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Old Seoul seen through eyes of Czech travelers

By Chung Ah-young The Joseon Kingdom (1392-1910) remained virtually closed and mysterious in the eyes of outsiders until the second half of the 19th century. More interest developed toward China and Japan rather than Korea due to difficult access. A few Czechs came to Korea soil around that time. Among them traveler and explorer Enrique Stanko Vraz (1860-1932) was the first Czech to visit Korea and left historical evidence such as writings and photographs from his visit in 1901. Vraz first came to Korea after visiting India and China 110 years ago. He arrived at Jemulpo Port in Incheon and then made his way to Seoul. He took some 80 photographs and released them along with his short travel essay about Korea in his book titled “Cina: Cestopisne crty” (China: A Traveler’s Sketch) which was read by many Europeans at that time. His photos and records about Joseon were the rare window for Europeans into the small country of the Far East with his vivid descriptions. The Seoul Museum of History is holding a special exhibition to display his photographs in conjunction w

Apr 18, 2011

Going back to nature

World Dance Day takes celebrations outdoors By Lee Hyo-won The urge to dance is a natural impulse ― dancers dating back to earliest recorded history have celebrated life with visceral body movements, connecting with the world and feeling its energy. Every year on April 29 millions of dancers in over 150 countries fete World Dance Day. For the first time, South Korea will host official events for the occasion established by UNESCO’s International Dance Council (CID). This year CID proposes taking a step back in time and reconnecting with nature by celebrating in open spaces. Streets, squares, parks, stadiums, beaches, parking lots, clearings ― anywhere under the sky ― will turn into a special stage for everything from elegant pirouettes by ballerinas to lawless head spins by amateur b-boys. Under the auspices of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, events will be held not only in Seoul but also Incheon, Gwangju and Busan, according to local organizers. At 7 p.m. at Seoul Plaza, passersby will be able to enjoy a modern “dance play” version of “Jesus

Apr 17, 2011

Streets of Ansan become fantasy world

By Kwon Mee-yoo Streets of Ansan, Gyeonggi Province, will turn into a paradise of artistic and unique performances from May 5 to 8. The Ansan Street Arts Festival (ASAF) will see participation from 43 troupes from 11 countries to transform the local streets into a giant stage. Among them, official invitees are 11 groups from overseas and nine domestic ones. Another 17 will participate in the fringe section and six university troupes will showcase their artistic potential. The main events will take place at Ansan 25’ Square, a new landmark that opened last December. All events are free. “We will make this festival an international carnival of street arts, beyond a local festival,” Kim In-sook, general director of Ansan Arts Center, said. The art center is organizing the festival with support from Ansan City. “Theatre Nomad: Old Song’s Odyssey” will open up the festival on May 5. This performance is a collaboration of Snuff Puppets, an Australian puppet theater company, and Korean performance group Tuida. Kim Jong-seok, artistic director of the festival and professor

Apr 15, 2011By Kwon Mee-yoo

Concerts, museums & theater

Classical concerts Pianist Paul Lewis Recital Seongnam Arts Center* (See ‘Venues’ on right for more information) April 23 British pianist Paul Lewis will hold his Korean debut recital. As a renowned specialist of Franz Schubert, he will perform the composer’s “Piano Sonata No. 15 in C major, D. 840” and “Piano Sonata No. 17 in D major, D. 850.” Tickets cost 30,000 to 100,000 won. For more information call (031) 783-8000 Ennio Morricone 50th Anniversary Sejong Center for the Performing Arts* May 16-18 Ennio Morricone will kick off celebrations for the 50th anniversary of his debut as a composer with three concerts in Seoul. The prolific composer is best known for cinema music scores such as “Mission”and “Cinema Paradiso.” He will conduct orchestral scores featuring solos by soprano Susanna Rigaci and pianist Gilda Butta. Tickets cost 40,000 to 220,000 won. Call (02) 332-3277 for bookings in English. 2011 SAC Orchestra Festival Concert Hall, Seoul Arts Center* Through April 20 The Orchestra Festival, an annual event that began in 1989 and has since become one of

Apr 14, 2011

Clubs, art exhibitions & sports games

Clubs Underlounge Seoul Hongdae or Hongik University Area This is the local club of a hip Japanese chain that’s also in Shanghai. Located in the famous clubbing area, Hongdae, it’s all flashy with loud music and lights. Spacious, with a supersized crystal ball hanging over your head, DJs from near and far make music while you can hang out at the bar or classy private rooms. Located near the main entrance of Hongik Univ. Call (02) 325-5715 or visit www.underlounge.kr. Club M2 Hongdae M2 features top DJs from home and abroad. The dance floor and the DJ are in the center of the club, which attracts a trendy crowd along with models and celebrities. Packed on the weekends. Check www.ohoo.net. Cafe Mou Sinsa-dong This cafe has a rich ethnic interior that mixes inspirations that its owner got from travels to such places as Morocco and France. Its menu is limited, but features desserts. It’s located at the edge of Dosan Park. 650-9 Park View Building, Sinsa-dong, Gangnam, near the Cine City Theater in Apgujeongdong. Call (02) 3444-6069. Club Heaven Yeoksam-dong

