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Hippo Campus brings memorable music to Korea

Hippo Campus / Courtesy of Pooneh GhanaBy Jon DunbarU.S. band Hippo Campus is coming to Seoul this Sunday for a concert at Rolling Hall near Hongik University. “We're stoked to be able to meet new faces and have a blast playing the music that got us there in the first place,” guitarist/vocalist Nathan Stocker said in an email interview with The Korea Times. They also said they are, “Looking forward to eating amazing food, and seeing the city.”Seoul is the second stop on a 34-city leg of their worldwide tour, which starts in Thailand before returning to North America for the remaining shows in the U.S. and Canada. They have already toured Europe and Australia. The band is signed to Grand Jury Records in the U.S. and Transgressive Records in the U.K. They has performed at SXSW, Lollapalooza, Bonnaroo, Summerfest, and Reading and Leeds Festivals, as well as appearing on “Conan.” NPR Music named the band one of its favorite new artists of 2017. And they have a following over here too. “We've received a lot of love from Korean fans over the years

Mar 19, 2019By Jon Dunbar

Hippo Campus brings memorable music to Korea

Simpsons' visit to Jogye Temple misses mark

Homer sits in front of a statue of Podae Hwasang in Jogye Temple in the latest episode of "The Simpsons." Twentieth Century Fox Film CorporationBy Jon DunbarPopular animated sitcom family The Simpsons have been all around the world. They went to Japan where Bart and Homer became fluent in Japanese in prison and they nearly died on a game show, Australia where Bart escaped the country's supposedly brutal justice system, and Brazil in an episode that had the local tourist board threatening a lawsuit over its depiction as a crime-ridden slum. Now in their 30th season, the Simpsons have finally made it to Korea, the country where they are animated.In the episode aired March 17 U.S. time, Bart goes to Seoul to participate in an esports tournament. The whole family comes along after Lisa, a practicing Buddhist, expresses interest in visiting Jogye Temple for its salt mandalas. On arrival, they drive past the “Simpsons Animation Studio and Casino” and stay at the “Courtyard by DMZ.”At Jogye Temple, parents Homer and Marge both achieve “zen” by making salt

Mar 19, 2019By Jon Dunbar

Simpsons' visit to Jogye Temple misses mark

Foreign Line

City wall tour and contestFunday Korea Networks is offering a tour of one of Seoul's many must-visit places this Saturday. It will provide a special lecture about Seoul's historic city walls before taking up to 60 participants on a hike over Naksan Mountain Course near Daehangno to see a stretch of the city wall. The tour is free to join, but participants have work to do after the walk. The group is holding a contest to produce the best “listicle” or list article, providing reasons to visit Seoul's city wall. The top prize is 200,000 won, with 300,000 won in other prizes. Contributing is not mandatory.Visit fundaykorea.me or fb.com/fundaynetworks for more information. Overnight climb of Mount SeorakFor a more challenging trip, Seoul Hiking & Nature Group heads to the eastern Gangwon Province for a walk up Mount Seorak, one of the Korean Peninsula's most iconic mountains, this Saturday and Sunday. Participants will spend the night at Bongjeong Hermitage 1,200 meters above sea level. The ascent will begin early Sunday morning. “Hiking will be quite steep and risky

Mar 12, 2019By Jon Dunbar

Itaewon venue offers new 'View' for music scene revival

Batu band, winner of season 3 of the Battle of the Bands, performs at View 33 Itaewon. / Courtesy of Kyutae Kim of vancity604By Jon DunbarA new name has been appearing in local concert listings, as an Itaewon venue aims to revive the live music scene there, right in the center of Seoul's rapidly changing foreign district.View 33 Itaewon gets its name because it's located at Itaewon Station exit 3 on the third floor, and “obviously we have the best view,” general manager Cindy River told The Korea Times in an interview.River has been part of the food and beverage industry for 25 years, eight of which have been in Korea, and she's familiar with Seoul's live music scene, which seems to be in constant retreat all across the city. Most of the music spaces remaining in the Itaewon area are tiny basement venues, and she wants to offer something better. “Summer's coming,” she said. “I had this vision: all our windows open, we have the best location, outside speakers ― I want to make it a full-blown live music show place.”View 33 opened last June, and River

Mar 12, 2019By Jon Dunbar

Celebrating St. Paddy's Day in Seoul

A previous St. Patrick's Day celebration in D-Cube Plaza at Sindorim Station / Courtesy of Irish Association of KoreaIt's #PaddyNotPatty season again, as March 17 approaches and we gear up for various celebrations of St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland. Although often shortened as St. Patty's Day, almost every Irish person will tell you the correct form is St. Paddy's Day, as the Irish form of Patrick is Padraig. Now that that's out of the way, let's look at the various events in Korea to celebrate St. Patrick's Day. The Irish Association of Korea (IAK) has been hosting events since 2001, but many others are jumping on board to celebrate the inclusivity and diversity of Irishness. Outdoor festivalThe IAK will host its usual outdoor event in D-Cube Plaza at Sindorim Station on Seoul Metro lines 1 and 2. The free event offers music and dance, face-painting and much more. Also offered are fancy dress prizes and a raffle grand prize of airline tickets to Ireland. The festival runs from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. this Saturday, March 16, the day before St. Paddy's Day. Hooley concertThe IAK al

