Lifestyle - The Korea Times

Concerts, Museums and Theater

Classical Concerts Hyun Jae-hee & Lee Min-jung Duo Piano Recital Chamber Hall, Sejong Center of the Performing Arts Jan. 3 Pianist Hyun Jae-hee and Lee Min-jung will hold a duo recital featuring Mozart’s "Sonata in D major for Two Pianos, K.448," Infante’s ``Musiques d'Espagne Pour Deux Pianos’’ and Bolcom’s ``The Garden of Eden, Four Rags for Two Pianos.’’ All tickets cost 20,000 won. For more information, visit ticket.interpark.com of call (02) 2265-9235. Located near exits 1 and 8 of Gwanghwamun Station on subway line 5. Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra's New Year's Concert Grand Theater, Sejong Center of the Performing Arts Jan. 6 The orchestra's New Year's Concert at the Sejong Center will be projected in Gwanghwamun. The program features Tchaikovsky's "Violin Concerto in D major, Op. 35" with rising violinist Shin Hyun-su, Debussy's "La Mer’’ and Ravel's "La Valse.’’ Tickets cost from 10,000 to 50,000 won. For more information, visit ticket.interpark.com of call (02) 3700-6300. Located near exits 1 and 8 of Gwanghwamun Station on subway line 5. Seoul Metrop

Dec 31, 2009

`Beauty Queen Goes on Stage Next Month

By Chung Ah-young Staff Reporter "The Beauty Queen of Leenane," a 1996 drama by Irish playwright Martin McDonagh, renowned for "The Pillowman," will premiere in Korea next year. The Tony award-winning play is a mix of black comedy, melodrama, horror and bleak tragedy. Set in the Irish village of Leenane, Connemara in the late 1980s, the play revolves around the life of Maureen Folan, a 40-year-old spinster who lives with her domineering 70-year-old mother, Mag. Her sisters are married but Maureen, with a record of mental illness, is trapped in a dysfunctional relationship with her mother. Pato Dooley, a middle-aged construction worker weary of life, and his irresponsible brother Ray visit the Folan cottage. There is a brief chance of romance between Maureen and Pato but one can feel that Leenane is not the place for happy endings. This drama is filled with deceptions, secrets and betrayals. The Korean adaptation is directed by Lee Hyun-jung. She said that the Korean version will be different from the original work to some degree. "I haven't seen the original wor

Dec 29, 2009

Joseon Royal Tomb Museum Opens

By Chung Ah-young Staff Reporter The Royal Tomb Museum of the Joseon Dynasty has been unveiled, two years after construction began in 2007. The museum, which is located inside the site of Taereung, the royal tomb of Queen Munjeong, consort to King Jungjong, was designed to help people gain a deeper understanding of the royal tombs and their historical significance. The exhibition hall showcases the state funeral process, as well as the history and thoughts of the times as reflected in the tombs, rituals and period art. The Cultural Heritage Administration said that the museum reproduces the entire process of the ancient funeral rites from the death of a king and the launch of the funeral preparation committee to the building of the memorial shrine, the new king's accession to the throne and the burial of the body and the king's belongings. It also presents information on the structure of the royal tombs, changes in the tombs' architecture, and the life of the tombs' guards and officials who served at the rituals. In accordance with geomancy, the tombs typicall

Dec 28, 2009

Renaissance Frescoes at Seoul Arts Center

By Cathy Rose A. Garcia Staff Reporter There's no need to travel all the way to Italy to catch a glimpse of the impressive frescoes painted by old masters Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci and Raffaello. Just head to the exhibition ``Masterpieces of Renaissance Frescoes,'' which brings beautifully exact reproductions of the famous pieces of art to Seoul. The exhibition, showing 51 reproduction frescoes by 19 Renaissance masters from all over Italy, opened last week at the Hangaram Art Museum in Seoul Arts Center, and runs through Feb. 21. The reproductions of these frescoes are produced by Lazzari Studio from Umbria, Italy. The Lazzari family has a three-century history of replicating frescoes of Renaissance masters, using a unique technique called ``affregraphy.'' Stefano Lazzari, director of Lazzari Studio, hopes the exhibition of frescoes will re-introduce the spirit of the Renaissance in Korea. ``Unlike paintings on canvas or panels, frescoes never went on a journey despite various attempts. It never happened before in the history of art that people can apprecia

Dec 25, 2009

Clubs, Traditional, Art Exhibitions, Kids and Sports

Clubs 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 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. P

