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Arts & Theater

Jeju Pottery Shows Wisdom of Islanders

By Chung Ah-young Staff Reporter Jeju Island has many folk cultures well preserved from mainland influences. The islanders have developed a unique style of pottery to overcome harsh geographic conditions. To trace the lives of Jeju natives, the National Folk Museum of Korea and Jeju Special Self-Governing Province are jointly holding an exhibition titled ``Heobeok and Jeju's Pottery.'' The exhibition, which will run until Aug. 15, is designed to raise awareness of the resort island, which retains abundant natural beauty and folk culture. Under the banner of ``Year of Jeju Folk Culture,'' part of the museum's mandate is to protect the folk culture of the island from urban development. The exhibition features a total of 220 pieces of unglazed earthenware including ``heobeok,'' and 90 photos detailing the folk culture. Heobeok are the island's traditional water delivery jars, which have long represented the wisdom of ancient Jeju natives who had to survive the tough coastal areas. Although the island experiences heavy rainfall, it suffered a shortage of drinki

Jun 17, 2007

UNESCO Recognizes Korean Heritage

By Seo Dong-shin Staff Reporter The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) listed two more sets of Korea's historical documents in the Memory of the World Register. The decision came during a five-day meting of the UNESCO International Advisory Committee held from June 11 to 15 in Pretoria, South Africa. The Korean items to become a part of the Memory of World Register include euigyue, or the royal archive of the Joseon Kingdom (1392-1910), which documents and illustrates how various royal formalities and ceremonies are carried out. The archive, preserved by Seoul National University's Kyujanggak and the Academy of Korean Studies' Jangseogak, was acknowledged as the only such documents existing of Confucian culture. The Tripitaka Koreana and other woodblocks preserved inside Haeinsa Temple in Hapcheon, South Gyeongsang Province are also on UNESCOs list. The Tripitaka Koreana, woodblocks used for printing Buddhist scriptures from the Goryeo Kingdom period (918-1392), is National Treasure No.32. They are the world's only existing

Jun 15, 2007

Traditional, Exhibitions & Sports

CLUBS 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 the acoustics are good. Located near exit 1 on Sangsu Station on subway line 6 or exit 6 on Hongdae Station on subway line 2. Call (02) 337-8361 or www.clubevans.com. Club Caliente Itaewon The patrons are so diverse, DJ Josh sometimes has a hard job appealing to everyone. But he keeps the dance floor going, playing a variety of standbys and new Latin music. The song selection is what keeps people coming back. Located near exit 4 of Itaewon Station subway line 6. Call (011) 9094 8484 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. St.102 Hongdae This hip hop club often has special parties and performances. There are many Korean homies here with do-rags, dreads and baseball caps turn

Jun 14, 2007

Concerts, Museums & Performances

CLASSICAL CONCERTS 2007 Kino Symphony Festival 'Sentimentalism' Sejong Center for the Performing Arts June 18 For fans of timeless soundtracks, this concert features four talented Korean artists, including crossover tenor Im Tae-kyung, who will revive music from such motion pictures as "Breakfast at Tiffany's" and "Beauty and the Beast." Tickets cost from 30,000 won to 100,000 won. Visit www.clubbalcony.com or call 1577-5266. Located near exit 8 of Gwanghwamun Station on subway line 5. New Jersey Philharmonic Orchestra Korea Tour Seoul Arts Center June 24 Carrying a repertoire that ranges from baroque to contemporary music, the New Jersey Philharmonic Orchestra is led by Korean conductor Kim Nam-yun and will be accompanied by several Korean solo musicians. Tickets cost from 30,000 won to 150,000 won. Visit www.sac.or.kr or call (02) 580-1234. Located near exits 4 and 5 of Nambu Bus Terminal Station on subway line 3. Whang Hyun-soon's Piano Recital DS Hall June 28 Pianist Whang Hyun-soon will play works by Brahms, Chopin, Liszt and many more for

Jun 14, 2007

Global Art Boom Floats Korean Art at Basel, Beyeler

By Seo Dong-shin Staff Reporter BASEL _ This small manicured Swiss city is bustling with the rush of visitors and rich collectors from all over the world to the 38th edition of Art Basel, the world's largest contemporary art fair, Tuesday. Even before the fair opened to the general public Wednesday the continuing global art market boom saw many of the 2,000 works on sale from 300 selected international galleries already sold or put on hold. The fair continues through June 17. Basel, traditionally dotted with museums boasting impressive collections, has become a perfect place for art lovers. The annual Art Basel is celebrated with three satellite fairs such as Liste07, Voltashow03 and Scope, which all focus on emerging arts, as well as art shows such as ``Art Unlimited'' and ``Art Statements,'' held alongside the main Art Basel venue. They follow in the heels of the 52nd Venice Biennale last week. South Korean art circles' long-standing efforts to move from the periphery of the global art map to its center -- which tends to be dominated largely by Weste

Jun 13, 2007

Rich Print Diversity on Display in Seoul

By Cathy Rose A. Garcia Staff Reporter A rich diversity of prints from the printmaking world can be seen in the First International Printmaking Biennial, which has traveled to Seoul and is currently being held at the Total Museum of Contemporary Art in Pyeongchang-dong. Fifty-six leading printmakers from Canada, United States, South Korea, Japan, United Kingdom and China are participating in the biennial, which runs through June 24. The exhibit first opened in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, September 2006, and has also been shown in Toronto and Kyoto. The Maritime and Atlantic Printmakers Society (MAAPS), a federation of printmaking groups in Canada, organized the biennial. The biennial is aimed at showing the variety of printmaking techniques, styles and themes from around the world. Peter MacWhirter, chairman and exhibition coordinator of MAAPS, said printmakers were not required to discuss a particular theme in their works. ``We had no desire to impose thematic structures that would limit artists to only the generation of interpretive pre-determined picture-stories.

