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CEO & Publisher: Oh Young-jinDigital News Email: webmaster@koreatimes.co.krTel: 02-724-2114Online newspaper registration No: 서울,아52844Date of registration: 2020.02.05Masthead: The Korea TimesCopyright © koreatimes.co.kr. All rights reserved.

Foreigners share Korea-inspired artworks

By Lee Hyo-won A group of foreign residents is holding an art exhibition in Seoul, displaying their unique interpretations of “hanji” (Korean paper) craft and images of Korea caught through the camera. Nineteen members of the Seoul International Women’s Association (SIWA), representing 10 countries around the world, are showing hanji crafts as well as photographs through Dec. 14 at the KCDF Gallery in Insa-dong. The event is a fruition of the women’s efforts to learn new art skills during their residency here, and professional pieces by their teachers, hanji artist Om Myong-sook and photographer Shin Mihe, are also on display. “I believe that learning new skill is one of the most enjoyable things that people can do as we move in a new environment,” said SIWA president Lily Joenoes van Bunik during the opening reception Thursday. “Hanji is a beautiful tradition and I can now see why my wife spent all those nights working on it,” said Brazilian Ambassador Edmundo Sussumu Fujita about his wife Maria Ligaya Abeleda’s work with SIWA. The hanji crafts incorporate the make

Dec 10, 2010

Weekender Awaken in wintry wonderlands

“The Nutcracker” by the Korea National Ballet CompanyBy Lee Hyo-won, Han Sang-hee and Ines Min The holidays are edging ever nearer, with festive lights adorning the city. Those looking to spend the holidays surrounded by friends, family and a little cultural entertainment can look to these productions to beguile the long wintry hours. So set forth into the warmth of the theater to enjoy everything from puppet shows to ballet. The Snowman With the first snow of winter falling in Seoul earlier this week, the mood is just right for the classic tale of “The Snowman” to come to town. Local production company Credia has earned the first overseas license from the official U.K. holder, the Birmingham Repertory Theatre, bringing the tale to life with a Korean cast and even some traditional costumes. Raymond Briggs’ 1978 tale sees domestic adaptations (such as the inclusion of the anthemic “Arirang,” as rearranged by Howard Blake), while original choreographers Julian Moss and Anita Griffin worked with the new cast to maintain authenticity. While th

Dec 9, 2010

Concerts, Museums & Theater

Classical Concerts Bolshoi Opera Theater Gala Concert Concert Hall, Seoul Art Center* (See venues on right of page for more information) Dec. 16 Soloists of the Bolshoi Opera Theater will hold a gala concert in Korea to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Korea-Russia relations. Under the direction of conductor Mikhail Granovsky, soprano Anna Aglatova, mezzo-soprano Svetlana Shilova, tenor Oleg Kulko and baritone Andrei Grigoriev will sing arias from “Rigoletto,” “Carmen,” “La Traviata” and “The Queen of Spades” among others. Tickets cost 30,000 to 120,000 won. For more information, call (02) 2650-7481~2. Sejong Woodwind Chamber Ensemble Concert Recital Hall, Seoul Arts Center* Dec. 12 The Sejong Woodwind Chamber Ensemble consisting of the finest woodwind players in Korea will present a concert titled “Woodwind Ensemble Journey.” The program features Shostakovich’s “Four Waltzes for Flute, Clarinet and Piano Forte” and Jongen’s “Concerto for Woodwind Quintet,” among others. Tickets cost 20,000 won for adults and 15,000 won for students. Call (02)586-0945. Little Sing

Dec 9, 2010

Clubs, Art Exhibitions & Sports Games

Clubs Club Answer Cheongdam-dong Equipped with state of the art sound and lighting, Club Answer is the foremost venue for electronic music in Seoul. Located in front of Hotel Prima in Cheongdam-dong, the club presents world class DJs in an extensive space with modern decor to offer a memorable dance experience. Visit www.clubanswer.co.kr, for more information. Underlounge Seoul Hongdae or Hongik University Area This is the local club of a hip Japanese chain that’s also to be found in Shanghai. Located in the popular 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 open bar or in 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

Dec 9, 2010

Play-within-play brings haunted comedy

By Ines Min This is no “Phantom of the Opera.” In fact, it’s probably everything that the French classic is not. Veteran playwright and director Lee Hae-je brings his latest work “The Phantom of the Curtain Call” to the Goyang Aram Nuri Arts Center this Friday, for a two-week run. It will be the first play produced entirely by the Goyang Cultural Foundation. The year is 1950, the scene: a small theater showcasing the tale of “Pandora’s Studio.” The troupe of actors — two noblewomen and a portrait artist — prepare for the final scene, when two ghosts appear out of nowhere, forcing the cast to improvise around the apparitions. The following day, the haughty female actresses (played by Jin Kyung of “Closer” and Kim Ro-sa) refuse to act in the next performance, when the actor (Yun Jung-yul of “Jump”) shows them a favorable review from the day’s paper. Reluctantly, they continue valiantly forward, ensuing in a complex series of faux ad-libbed lines, with actors weaving back and forth between the stage reality and the audience’s. The prolific Lee, known most