Dec 24, 2009

Classical Concerts, Big Tickets, Museum, Dance, Pop & Jazz, Plays and Musicals

Classical Concerts Popera Countertenor Jung Se-hun's Christmas Concert Korea Cultural House Dec. 25 Popera countertenor Jung Se-hun returns to Korea after a successful stint in Japan. He will present popular seasonal melodies, including "White Christmas" and "Silent Night," as well as classical scores such as Schubert's "Ave Maria" and Handel's "Lascia Ch io Pianga." All tickets cost 40,000 won. For more information, visit www.gmarket.co.kr or call (070) 8639-2123. Located near exit 4 of Samsung Station on subway line 2. The Grand Piano Concert Concert Hall, Seoul Arts Center Dec. 27 This concert is supersizing the conventional classical piano performance by bringing together 90 pianists, with up to 12 performers simultaneously taking the stage. The pianists will perform 11 pieces, including Bach's "Brandenburg Concerto" and Beethoven"Chorale," arranged for the keyboard. Tickets cost from 10,000 to 50,000 won. For more information, visit www.sac.or.kr or call (02) 3272-2121. Located near exits 4 and 5 of Nambu Bus Terminal on subway line 3. Korea National Ope

Dec 24, 2009

Hongdae Fair Brings Fresh Art

By Cathy Rose A. Garcia Staff Reporter Since Hongik University is one of the country's top art schools, the surrounding area has naturally turned into a fertile breeding ground for young artists. The youthful energy and fresh talent of these artists is being showcased at the on-going Seogyo Nanjang 2009 art fair that kicked off last weekend. ``The second Seogyo Nanjang achieves its intention of invigorating the spirit of young artists, galleries and alternative spaces in their endeavors to promote creative activities despite the difficult environment,'' said Kim Noam, exhibition director of Gallery Sangsangmadang, in the event's catalogue. The Seogyo Nanjang art fair is hoping to encourage more interaction between the art and the audience. Artwork by young artists is on display at Gallery Sangsangmadang, Gallery King, Space of Art etc., artspace hue and Television12 Gallery. The works are for sale, with prices ranging from 200,000 won to 6 million won. ``This year's fair goes beyond a mere passive display of artwork ― it aims to induce active participation from an

Dec 23, 2009

Show Must Go On: High-Quality Musicals, Plays in 2010

By Chung Ah-young Staff Reporter The year 2009 is nearing its end with the seasonal performances. But more diverse and masterful musicals and plays are awaiting fans for the New Year. Here are some tips for musicals and plays to watch next year. Musicals "Contact" will open the New Year on Jan. 8-17 at LG Arts Center and on Jan. 22-31 at Goyang Aram Nuri Arts Complex. Starring celebrated ballerina Kim Joo-won, the dance musical will be presented only through dances without songs. "Mozart!" will premiere in Korea on Jan.19 to Feb. 22 at the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts. The Austrian musical will be made into the local rendition with the starry casting of Xiah of TVXQ, Im Tae-kyung, Park Kun-hyung and Park Eun-tae who all will alternate playing Mozart. "The Count of Monte Christo" composed by celebrated musician Frank Wildhorn renowned for "Jekyll and Hyde" will be shown in Korea for the first time. The Swiss musical is the newest one of Wildhorn's works. Based on the 1845 novel of the same name, the musical will be adapted into the Korean version on April

Dec 23, 2009

Culture Ministry to Tighten Copyright Protection on Cultural Contents

By Chung Ah-young Staff Reporter The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism said that it will tighten the copyright protection in using illegal downloaded files and promote the print-based media industry through paid services. In its report submitted to President Lee Myung-bak, the ministry said that it will push ahead with a revision of the related law in November 2010 to illegalize the download of copyrighted files even if it is for individual use. "Under the current law, downloads have been regarded as acceptable for private use and the regulation on it has been vague. So the ministry will seek a revision of the bill," a ministerial official said. If the law is revised, copyright holders will be able to file complaints against individuals copying copyrighted content without consent, whether they had commercial intentions or not. Also, the government will make more efforts to pave the way to promote paid services for using news content to reinvigorate the ailing newspaper industry. As the media industry environment is changing fast, it is becoming important to

Dec 22, 2009

Artist Park Ad-jong Creates Bunny Sculptures

By Cathy Rose A. Garcia Staff Reporter Looking at the white and gentle-looking rabbit sculptures inside Art Link gallery, one might be tempted to exclaim, ``How cute!'' For artist Park Ad-jong, the furry animal holds a special meaning for her that does not have anything to do with its cute appearance. ``When people talk about bunnies, they think of rebirth. Bunnies make a lot of babies, so it's about new beginnings. For me, bunnies represent new life. And this is the same for me, it's about starting over and rebirth,'' she told The Korea Times at the Art Link Gallery, Anguk-dong, Jongno, Wednesday. Park is showing her rabbit and egg sculptures at a solo show ``To Thine Own Self Be True.'' The title, a line taken from Shakespeare's "Hamlet," is sort of a mantra for the artist, who has had a difficult last two years. As problems weighed heavily on her mind, Park, a professor at Ewha Womans University, decided to work even harder by putting all of her energy into art. ``I had some legal problems last year. There were some trust issues with some people at school. (T

Dec 21, 2009

Arts & Theater