Apr 14, 2011

Hungry Caterpillar to be staged in June

By Chung Ah-young “The Very Hungry Caterpillar and Other Eric Carle Favorites,” an English-language puppet show presented by the Mermaid Theater Company from Nova Scotia, will return to the stage in Korea after its first performance in 2008-2009, attended by more than 20,000 theater-goers. The show portrays eco-friendly and creative stories illustrating the process of becoming a butterfly from a caterpillar, and featuring all kinds of animals in a zoo, to the changing of cloud shapes in the sky through warm-hearted narration and beautiful background music. The play consists of world-renowned picture book author and illustrator Eric Carle’s three stories ― “The Very Hungry Caterpillar,” “The Mixed-Up Chameleon” and “Little Cloud.” “Little Cloud” slips away from the rest and transforms itself into various shapes of things it sees ― a sheep, an airplane, a shark and more. In “The Mixed-Up Chameleon,” a little chameleon is bored with its life ― sitting about predictably changing color all day. So it decides to embark on an adventurous trip to the zoo. Upon seeing the beau

Apr 12, 2011

Teddy Bear Museum features dinosaurs in Gyeongju

By Chung Ah-young The sixth Teddy Bear Museum with the theme of dinosaurs has opened in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province on April 7. The museum is the official brand of JS&F, which operates the branches in Jeju, Seorak, Paju, Namsan and Hawaii with different concepts and themes. Located in Dream Center in the ancient capital of the Silla Kingdom (57 B.C.-A.D. 935), the museum displays a “storytelling” exhibition consisting of various themes to portray an adventure of a teddy bear family and dinosaurs. In the “Dinosaur World,” a teddy bear family travels to the Silla Kingdom and explores the age of dinosaurs and the ocean in a time machine. However, after the time machine breas down, the family abruptly lands in the Antarctic and the Arctic Oceans, tropical seas and a fairy tale land in “Under the Sea.” “The Silla Scene” tells the historical stories and myths related to the Silla Kingdom. Particularly, the museum reproduces Silla’s historical heritages such as Cheomseongdae (astronomical observatory) and Seokgatap (Sakyamuni Pagoda) in miniature and the teddy bears

Apr 10, 2011

Clubs, art exhibitions & sports games

Clubs Underlounge Seoul Hongdae or Hongik University Area This is the local club of a hip Japanese chain that’s also in Shanghai. Located in the famous clubbing area, Hongdae, it’s all flashy with loud music and lights. Spacious, with a supersized crystal ball hanging over your head, DJs from near and far make music while you can hang out at the bar or classy private rooms. Located near the main entrance of Hongik Univ. Call (02) 325-5715 or visit www.underlounge.kr. Club M2 Hongdae M2 features top DJs from home and abroad. The dance floor and the DJ are in the center of the club, which attracts a trendy crowd along with models and celebrities. Packed on the weekends. Check www.ohoo.net. Cafe Mou Sinsa-dong This cafe has a rich ethnic interior that mixes inspirations that its owner got from travels to such places as Morocco and France. Its menu is limited, but features desserts. It’s located at the edge of Dosan Park. 650-9 Park View Building, Sinsa-dong, Gangnam, near the Cine City Theater in Apgujeongdong. Call (02) 3444-6069. Club Heaven Yeoksam-dong

Apr 7, 2011

Concerts, museums & theater

Classical concerts Pianist Paul Lewis Recital Seongnam Arts Center* (See ‘Venues’ on right for more information) April 23 British pianist Paul Lewis will hold his Korean debut recital. As a renowned specialist of Franz Schubert, he will perform the composer’s “Piano Sonata No. 15 in C major, D. 840” and “Piano Sonata No. 17 in D major, D. 850.” Tickets cost 30,000 to 100,000 won. For more information call (031) 783-8000 2011 SAC Orchestra Festival Concert Hall, Seoul Arts Center* Through April 20 The Orchestra Festival, an annual event that began in 1989 and has since become one of the country’s foremost classical festivals. This year 18 orchestras presents various works all throughout April, beginning with the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Maestro Chung Myung-whun. Tickets cost 10,000 to 30,000 won. Call (02) 580-1300 for more information. Hilary Hahn & English Chamber Orchestra Concert Hall, Seoul Arts Center* April 12 Violinist Hilary Hahn, a two-time Grammy Award-winning soloist celebrated for her probing interpretations, technical assurance an

Apr 7, 2011

Swan Lake, Turandot reborn in Seoul

Seoul Metropolitan art companies revamp Western classics By Kwon Mee-yoo The classic ballet “Swan Lake” and Giacomo Puccini’s opera “Turandot” spring to new life here in Seoul through two Seoul Metropolitan art companies. The Seoul Metropolitan Dance Theatre (SMDT) will stage “Swan Lake” on April 15 and 16 at the Grand Theater of the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts, while Seoul Metropolitan Musical Theatre (SMMT) presents “Turando” from April 29 to May 25 at the M Theater of the same venue. “The musical ‘Miss Saigon’ is based on Puccini’s opera ‘Madame Butterfly’ and ‘Rent’ is a modern version of another Puccini opera ‘La Boheme,’” a PR representative of the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts said. “This kind of one-source multi-use is becoming popular in the performing arts field. These works have familiar stories, but require creativity to overcome the barrier between genres.” The SMDT’s rendition of “Swan Lake” is against the backdrop of Biryung and Buyeon, two imaginary ancient countries in Manchuria, north of Korea, and Mangang, a savage tribe. Lim Lee

Apr 6, 2011By Kwon Mee-yoo
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