Lifestyle - The Korea Times

Concerts, Museums & Theater

Classical Concerts Sahran Kim Violin Recital Kumho Art Hall July 10 Sahran Kim will have a homecoming recital. She will play four pieces including J. Brahms's Sonata for Violin and Piano No. 3 in D minor, Op. 108 and A. Schnittke's Sonata for Violin and Piano No. 1. Tickets cost 10,000 won. For more information, visit www.kumhoarthall.com or call (02) 586-0945. Located near exit 7 of Gwanghwamun Station on subway line 5. The Most Cinema Concert `Present' Sejong Center for the Performing Arts July 12 The Most will play popular music scores from movies, reviving the sensation of watching the works. Images from each movie will accompany the performance. Tickets cost from 20,000 to 30,000 won. For more information, visit ticket.interpark.com or call (02) 944-8416. Located near exits 1 and 8 of Gwanghwamun Station on subway line 5. Alen Garagic Guitar Recital Sejong Center for the Performing Arts July 18 Alen Garagic, an award-winning artist from Bosnia-Herzegovina, will play pieces including J. Arcas's ``Fantasia Sobre la Jota.'' Tickets cost from 10,000 to 20,0

Jul 2, 2009

Folk Museum Features Confucian Tradition

By Chung Ah-young Staff Reporter The National Folk Museum of Korea is holding a special exhibition to present about 200 pieces of Confucian relics related to North Gyeongsang Province. Marking ``2009: The Year of North Gyeongsang Folk Culture,'' the exhibition highlights the development and interrelationships between Confucian culture and the region with respect to its geography, values and traditions, and its meaning for living in a modern-day industrial culture. ``North Gyeongsang Province produced a slew of prominent scholars compared to other regions, mainly due to the environmental benefits that were good for study and meditation,'' said Wi Chul, curator of the museum. The curator said that one fourth of state officials came from Gyeongsang Province during the Joseon Kingdom (1392-1910). The region also developed the pavilion culture, which turned the natural environment into a place of co-existence between people and nature. He said that the exhibition features 21 items, including six national treasures, from the family clans of Uiseong Kim, Andong's Gwon, Ando

Jul 1, 2009

Lim Yi-jo Celebrates 55th Year of Dance

By Han Sang-hee Staff Reporter For some, Korean traditional dance may seem slow and too subtle, but according to dancer Lim Yi-jo, that's just the way it's supposed to be. ``It's an old form, we must be patient when dancing and even watching,'' he said, smiling during an interview with The Korea Times at the dance theater Tuesday. The 61-year-old dancer, artistic director of the Seoul Metropolitan Dance Theater and the Important Intangible Cultural Asset No. 97 for the Salpuri-chum, celebrates the 55th year of his career, and has prepared a special performance just for the occasion. ``It's been a long time, 55 years. Even now I can't believe so much time has passed. The upcoming performance will be a reflection of myself and my work, and also something extra special,'' he said, laughing. Lee started dancing when he was six years old after watching a performance with his mother at the age of four. His mother, who was also a dancer, had a dream when she conceived him, and Lee believed it was a calling from heaven. ``A whole group of swallowtail butterflies flew tow

Jul 1, 2009

Korean Artists Take Hanji to Germany

By Dave Durbach Contributing Writer In an event that reiterates Korea's historical contribution to the world while showcasing its contemporary cultural flair, a group of artists from Seoul are currently exhibiting at the Frauenmusuem (Women´s Museum), in the former West German capital of Bonn. ``Hanji: Paper Road'' is an exhibition of both young and established Korean female artists who are using Korean hanji not only in the time-honored way, but are also reinterpreting the medium for contemporary audiences. The exhibition is divided into four themes, the first tracing the history of hanji from China in 105 AD, its introduction to Korea in the next century, and its subsequent spread to the rest of Asia, to North Africa and finally to Europe in the 12th century. A display of small hanji dolls help show the step-by-step fabrication process. Also on show are some pieces on loan form the Hanji Development Institute. One can find traditional jeonji, jiseung and jiho papercraft in the form of furniture, bags, hanbok, hats, lanterns, pillows and sculptures. Perhaps the most

Jun 30, 2009

2 Koreans Awarded in New York Int’l Ballet Contest

By Chin Yu-sun Korea Times Intern Two Korean students ― one female and one male ― won awards at the five-day New York International Ballet Competition, which closed at Lincoln Center on Sunday. Rhee Yong-jung, 20, a senior at the three-year Korea National University of Arts(KNUA), won a bronze medal in the women's division, and her partner Kim Ki-wan, 19, a junior at the same arts training institution, received the Lefkowitz Award for Jury Acknowledgement, one of two special awards, in the men's division, the organizer said on its Website Monday. A total of 24 young pairs from 18 countries competed in the 10th biennial contest, which marked its 25th anniversary this year. Those aged 17-23 are eligible for the competition, which was held every three years until 2003. At the last event in 2007, Korea took one gold, one silver and one bronze in the female category and two special awards in the male category. Principal ballerina Hwang Hye-min of Universal Ballet earned Korea's first medal at the New York Ballet in 2000 with a bronze. The competition also drew attention b

