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Concerts, Museums & Theater

Classical Concerts Prokofiev's 'Peter and the Wolf' Sejong Center for the Performing Arts Aug. 19-20 Enjoy an animated version of Prokofiev's "Peter and the Wolf" presented by the Seoul Metropolitan Youth Orchestra. This performance will be a treat for both the eyes and ears. Tickets cost from 10,000 won to 40,000 won. Visit www.sejongpac.or.kr or call 1544-1555. Located near exits 8 and 1 of Gwanghwamun Station on subway line 5. Suwon Philharmonic Orchestra: 2009 Chamber Music Concert Onnuri Arts Hall of Suwon Youth Cultural Center Sept. 10 Pianist Kim Dae-jin, music director of the Suwon Philharmonic Orchestra, offers a special chamber concert with orchestra members. All tickets cost 10,000 won. For more information, visit www.artsuwon.or.kr or call (031) 228-2813. Located near Suwon Station, Gyeonggi Province. Summer Music Festival: The Best Classics Seoul Arts Center Aug. 1-16 Broadcaster Yoo Jung-ah will provide commentary to facilitate understanding of classical music for six different orchestras each day. Tickets cost from 10,000 to 15,

Jul 30, 2009

Goryeo Shipwreck’s Celadon on Display

By Chung Ah-young Staff Reporter In May 2007, a fisherman caught a bay octopus tightly grabbing a celadon dish in his fish trap. The discovery near Taean's Daeseom Island in South Chungcheong Province led to a historic excavation of valuable underwater heritage carried out by the National Research Institute of Maritime Cultural Heritage in 2007 and 2008. The excavation uncovered a cargo boat carrying several thousand celadon articles, wooden tags inscribed with information about the articles, general goods used by the seamen, and a skeleton of a Goryeo man who was trapped under his cargo during the wreck. The items had been submerged for about 900 years. The institute, along with the Administration of Gangjin County, is holding a special exhibition titled ``Goryeo Celadon Shipwreck'' at the National Palace Museum of Korea in Gyeonggbok Palace, Seoul. The exhibition is part of the institute's efforts to seek restoration of the sea routes used by Goryeo cargo boats carrying celadon works. A total of 740 pieces of the relics found are on display, including other ceramics fou

Jul 29, 2009

Original Cast of Broadway Musical `Rent Coming to Korea

By Chung Ah-young Staff Reporter The Broadway musical ``Rent'' will finally make its way to Korea in September, featuring its original cast. Anthony Rapp and Adam Pascal, who played the roles of Mark Cohen and Roger Davis, respectively, in the original 1996 production, have returned to the show for the first time in 13 years. The musical has closed on Broadway and this tour provides the Korean audience with one last chance to see the hit performed by the original cast. ``Rent'' is a rock musical with music and lyrics by Jonathan Larson, based on Giacomo Puccini's opera ``La Boheme.'' The show revolves around a group of impoverished young artists and musicians struggling to survive in New York's Lower East Side during the thriving days of Bohemian Alphabet City, under the shadow of AIDS. Rapp and Pascal have both appeared in multiple productions of "Rent'' as well as the 2005 film adaptation. Since its launch on Broadway, the musical has been translated into 15 languages in 25 countries, luring young audiences all around the world. The Korean version has also garne

Jul 28, 2009

Brad Little Returns to Korea as Jekyll

By Chung Ah-young Staff Reporter American actor Brad Little became a household name among Korean musical buffs with his performance in the hit musical ``The Phantom of The Opera.'' This time, the 44-year-old musical star is coming to Korea to perform in ``Jekyll and Hyde.'' ``The reason why I really wanted to do `Jekyll and Hyde' in Korea is because it is a show and a role I have great passion for. I love Frank Wildhorn's work, and while I was in Korea with `Phantom,' I thought how I'd like to do Frank's work in Korea. J&H is just another stepping stone for what I hope will turn into many more shows in Korea,'' Little said in an email interview with The Korea Times. The Broadway musical will hit the stage with its star-studded cast at Sejong Center for the Performing Arts from Aug. 28 to Sept. 20. It is based on the novel, "The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde,'' by Robert Louis Stevenson, with music composed by Frank Wildhorn and lyrics written by Leslie Bricusse. The show was first staged in Seoul as a licensed version in 2004 and has since drawn more than 3

Jul 27, 2009

Focus on Ethical Fashion at Gyeonggi Museum

By Cathy Rose A. Garcia Staff Reporter Can fashion be ethical? This is the question posed by the new fashion-meets-art exhibition ``Fashion Ethics: Wear Good'' at Gyeonggi Museum of Modern Art in Ansan, Gyeonggi Province. While fashion has always been associated with extravagance and luxury, the exhibition explores a new paradigm shift towards ``ethical fashion.'' Ethical fashion has been gaining ground in Europe. London Fashion Week's "Estethica" section promotes the best in British eco-sustainable, fair trade and ethical styles while alternative fashion fair "White in Milan" has created a new eco-fashion space called SloWhite. As ethical fashion slowly gains momentum in Korea, the exhibition provides a peek into how Korean and foreign designers are adopting the new principles. Most of the styles make use of materials that are recycled, eco-friendly, organic, or obtained through fair trade. But up-and-coming British designer Mark Liu goes a step further, creating designs with the concept of ``zero waste.'' In an interview with The Korea Times, Liu noted ho

