Global Community

Hikers to tackle Baegundae

The Seoul International Hikers Club (SIHC) will hike Baegundae, the highest peak of Mount Bukhan via Doseon Temple in northern Seoul, Saturday.With a level of difficulty of seven out of 10, this trail is considered fairly challenging.The hikers will separate into two groups, with one taking the more challenging course crossing the whole mountain while the other will go to the top or visit the temple.Doseon Temple was established by Monk Doseon in 862 during the United Silla era.Participants can also choose to stroll around the temple for a couple of hours until the rest return from hiking.“SIHC strongly recommends that participants wear good hiking shoes and be prepared for a range of possible weather conditions,” organizers said.“For instance, you may want to pack a raincoat, a waterproof hiking jacket and an extra pair of socks and T-shirt in a plastic (Ziploc) bag, as well as a light snack (sandwiches and fruit) for your lunch and a bottle of mineral water to drink during your hike.”The hiking club, established in early June 2005 by several Korean and forei

Hockey Day Korea grants wishes for charity

By John RedmondThe Korea Ball Hockey Association (KBHA) hosted the 2nd annual Hockey Day Korea (HDK) at the Jamsil Sports Complex inline rink last Saturday.The event was held to promote awareness of hockey in Korea and raise money for the Make-A-Wish Korea (MAWK) charity.The afternoon began with an opening ceremony with emcees Colin Gennoe and Nikkii Sang-jin Lee of the Korea Ball Hockey Association, followed by opening remarks from Canadian Ambassador to Korea Eric Walsh.Jim Paek, NHL Stanley Cup winner with the Pittsburgh Penguins and coach of the Korea Men’s Olympic ice hockey team, expressed his appreciation for HDK and of the need to further develop hockey awareness and skill development among young people.MAWK representatives were also present to receive a donation from HDK organizers.MAWK aims to raise money for children with life-threatening medical conditions in Korea.Following the ceremony, Craig Grillanda of Team Korea Ball Hockey and representative players ran the children through skill stations to teach them ball hockey.Guests were also treated to an exhibition mat

'Stranger Than Korea' offers double-feature screenings

By Jon DunbarA new community cinema initiative is offering subtitled movie screenings to galvanize foreign interest in Korean movies.K-Cineclub, which had its first event on Oct. 9, will start the “Stranger Than Korea” monthly movie screening series Sunday. Intended to introduce the early films of famous directors, this first double feature offers Kim Jee-won’s “The Foul King” (2000) and “A Tale of Two Sisters” (2003).Kim is best known for the Hollywood film “The Last Stand” (2013), as well as Korean blockbusters “The Good, The Bad, The Weird” (2008) and “The Age of Shadows” (2016). The curtain rises at 4 p.m. at Seoul Art Cinema.The films will screen with English subtitles, but subtitles are available in Chinese, Japanese, Russian and Vietnamese through the smartphone app KMS.Although the poster says the screenings are for foreign students, all foreign and Korean film buffs are welcome. Tickets cost 6,000 won.Future screenings include Park Chan-wook’s “Sympathy for Lady Vengeance” (2005)

Seoul Shakespeare Company stages 'Garage'

Cast members Jamie Horan, left, and Jason Cutler rehearse “Garage.” / Courtesy of Robert Michael EvansBy John Redmond The Seoul Shakespeare Company (SSC) will stage its production of “Garage” at Studio SK this weekend.Originally devised by Dive Theatre in New York City, “Garage” is a raw, intimate and uncompromising work of contemporary theater.The plot sees high school English teacher David and his wife Susan return to David’s rural hometown in Arkansas for the funeral of his estranged alcoholic father.While visiting the emptied-out garage where his father used to fix cars, the couple unexpectedly encounters Brandon, David’s childhood bully.During an alcohol-infused night in the garage together, David, Susan and Brandon reveal parts of themselves in unexpected, intimate, sometimes violent ways.“Garage” was written in 2010 by Michael Hogwood, Nathan Riley, Bryce Kemph, Jenna Kirk and Jason Cutler, with rewrites in 2014 by Jason Cutler.Starring Jamie Horan, Lauren Ash-Morgan and Jason Cutler, the SSC production is direct

Nominations open for Korea Multicultural Youth Awards

The Korea Times is accepting applications for the 6th Korea Multicultural Youth Awards with the aim of promoting diversity and supporting talented children from multiracial families.The awards ceremony will take place at the Korea Press Center at 7 p.m. on Dec. 18. Each of the 10 winners will receive one million won and a plaque.The Minister of Gender Equality & Family Award will be awarded to the most outstanding individual or group.Eligibility1) Outstanding elementary school students 2) Outstanding middle school students 3) Outstanding high school students 4) Outstanding volunteers 5) Individuals or groups that have made extraordinary contributionsTwo winners will be selected from each of the five categories. Nominees for categories one to three should be Korean nationals with at least one foreign-born parent or foreign citizens who have lived in Korea for three years or longer with legal status.Nominees for categories four and five do not require a multiracial background.Nominations for categories one to three require a copy of the student’s record and a recommendation l

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English teacher, entrepreneur bring expats together through basketball

Hindson Her, left, and Jason Min-kee Kim pose together during a basketball event. / Courtesy of Project Ball By You Soo-sunThe largest expat basketball league in Korea is run by two guys from California working in complete different fields but joined by the same passion for the sport.Hindson Her, 31, is the founder of the league run under the group, “Project Ball.” He has been teaching English in Seoul since 2010. He began playing basketball with a small group of friends who longed to form bonds with those going through similar experiences as foreigners in Korea. But more than that, they just wanted to play ball which was at the time largely inaccessible to expats here.  Among them was Jason Min-kee Kim, a 29-year-old South Korean from Silicon Valley in San Francisco, California. An entrepreneur, he has run two startups and now works for a venture capital firm, and was recently put on the Forbes’ Under 30 Asia list. On the side, he works as a managing partner for a venture captial group.Under the leadership and dedication of the two men, the small group qu

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