Global Community

(1725) Electric bus (II)

(1723) Foreign brides

Christmas as a foreigner: where to get a taste of home

Chad Murphy, owner and manager of the Bull & Barrel, with staff in Itaewon. / Photo by John RedmondBy John RedmondThe Bull & Barrel in Itaewon. / Photo by John RedmondChristmas is a time of year that many foreigners associate with family get-togethers, eating traditional Christmas dinners and catching up with distant and new relatives, along with the gift giving.For most foreigners living in Korea, however, Christmas can be a very lonely experience. Aside from the phone calls and Skype conversations, family contact is very limited.A traditional Christmas dinner is also impossible to prepare without a fully functioning kitchen and access to the right foods, which is out of the question for many international students, teachers and workers in temporary overseas posts.To meet the need for a true Christmas experience, many bars in Itaewon offer a dining experience complete with Christmas turkey, Santa Claus and gifts to be shared among friends and work colleagues.Below is a list of three bars with Christmas specials.The Bull & Barrel in Itaewon offers two sittings for its ann

Foreign Community events Dec. 20-26

RASKB museum visit for sports exhibitionThe world's oldest Korean studies group offers a free tour of the National Museum of Korean Contemporary History in Gwanghwamun, central Seoul, tonight at 6:50 p.m. The museum is hosting a special exhibition, "Korean Sports, History Written in Sweat," until March 4, to celebrate the upcoming PyeongChang Winter Olympics and Paralympics. It introduces the history of modern sports in Korea, featuring exhibits from the 1988 Seoul Summer Olympics and 2002 Korea-Japan World Cup. After a guided tour, RASKB member Tom Coyner will give a special presentation on his participation as a photographer during the 2002 World Cup. Visit facebook.com/RASKB for more information. ESCCK December Networking Night at El TapeoThe Spanish Chamber of Commerce in Korea hosts its year-end networking night tonight, in celebration of the holidays. This includes National Sangria Day, which falls on Dec. 20. The event is at the Tapeo Restaurant in Gwanak-gu, southern Seoul. Entry costs 25,000 won for members and 35,000 won for non-members and covers food and a drink. Payment

NGO offers free Olympics stay for foreigners

By John RedmondForeigners are invited to attend the PyeongChang Olympics in February free of charge, as part of a cross-cultural event.Organized by Seoulian, an NGO cooperating with government organizations, participants are invited to be part of the “Cheer On Party.” Guests will receive free transport to PyeongChang, tickets for an Olympic event and a night or two stay in a hotel or AirDome.The free package deal also includes entry to the events tent of choice, plus concerts and gifts.“People can expect fun events, K-pop groups performing, seeing the Olympic Games for a day, cheering with Korean passion,” Seoulian member Mark Balneger said.The event will show “foreigners there is more to Korea than the superficial things the world sees, and let them truly experience Korean culture on another level and at the same time introduce the cultures of the world to the people of Korea.”Camera crews and photographers will be present during the event for promotional purposes.Seoulian promotes commerce, investment and cross-cultural learning among Korean and

'Future Sounds' podcast connects Korea's musical past, future

Edward Povey is host of “Future Sounds from Korea” podcast / Courtesy of CybershotBy Jon DunbarEpisode 1 of “Future Sounds from Korea” came online last December, introducing Korea’s underground electronic music scene. Its creator Edward Povey, an instructor at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, celebrated the milestone earlier this month releasing episode 6. “All of the music in the podcast is from the Korean Peninsula, including locals, expats and Korean record labels,” Povey told The Korea Times. “The music comes from a wide range of the electronic scene, from established underground names to unknown bedroom producers _ who are often the most exciting. A lot of the music is unmastered and raw from someone's laptop.”Each podcast is a solid two hours, ranging in genre and mood, from ambient and experimental, to dreampop and post-punk, to techno and virtually anything else. As host he curtly lists off the artists with a detached manner not unlike a subway announcement, then retreats into the background, letting the music do its

'Taste-K' Korean food day welcomes foreigners

Traditional Korean musicians perform during a Taste-K event at Philobar in Wangsimni, Seoul, in November / Courtesy of John RedmondBy John RedmondForeigners are invited to sample and cook traditional Korean foods and beverages in Chuncheon, Friday.Under the banner of “Taste-K” the event presents the market diversification of Korean agricultural and seafood products, selecting citizens of certain strategic countries to participate.Focusing on people from countries in Africa, Europe, South America and Central Asia, participants sample varieties of meat, fish and beverages and then rate them based on flavor.Participants are also asked to compare the Korean foods with similar dishes from their own country.The first food tasting was held six weeks ago at Wangsimni in eastern Seoul and focused on meat and tofu. There were also vegetarian and halal options.Participants were also treated to a traditional Korean music concert.A second beverage tasting, showcasing traditional Korean beverages including makgeolli and a range of organic soju, took place at Yangjae in southern Seoul t

(1722) Earthquake (III)

(1721) Earthquake (II)

Yongsan real estate faces fundamental changes

Realtor Jee KimBy Jon DunbarAs the U.S. military continues moving out and construction companies begin drawing up redevelopment plans, foreign residents of Yongsan-gu in central Seoul are likely to notice changes, but realtor Jee Kim advises against panic. She works for World Real Estate Company providing real estate services for foreigners from around the world, mainly military personnel, corporate employees and embassy personnel. Her office is in Hannam-dong, just uphill from Soonchunhyang University Hospital and a stone’s throw from the recently demolished towers of Hannam Village, a former U.S. military housing compound. A sign over her office window offers services in Pyeongtaek where the U.S. military is relocating, as well as Godeok New Town, a redevelopment project in southeastern Seoul.Many realtors are following the military south, but Kim, who grew up in Yongsan-gu, continues to serve the area, especially Hannam, Itaewon, Haebangchon and Gyeongnidan, where housing ranges from cheap hillside hovels and affordable walk-ups to luxurious high-rises.“Actually becaus