Jun 30, 2009

Joseon Royal Tombs Emerge as World Heritage

By Chung Ah-young Staff Reporter A group of 40 royal tombs from the Joseon Kingdom (1392-1910) has been registered as a UNESCO World Heritage site in the 33rd session of the World Heritage Committee (WHC) in Seville, Spain on June 26, becoming South Korea's ninth UNESCO-designated treasure. The Cultural Heritage Administration (CHA) said that the committee highly regarded the site's unique architectural and landscape forms reflecting Confucian and geomantic traditions, as well as the related funereal rituals that have been handed down to the present day, and a comprehensive preservation of the tombs. The authorities said that the efforts of the social and regional communities to protect the cultural heritage were highly evaluated. Spread throughout Seoul, Gyeonggi and Gangwon provinces, the Joseon royal tombs had been meticulously preserved by court officials during the kingdom's reign of 519 years. The royal tombs house 27 generations of the kingdom's kings, queens, and posthumously designated rulers. However, the committee has recommended that the authorities restore t

Jun 28, 2009

Popular Hotel Art Fair Concept Comes to Seoul

By Cathy Rose A. Garcia Staff Reporter Hotels are now becoming popular venues for art fairs in New York, Miami, Tokyo, Osaka and other cities in Europe. Interesting and quirky artworks are displayed in plush hotel rooms, instead of galleries and museums. Seoul will have a chance to experience the hotel art fair with the 2nd Asia Top Gallery Hotel Art Fair to be held from Aug. 21 to 23 at the Grand Hyatt Seoul. ``Unlike typical art fairs that exhibit artwork in white cubes, the AHAF installs its artwork in diverse ways like pictures on beds and sculptures installed in bathtubs. This approach provides innovative and fun ways for patrons and collectors to view works of art,'' organizers said. The Asia Art Net committee is hoping this event will become one of the leading art fairs in Asia. About 70 top Asian galleries from Korea, Japan, China, Hong Kong and Taiwan will be participating in this year's art fair in Seoul. The first AHAF was held at the New Otani Hotel in Tokyo, while next year's event will be in Shanghai. ``Like in New York and Miami, brand new art fairs

Jun 26, 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

Jun 25, 2009

Concerts, Museums & Theater

Classical Concerts Happy Concert for 1,000 Won Sejong Center for the Performing Arts June 28, 29 To lower the threshold of performance halls for the general public, the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts is offering high-quality performances by famous domestic and overseas artists at an admission charge of 1,000 won. For more information, visit www.sejongpac.or.kr or call (02) 399-1114~6. Located near exits 1 and 8 of Gwanghwamun Station on subway line 5. Lee Han-na Viola Recital July 2 Kumho Art Hall Violist Lee Han-na delivers Takemitsu Toru’s “A Bird Came Down the Walk for Viola and Piano,” Schumann’s “Marchenbilder for Viola and Piano Op.113” and Hindemith’s “Sonata for Viola and Piano Op. 25 No. 4” among others. Tickets cost from 8,000 to 30,000 won. For more information, visit www.kumhoarthall.com or call (02) 6303-7700. Located near exit 7 of Gwanghwamun Station on subway line 5. Jonathan Biss Piano Recital July 9 Kumho Art Hall American pianist Jonathan Biss visits Korea for a concert. He will play various works including Schumann’s “Kreislerian

Jun 25, 2009

Musical My Scary Girl to Hit Stage in New York

By Chung Ah-young Staff Reporter Korean homegrown musical ``My Scary Girl'' will be staged at the New York Musical Theater Festival (NYMF). The musical, which is currently being performed at The Stage in Seoul, has been invited as an official work for the NYMF 2009 Next Link Project. ``My Scary Girl'' has been praised as exemplary and developed with revisions through trial runs at workshops and the festival before its premiere. The musical was originally shown at the 2008 Musical Theater Lab for new musicals in development at the Barrington Stage Company (BSC). It was the first Korean work selected by the BSC, a renowned American performing arts support group. In addition, the musical was a winner and received support from the second Daegu International Musical Festival last year. The original cast members will perform at the festival, and the show will be staged in Korean with English subtitles for six days. The stage adaptation of the movie of the same name, portrays an awkward but romantic relationship that develops between Hwang Dae-woo, a naive English i

Jun 24, 2009

Arts & Theater

Arts & Theater

Concerts, Museums & Theater

Folk Museum Features Confucian Tradition

Lim Yi-jo Celebrates 55th Year of Dance

Korean Artists Take Hanji to Germany

2 Koreans Awarded in New York Int’l Ballet Contest

Joseon Royal Tombs Emerge as World Heritage

Popular Hotel Art Fair Concept Comes to Seoul

Clubs, Traditional Events & Art Exhibitions

Concerts, Museums & Theater

Musical My Scary Girl to Hit Stage in New York

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