Dec 8, 2010

Marclay brings 24-hour clock to Leeum

By Ines Min How does one capture time? Though the concept reaches into metaphysical, philosophical and religious grounds, Christian Marclay finds a simpler method: through video. The experimental artist and turntablist pioneer Marclay opens his debut Korean exhibition tomorrow at the Leeum Samsung Museum of Art. Comprised of just three pieces — his video works “Telephones” (1995), “Video Quartet” (2002) and the latest “The Clock”— they look at the American artist’s most recent outlet of choice. The 55-year-old spent his childhood in Switzerland, but once back to his native land in New York, the young Marclay found an affinity with punk rock and ventured into the visually stimulating world of sound. The 1970s saw the rise of hip-hop, but also his first turntable outfitting, and Marclay soon made a name with his style of cutting, pasting and spinning the records in a type of performance music (the mashed up vinyl skipping from genre to genre with a pop). His influences range from John Cage to Joseph Beuys, and he frequently collaborates with established musicians

Dec 7, 2010

Swans, pointe shoes & a touch of Shakespeare

By Lee Hyo-won Feather-light ballerinas dressed in pure white giving life to lilting movements in perfect unison like a flock of graceful swans — the timeless splendor of “Swan Lake” never grows old. The Korea National Ballet Company (KNBC) is staging the Tchaikovsky classic through Sunday at Seoul Arts Center, offering local fans something classical after a lineup of modern works. Unlike the 19th-century Lev Ivanov-Marius Petipa original tragedy, Yuri Grigorovich was forced by communist commissars to produce a happy ending for his 1969 Bolshoi version. He has since showcased a revised rendition featuring an unsettlingly ominous, existentialist finale, but KNBC has opted for the more family-friendly appeal of the Soviet-era piece to celebrate the triumph of love and good over evil. The handed down tale is about a young prince who dreams of ideal love, which he finds in the bewitched swan maiden Odette. His sworn fidelity for Odette is put to the test when the Evil Genius tempts him by presenting Odile, Odette’s double, during a ball where Siegfield is supposed to ch

Dec 7, 2010

Kyungmin College focuses on practical education based on filial piety

By Shim Jae-yun The so-called “hyo” (孝: filial piety) and (忠: allegiance or loyalty) have long been traditional values that are probably most cherished in Korea. These values appear to be in dire need nowadays, when quick-witted selfishness is usually preferred to respect and consideration of others including parents, in particular. The need seems all the more urgent when people are desperate to seek a better school background and more wealth rather than mental and emotional significance. Given this, Kyungmin College is drawing attention as it focuses on hyo and chung alongside highly practical programs for students, in a rare case among domestic higher learning institutes. Departments are meant to provide students with higher opportunities to get jobs after graduation for instance, as a hotel chef, cartoonist or animator, furniture/interior designer, beauty skin care specialist and preschool educator among others. “We are eager to raise human resources capable of contributing to the nation based on the traditional value and state-of-the-art skills and affluent kno

Dec 5, 2010By Shim Jae-yun

Art-house musical offers realism by the glass

By Ines Min While the word musical might most often inspire images of glamorous, large-scale productions on Broadway, those smaller art-house productions are able to produce the emotionally dense intimacy others seek. The Korean original “Cafe-in” fulfills the latter, as a clever romantic comedy proving its lasting power with the start of its second season late November. The tongue-in-cheek “Cafe-in” progresses through a string of steady plot devices, props, and just enough self-aware humor, wrapped up into its 100-minute, two-man package. The story follows the playboy sommelier Jung-min as he enters the life of broken-hearted, workaholic barista Se-jin, playing the double-agent role of geeky dating coach and suave prospect. The musical first debuted in 2008, but saw its revival this August with actor Kang Ji-hwan producing, hit creative duo director Sung Jae-joon and music director Won Mi-sol (“Music in My Heart”), and Broadway-veteran composer Kim Hye-young. After a brief, hallyu-centric Japanese run, in which Kang also acted, the Korean return saw the inclusion of a new

Dec 5, 2010

Korean cartoon competition goes international

By Lee Hyo-won Today’s society is an extremely visual and trendy one, and images, audiovisuals and design elements have become an integral part of the way people perceive the world and communicate with one another. Among the colorful media that surrounds us, the appeal of classic cartoons and animations nevertheless continue to captivate and inspire. Talent for rendering cartoons and animation can usually be spotted at a young age, and a nationwide competition has been showcasing works by local students, ranging from kindergarten to high school students. The HYO Cartoon Competition, organized by Kyungmin College in Gyeonggi Province, moreover, is bringing together young minds to reflect on the namesake age-old tradition, “hyo” or filial piety. After two successful runs, the competition is now looking to expand its horizons, to become an international event beginning with its third edition in 2011. The Korea Times met with Hong Moon-jong, chairman of the HYO Cartoon Competition Organizing Committee and president of Kyungmin College, to discuss the event’s ambitions. Q:

Dec 5, 2010
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