Global Community

(510) Expressing gratitude and regret

(509) Agreement and disagreement

Monk opens up Korean Buddhism for expats

By Kim Young-jin Speaking to a group of laypeople on a recent Saturday, Haemin Sunim sounded much like any other Korean Buddhist monk as he spooled out wisdom at the Anguk Zen Center in Seoul, touching on common themes such as compassion and attachment. The big difference – to the delight of many expats ― is that this Harvard-educated monk lectures in English, opening up Korean Buddhism to a wider range of those interested. Now on sabbatical from his professorship at Hampshire College, a small liberal arts school in the United States, where he now resides, Haemin Sunim is spending his time in his homeland by reaching out to as many people as he can. Not only are his discourse accessible language-wise, but the scholar makes it a point to keep topics practical and based on everyday experience. The approach is working: He regularly draws audiences of up to 50 people, comprised of Koreans, expats and the occasional tourist, experienced practitioners or those just seeking a taste of Buddhism. He has some 40,000 followers on the social networking site Twitter.

UK artist to hold solo exhibition

By John Redmond British artist Richard J. Beaumont’s new solo exhibition “Birthday Suits” will open at Gallery Annabini in Seoul from Oct. 7 through 13. The exhibition is seen as getting right down to basics, reducing all complexity to simple lines and basic colors. “We’re born in our ‘birthday suits’ without pretension, without concern for fashion or taste, we are what we are. For the rest of our lives we cover up, take on airs and graces and parade around dolled up to the nines; except of course in our most private and intimate moments when all again is revealed warts and all,” states Beaumont in a press release. “This collection of new paintings, based largely on drawings done in a series of live modeling sessions examine the human form in all its glory. The paintings are fluid and expressionistic attempting to capture a fluidity of mood rather than frozen reality.” The opening party will take place on Oct. 7 from 6 - 9 p.m. For more information call 070-4229-3092 or email jangmi1969@naver.com. To get to Gallery Annabini take bus 1711 or 1020 from Gyeo

Expat theater group showcases new work

By John Redmond The local expat Probationary Theatre Company will stage Stephen Belber’s two-hander “Dusk Rings A Bell” at the White Box Theatre in Yongsan from Oct. 7 through 16. Set in modern Barrack Obama times, this compassionate love story tells the tale of Molly and Ray who rediscover each other 25 years after a random kiss in their teens. But who are they now? Where has life taken them? With emotional rhetoric and sympathetic prose, “Dusk” explores the humanity of the two characters and the inevitable circumstances that have directed their paths. The play will be directed by first time director Tara Herman who most recently performed in “If These Tables Could Talk” and “Some Girls.” “Audiences are sure to embrace this bittersweet love story because of the tender relationship between Ray and Molly. It’s realistic in the way it’s written and perhaps akin to our own lives,” explains Herman. Desiree Munro, who plays Molly and Daniel White, who plays Ray, are no strangers to the theater. Munro is the creative director of Probationary Theatre Company and has perform

Australian Chamber Orchestra to perform in Seoul Thursday

By John Redmond As part of the 29th Korean International Music Festival, the Australian Chamber Orchestra (ACO) will be holding the Korea-Australia 50th Anniversary Amity Concert at Seoul Arts Center on Oct. 6. Four members of the ACO will also hold a special free mini concert for disabled children at the Ceramic Palace Art Hall on Oct. 5. Beginning at 3 p.m. and lasting 30 minutes, 18 children and workers from the orphanage Give Out Love along with up to seven representatives from AustCham and 12 sponsors will attend the concert and have a chance to be photographed with ACO members. The ACO was founded by cellist John Painter in 1975 and is led by the charismatic Richard Tognetti, who performs on a rare $10 million Guarneri Del Gesu violin. He is also artistic director. The works to be performed on Oct. 6 include pieces by Jakob Ludwig Felix Mendehlsson Bartholdy, George Friedrich Handel, Antonio Vivaldi and Pyotrllyich Tchaikovsky. The concert that begins at 8 p.m. will feature Korean harp soloist HyunSun Na. Tickets cost from 39,000 to 100,000 won.

(508) COEX (II)

(507) COEX (I)

(506) Occupations (II)

(505) Occupations (I)