounge.kr. Boutique Club 52 Itaewon Once called Function inside Macaroni Market, Club 52 boasts a chic and modern interior with the DJ spinning the beats for the hippest crowd from the center of the dance floor. Featuring top DJs from both home and abroad, two bars inside the club serving the coolest cocktails including some made with Hendrick’s gin, and a high-class interior, Club 52 is always the place for good times. Club Volume Itaewon Located in the Crown Hotel near Noksapyeong Station, Club Volume offers the finest venue for specially themed weekly events and talented international DJs for

Oct 20, 2011

Concerts, museums and theater

Classical Concerts Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra Sejong Center for the Performing Arts* (See ‘Venues’ on the right for more information) Seoul Arts Center* Nov. 11, 13 The Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra, founded in 1951 and now led by maestro Yuri Simonov, will appear with violinist Joszef Lendvay. Lendvay, born in 1974 in Hungary and best known as a violinist mixing classical music with gypsy melodies, will perform “Violin Concerto in E minor, Op. 64 by Mendelssohn” on Nov. 11 and “Violin Concerto in D major by Tchaikovsky” on Nov. 13. Tickets cost 60,000 to 250,000 won. For more information, call (02) 3463-2466. Berliner Philharmoniker with Simon Rattle Seoul Arts Center* Sejong Center for the Performing Art* Nov. 15 and 16 Berliner Philharmoniker will again visit Korea. In 2005 when the orchestra held a concert in Korea for the first time in 20 years, the ensemble promised it would hold a triennial concert for Korean fans. “Symphony No. 9 in D major” by G. Mahler and “Symphony No. 9 in D minor” by A. Bruckner will be played under the baton of conductor Sir Simo

Oct 20, 2011

’Prague Days in Seoul’ to start today

Korea reciprocates successful staging of 2009 ‘Days of Seoul in Prague’ By Do Je-hae The “Prague Days in Seoul” will take place Oct. 20-23 with various cultural events organized by Seoul and Prague, as the reciprocal event of the successful staging of “Days of Seoul in Prague” in September 2009. It is the biggest event promoting the Czech Republic in Korea since the establishment of diplomatic relations 21 years ago. Events will take place at the Sejong Center for Performing Arts, Seoul Museum of History, Jeong Dong Gallery and the Czech Info Center. They are all free. On the occasion of Prague Days in Seoul, a special program book in Korean has been published, which can be downloaded from www.mzv.cz/seoul/en. The highlight is a film festival devoted to Jan Hrebejk, who was twice nominated for an Academy Award for Best Foreign Film. His highly acclaimed works, including “Cosy Dens,” “Beauty in Trouble,” “Divided We Fall” and “Maharal” will be shown at the Seoul Arts Center. A photo exhibition entitled “Prague Panoramic,” tracing the transformation of the

Oct 19, 2011By Do Je-hae

Ledecky’s rock musical ’Hamlet’ returns

By Kwon Mee-yoo Janek Ledecky, one of the most popular musicians in the Czech Republic, is better known as composer and writer of the musical “Hamlet.” Korean adaptations of the Czech show have proved successful here since it made its local debut in 2007. The classic tale of revenge by William Shakespeare was reinterpreted through Ledecky’s rock composition. The Czech musician said he did not start with any ambitions in musical theater: “I write songs and record and play them with my band. I was successful in Czech and Slovakia.” Ledecky is in Korea to attend the opening of the musical, which goes on stage at Universal Arts Center, Seoul, from today. His life changed when producer Martin Kumzak asked him to write the music to turn the Shakespearean play into song “if it is not too boring” for him. So Ledecky created the music for the tragic prince of Denmark and the musical was a big success in the Czech Republic, drawing some 10 million in six years after the 1999 premiere in Prague. Ledecky also starred in the lead role of Hamlet in the original production. The musical the

Oct 19, 2011By Kwon Mee-yoo

Arts & Theater