Jul 26, 2009

Gwangju Hosts Design Biennale in September

By Cathy Rose A. Garcia Staff Reporter Gwangju is already well known for its contemporary art biennale, but this year the city will host another biennale, this time focusing on design. The Gwangju Design Biennale 2009 is expected to run from Sept. 18 to Nov. 4 at Gwangju Biennale Hall and at other locations around the city. Under the title ``The Clue ― All That Can Be Desired,'' artistic director Eun Byoung-soo said the event ``reevaluates the truism `think globally and act locally' by examining five examples of traditional Korean culture.'' The biennale is divided into five sub-themes: ``Ot'' (Clothing), ``Mat'' (Eating), ``Jip'' (Living), ``Geul'' (Enlightening) and ``Sori'' (Enjoying). ``Because these five human actions form the basis of a complete and harmonious life across all cultures, they are also themes in which designers, who want to improve that life, and may search for clues. In the past, ideology, technology and market trends have dominated thinking about design,'' he said. For the biennale, international artists and designers will create works i

Jul 26, 2009

Korean Characters Expanding Horizons

By Lee Hyo-won Staff Reporter Not long ago, the concept of characters as a licensable brand ― such as Sanrio's Hello Kitty or Disney's Micky Mouse ― was almost unheard of in Korea. Popular stationary houses like Morning Glory developed endearing cartoon bears but they were merely part of the design and were not licensed. Today, Vooz's quirky tomboy Pucca has become something of a fashion icon in Europe, while Iconix Entertainment's adventurous cartoon penguin Pororo is being exported to some 90 countries around the world. The Seoul Character and Licensing Fair, underway through Sunday in COEX, southern Seoul, showcases industry trends. The first booth showcases Pucca, the quirky, love struck heir to a local Chinese restaurant. Pucca appeared on stationary here in 2001 and then on fashion items in Europe in 2003. Vooz has over 500 licensing contracts in Asia, Europe, South America and the Middle East, and appears on the merchandise of popular labels such as the United Colors of Benetton. Pucca is newly being introduced in Korea as a fashion icon. ``It's a counter-cu

Jul 24, 2009

Actress Jeon to Wed With Alumnus in Oct.

TV actress Jeon Soo-yeon, 31, who performed as Soo-ryeon on MBC drama, "Iljimae Returns - Moon River(2009)," will marry a cousin of veteran theater actor Yoon Moon-sik in October. According to Jeon's agent, Jeon will tie the knot with Yoon Duck-hwan, 31, in her hometown of Hongcheon, Gangwon Province, on Oct. 11. As alumni of a primary school in Hongcheon, they became a couple recently after maintaining a friendship for some 20 years. As a cousin of famous TV celebrity Yoon Moon-sik, Yoon is a businessman, and sells garments and leases building offices. They are scheduled to hold a wedding ceremony at a villa owned by Jeon's father. Jeon, who was selected as Miss Gangwon Province in 1996, entered MBC as an actress in 1999. She played a role in "Age of Heroes" (2004), " Prince Hours" (2006) and "Princess Hours" (2007).

Jul 24, 2009

Clubs, Traditional Events & Art Exhibitions

Clubs The Circle Cheongdam-dong Located in the upscale Cheongdam-dong neighborhood, it's notorious for turning you down unless you're dressed chic and sleek. Faithful to its name, it has a round revolving floor _ looking for your ``lost'' table gives clubbers the perfect excuse to sit down with a sexy stranger. Located on Dosan-daero near Hak-dong intersection. Call (02) 546-5933 or visit www.thecircle.co.kr. Club Answer Cheongdam-dong This might be the answer to your nightlife. It offers an intimate partying environment with groovy electronic music by star DJs. You can reserve tables and those on the second floor provide an open view of the dance floor. Or mingling with the hot bartenders at the open bar might be a fine alternative. Located in Cheongdam-dong across the street from Prima Hotel, near the entrance toi Yeongdong-daegyo. Call (02) 548-7115 or visit www.clubanswer.co.kr. Club Evans Hongdae or Hongik University Area This club, located near Hongik University, is great for intimate live performances. The line-up of performers is generally top-notch and

Jul 23, 2009

Concerts, Museums & Theater

Classical Concerts Summer Music Festival: The Best Classics Seoul Arts Center Aug. 1-16 Broadcaster Yoo Jung-ah will provide commentaries to facilitate understanding of classical music for six different orchestras each day. Tickets cost from 10,000 to 15,000 won. For more information, visit ticket.interpark.com or call (02) 580-1300. Located near exits 4 and 5 of Nambu Bus Terminal on subway line 3. Huh Trio's `Easy Classic' Kumho Art Hall Aug. 6, 13 Huh Trio, comprising of sisters pianist Seung-yeun, violinist Hee-jung and cellist Yun-jung, will give a special youth-themed summer holiday concert. Tickets cost from 8,000 to 30,000 won. Visit www.kumhoarthall.com or call (02) 6303-7700. Located near exit 7 of Gwanghwamun station on subway line 5. Family Opera 'The Magic Flute' Goyang Aram Nuri Arts Complex Aug. 13-16 Conducted by Kim Duk-gi, the Prime Philharmonic Orchestra will captivate children and adults alike with its beautiful harmony, along with breathtaking visuals and characters in Mozart's beloved opera. Tickets cost from 10,000 to

Jul 23, 2009

Arts & Theater

Arts & Theater

Concerts, Museums & Theater

Goryeo Shipwreck’s Celadon on Display

Original Cast of Broadway Musical `Rent Coming to Korea

Brad Little Returns to Korea as Jekyll

Focus on Ethical Fashion at Gyeonggi Museum

Gwangju Hosts Design Biennale in September

Korean Characters Expanding Horizons

Actress Jeon to Wed With Alumnus in Oct.

Clubs, Traditional Events & Art Exhibitions

Concerts, Museums & Theater

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