Mar 12, 2019By Jon Dunbar

Korea Encounters Yeontan briquettes opened windows while warming homes

An unwanted Christmas gift of a yeontan coal briquette, printed in The Korea Times on Dec. 26, 1965. / Korea Times archiveBy Matt VanVolkenburg As perceptions of increasing atmospheric fine dust lead to worries over air quality and drive people indoors, it should be recognized that this is a distinct reversal from daily life in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s. At that time, no matter how cold winters got, people kept windows open due to fear of carbon monoxide poisoning.The main cause of this poisoning was “yeontan,” the cylindrical briquettes made of coal dust and clay used to heat homes. Convenient and necessary at a time when urbanization and deforestation had removed sources of wood, its use surged in the late 1950s. When used as the source of heat in the underfloor heating system, or “ondol,” tiny cracks in floors could allow carbon monoxide to escape and led to thousands of cases of poisoning annually.The briquettes were considered a daily necessity in winter, particularly because they were cheaper than oil or electricity. A 1964 Korea Times article noted tha

Mar 12, 2019

Westminster MBA students take peek into journalism

Korea Times President Lee Byeong-eon, center in the second row, poses with MBA students and faculty from Westminster College at the newspaper's headquarters in Seoul, Friday. Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul.By Hong Ji-minA group of 36 MBA students and professors from Westminster College in Salt Lake City, Utah, visited the newsroom of The Korea Times in Seoul, Friday.Led by Prof. Mike Keene, director of the Technology Commercialization Department at the college, they had a chance to take a peek into journalism during their visit to the newspaper's headquarters as part of an academic field trip.Korea Times President Lee Byeong-eon welcomed them with a brief presentation about the English daily and shared his views on the company's future and journalism trends in Korea.Collin Bess, a student from the college, said he was surprised by the in-depth stories the Korea Times covers on a wide variety of topics from finance to international relations. “It is surprising that most of the readership actually comes from the United States.”Another student Ankur Verma said he was im

Mar 8, 2019

Westminster MBA students take peek into journalism

Art fair celebrates 70th year of Philippines-Korea friendship

From left: Elena Dela Cruz, Filipino team manager of the Seoul Global Center; Nash Ang, founding director of Pinoy Artists in Korea; Angel Ngok, president of the ASEAN Youth Network in Korea; Ambassador Raul Hernandez from the Embassy of the Philippines in Korea; Ambassador Adalgisa Ximenes from the Embassy of East Timor in Korea; Nicky Juanite, secretary general of Pinoy Artists in Korea, and Rosie Peralta, executive director of Pinoy Artists in Korea. They were attending the "Art for Heart: Card Design Making Contest" at the Seoul Global Center in Jongno-gu on Mar. 3. Courtesy of Pinoy Artists in Korea By Ko Dong-hwan Team Penguins from Turkey won the grand prize in the "Art for Heart: Card Design Making Contest" held at the Seoul Global Center in Jongno-gu on Mar. 3. Courtesy of Pinoy Artists in Korea A visual arts event commemorating the 70th yea

Mar 7, 2019By Ko Dong-hwan

Art fair celebrates 70th year of Philippines-Korea friendship

Emperor's death leads to independence movement

Yun Chi-ho is pictured standing next to his father in the 1900s. / Robert Neff collectionBy Robert NeffOn Jan. 21, 1919, a cold Tuesday morning, rumors spread quickly through the streets of Seoul that ex-Emperor Gojong had died at dawn. His death came as a complete surprise because he had been in relatively good health. Many did not believe it was true and there were conflicting reports.The Maeil Shinpo reported he was seriously ill but still alive. The crown prince, who was due to marry Princess Masako on Jan. 28, was summoned back to Korea.Yun Chi-ho, a Korean official and activist, provided a powerful eyewitness account ― not to the ex-emperor's death, but the uncertainty and chaos that followed ― in his diaries. On Jan. 22, the ex-emperor's death was formally announced and Yun reported that “Koreans ― especially those of older ages ― seem to be much affected.” They gathered for days in front of Deoksu Palace, where Yun observed “thousands of mourners, old and young, men and women, [prostrated], themselves on the ground wailing in sincere grief.” Often Yun'

Mar 5, 2019By Jon Dunbar

Emperor's death leads to independence movement

6 ways to celebrate International Women's Day in Seoul

A member of Korea Women's Hotline hands out white roses in Gwanghwamun Plaza to celebrate International Women's Day last March 8. This year they will hand out yellow roses. / Korea Times fileBy Annan DunbarMarch 8 marks International Women's Day. The occasion was made official by the United Nations in 1975, but has roots in the suffragette movements of the early 20th century. Korea has seen drastic increases in women's status, but women here still face a high gender wage gap and underrepresentation in executive positions and in politics.Here is a selection of events that will be held in Seoul on Friday that will both celebrate the achievements of women, support women's movements and give a chance to acknowledge that there is still progress to be made.SIWA museum tour: Seoul International Women's Association (SIWA) is an organization that brings women together to connect and learn about Korean culture as well as support vulnerable members and communities in Korea through direct assistance as a part of their fundraising and volunteer efforts. The group's regularly scheduled events incl

Mar 5, 2019

Global Community

Global Community

Hippo Campus brings memorable music to Korea

Simpsons' visit to Jogye Temple misses mark

Foreign Line

Itaewon venue offers new 'View' for music scene revival

Celebrating St. Paddy's Day in Seoul

Korea Encounters Yeontan briquettes opened windows while warming homes

Westminster MBA students take peek into journalism

Art fair celebrates 70th year of Philippines-Korea friendship

Emperor's death leads to independence movement

6 ways to celebrate International Women's Day in Seoul

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