Jun 11, 2007

Korean Pavilion Addresses Asian Complex in Venice

By Seo Dong-shin Staff Reporter VENICE _ The annual art extravaganza began in this world-heritage canal city on Thursday, as hundreds of thousands of artists, gallerists, members of the press and other ``VIP'' art lovers flocked to the preview of the Venice Biennale. The exhibition opens to the public on June 10. But free leaflets are being given away and free drinks poured into glasses in various corners of the entangled alleys around the city in a festive mood for the 52nd holding of the world's most celebrated art feast, despite the capricious weather swinging from heavy downpours to humid heat several times a day. This year's South Korean pavilion tested the waters Thursday inside the green Giardini Park, where another 29 national pavilions are also located. Featured artist Lee Hyung-koo staged a performance Friday, coinciding with the official opening of his solo exhibition at the pavilion, titled ``The Homo Species.'' National pavilions are a kind of art Olympic squads put on show for boosting each country's artistic profile. But the pavilions tend to generate at

Jun 8, 2007

Smithsonian Opens Korea Gallery

By Cathy Rose A. Garcia Staff Reporter The Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C. opened a Korea Gallery, a permanent exhibition of Korean paintings, ceramics and other artifacts, to the public on Friday. The Korea Gallery features 80 Korean artifacts such as paintings, traditional wedding costumes, calligraphy and ceramics in the 1,800-square-meter space on the second floor of the museum. The new exhibition serves to highlight Korean history and culture, from the sixth century to the present. The Smithsonian has collected over 4,000 Korean artifacts over 120 years, including a stone knife from the 5th or 6th century B.C. and ceramic pieces that are more than 1,500 years old. Korea Foundation president Yim Sung-joon said it is significant achievement to have established the Korea Gallery as the first-ever independent exhibition hall at the Smithsonian. He said the establishment of the exhibition is the fruit of the efforts of Korea Foundation and Korean museums to promote Korean culture and history overseas. Smithsonian Institution acting

Jun 8, 2007

Concerts, Museums & Performances

Classical Concerts G. Verdi's Requiem Seoul Arts Center June 19 Soprano Shin Ji-hwa, mezzo-soprano/alto Moon Hye-kyung, tenor Seong Young-gyu and bass Choi Seung-hyuk will interpret Verdi’s ``Requiem.’’ Tickets cost from 20,000 won to 100,000 won. Visit www.sac.or.kr or call (02) 580-1234. Located near exits 4 and 5 of Nambu Bus Terminal Station on subway line 3. Homage Concert to Nodame Cantabile Seoul Arts Center July 7 Paying homage to one of the most popular drama cartoons ``Nodame Cantabile,’’ the concert will be performed by Korea’s young rising stars (pianist Lee Hyo-ju and conductor Choi Su-yeol) to recreate some of the most memorable scenes in the cartoon series. Tickets cost from 25,000 won to 55,000 won. Visit www.sac.or.kr or call (02) 540-1234. Located near exits 4 and 5 of Nambu Bus Terminal Station on subway line 3. Kim Jeong-won and Friends: ``Attraction’’ Chungmu Art Hall July 7 Pianist Kim Jeong-won calls upon his friends (violinist Baek Ju-yeong, cellist Choi Jeong-eun, saxophonist Son seong-jae, and many more), for an evening of well-known

Jun 7, 2007

Traditional, Kids & Sports

Traditional Traditional Wedding Ceremony South Insa Courtyard Through June, September-October The Foundation for the Preservation of Cultural Properties of Korea presents a reenactment of a traditional Korean wedding ceremony. No performances on Mondays through Wednesdays and none in July and August. Free of charge. Visit www.fpcp.or.kr/fpcp/ or call (02) 566-6300. The Southern Insa Courtyard is located near the entrance to Insa-dong from Jongno. Folk Performance The Korea House Open Run The Korea House will hold traditional performances in an open run. The entrance fee is 29,000 won. There are 156 seats available every night and each performance includes a traditional Korean dinner. Visit www.koreahouse.or.kr or call (02) 2266-9101. Located near exit 3 of Chungmuro Station on subway lines 3 and 4. Presidential Guards of Honor Courtyard in front of Cheong Wa Dae Through June 29, Oct. 12 - Nov. 30 The guards who watch over the presidential mansion will showcase their traditions and customs. No fee. Performances every Friday from 10:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m. at the cou

Jun 7, 2007
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