Lifestyle

Bookstore specializing in film is haven for readers and seaside lovers alike

Eastcine Bookshop in Jeongdongjin, Gangneung, Gangwon Province, is a bookstore and cafe that curates books mainly on films, animal rights and veganism. Korea Times photo by Kwak Yeon-sooBy Kwak Yeon-sooJeongdongjin, a small town near Gangneung, Gangwon Province, is known for its immaculate white sand beaches and emerald green waters along the East Sea. About a two-hour KTX train from Seoul, it is one of Korea's most popular sunrise-watching spots. There, a couple runs an independent bookstore and cafe in Jeongdongjin that opens its doors early to match the times of sunrise. In June, when sunrises are earlier, they open around 5 a.m. The bookstore curates books mainly on films, animal rights and veganism. Oh Seung-hee, the owner of Eastcine Bookshop, revealed she and her husband operated an independent bookstore in Seoul for five years before moving to Jeongdongjin in 2020. “Most of all, we wanted to leave Seoul,” she said during an interview with The Korea Times at her bookstore, Monday. “My husband wanted to live near nature and in clean air. I wished to live near

DAILY FORTUNE - JUNE 9, 2023

White Cube to open space in Seoul

Powerhouse international gallery White Cube will open its first permanent exhibition space in Gangnam District, southern Seoul, this fall. Courtesy of White CubeBy Park Han-solPowerhouse international gallery, White Cube, announced on Thursday the scheduled opening of a permanent exhibition space in Seoul this autumn. The location will be its second outpost in Asia after Hong Kong.White Cube Seoul's 300-square-meter venue will span the first floor of the ceramic-cloaked building in the capital city's Gangnam District, which also houses the local private museum Horim Art Center.The space will be helmed by White Cube Korea representative and director Jini Yang. Its program is set to feature rising and established artists from within and outside of the gallery's roster.Describing Korea as “a country with a discerning and deeply engaged community of collectors, and home to (dansaekhwa master) Park Seo-Bo, an artist I deeply admire,” White Cube CEO and founder Jay Jopling said. “The inaugural edition of Frieze Seoul in 2022 was a testament to the region's growing importa

Billy Graham Seoul Crusade celebrates 50th anniversary

American Christian evangelist Rev. Franklin Graham, the son of Rev. Billy Graham, speaks during the 50th anniversary of Billy Graham Seoul Crusade, at Seoul World Cup Stadium in Mapo District, June 3. Courtesy of FEBC-KoreaBy Lee Gyu-leeFifty years ago, prominent American Christian evangelist Rev. Billy Graham came to Korea to hold a five-day crusade and preach the Gospel to its people.About 4.4 million Koreans came to the crusade, held in different cities in the country from May 30 to June 3, 1973. For the final service, over 1.1 million people gathered at Yeouido Plaza in Seoul, setting the record as Graham's biggest crusade.That crusade became a milestone in the history of Korean Christianity. It was an unprecedented success, inspiring and encouraging the church to strive for further growth in the years to come.In time for the 50th anniversary of Graham's Seoul Crusade this year, Far East Broadcasting Company Korea (FEBC-Korea) held a celebratory rally on June 3, inviting his son, Rev. Franklin Graham, as the main speaker.The rally, held at Seoul World Cup Stadium in Mapo District

Home gardening boom inspires plant adoption, specialized care services for leafy companions

Visual artist and “Plant Kindergarten” operator Baik Soo-hye's compact outdoor garden, nestled in Gongdeok-dong, Mapo District in western Seoul, abounds with some 150 potted plants, trees and herbs that were thrown out or left for dead in urban redevelopment zones across Seoul as their former owners were pushed out of their neighborhoods to make way for new apartment complexes. Korea Times photo by Choi Won-sukHouseplants are more than just decor for young, green-thumbed enthusiastsBy Park Han-solTake a trip through the winding labyrinth of alleyways in a slowly deteriorating section of Gongdeok-dong in Mapo District of western Seoul and you may come across an unexpected sanctuary.Baik Soo-hye's compact outdoor garden abounds with some 150 potted plants, trees and herbs that were once thrown out or left for dead in urban redevelopment zones across Seoul as their former owners were pushed out of their neighborhoods to make way for new apartment complexes.After rescuing the plants in her spare time from heaps of garbage, cracked concrete pavements and community gardens with

DAILY FORTUNE - JUNE 8, 2023

Frieze Seoul unveils stronger lineup of Asian galleries for its second edition

A view of the inaugural edition of Frieze Seoul, which kicked off with a VIP opening at COEX in Gangnam District, southern Seoul, Sept. 2, 2022 / NewsisBy Park Han-solFollowing its successful debut in Asia last year, Frieze Seoul is set to return this September with a stronger lineup of Asia-based galleries for its second edition.Like last year, the four-day global art fair will run alongside Korea's longest-running contemporary art fair, KIAF Seoul, via a five-year-long partnership with the Galleries Association of Korea from Sept. 6 to 9 at COEX in southern Seoul.While some 120 exhibitors participating in this year's event hail from 30 countries, over 40 percent of them are from Asia, according to the organizer, with an emphasis on those that opened their outposts in Korea.Also joining the fair are 18 local galleries ― including Arario Gallery, Gallery Baton, Kukje Gallery, PKM Gallery, Hakgojae Gallery, Gallery Hyundai, Johyun Gallery and Gana Art ― up from 12 that took part in last year's iteration.Frieze Seoul's Main section, “Leading Galleries,” will feature 89 majo

Yido bridges East, West via fusion cuisine in crafted ceramics

Italian cuisine served at Yido Cheongdam, plated on handcrafted dishes from Yido / Courtesy of Yido CheongdamBy Lee Hae-rinKorean ceramics manufacturer Yido plans to present a fusion of Korean traditional handicraft and western cuisine at its newly opened contemporary dining space in the upscale Cheongdam-dong area of southern Seoul.Named after King Sejong, the inventor of the Korean alphabet, Yido has until recently focused on porcelain tableware. However, in response to the rising global popularity of Korean culture, the brand has decided to showcase Korean handicrafts by opening Yido Cheongdam, a contemporary complex cultural space also featuring a restaurant.“'Yido is a Korean handicraft brand, so wouldn't Korean cuisine be more suitable?' people often ask me,” Yido CEO Kim Young-geun told The Korea Times in a recent phone interview. “However, we wanted to show that Korean handicraft pottery can have a place in the western culinary world as well, where flat plates are often used unlike in Korea, where bowl-shaped dishes for rice and soup are more common.”I

INTERVIEW DoubleTree by Hilton turns hotel rooftop into urban bee farm in Pangyo

A beekeeper of Urban Bees Seoul takes out a hive frame from a rooftop bee farm at DoubleTree by Hilton Seoul Pangyo in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province, during the hotel's first harvest ceremony, June 2. Courtesy of DoubleTree by Hilton Seoul Pangyo By Lee Hae-rinSEONGNAM, Gyeonggi Province ― “Here, you can see all these bees growing safe and healthy in the beehive. No need to be afraid of them,” urban beekeeper Park Jin said, lifting a wooden hive frame filled with glittering honey and buzzing bees on the rooftop of a newly built hotel in Pangyo in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province.“Honey bees usually forage within a radius of about two kilometers, so this very colony of bees nestled on this rooftop makes significant contributions to building a healthy ecosystem in the area,” he said, looking around at the building's surroundings, full of mountains with acacia forests.Clad head-to-toe in his beekeeping suit, Park and DoubleTree by Hilton Seoul Pangyo's staffers took the first

DAILY FORTUNE - JUNE 7, 2023