Global Community

Foreign school to stage Grease

By John Redmond What does a teacher do when a group of students want to connect to a community through a popular medium? Put on a concert, school play or a combination of both ― a musical. The 1971 musical Grease, by Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey, is being staged at Kwangjin-gu Teenage Community Center for one performance only. The May 25 show starting at 6:30 p.m. will be presented by the Korea Kent Foreign School (KKFS) drama club. Originally inspired by the American working-class youth subculture of the 1950s known as the “greasers,” the musical was a logical choice when dealing with teenagers, according to the director Jennifer Boyd. “I wanted something that the students and their peers could connect with,” said Boyd. The show tackles youth social issues by following a group of teenagers as they navigate the complexities of love and responsibility. Living in Korea for over seven years, Boyd said the show will appeal to not only foreigners but also members of the local community. “The themes and issues are universal. The students are proud to present

See and be seen at Between

By Agnes Yu Any recent visitor to Itaewon probably noticed the large patios and spacious interior of Between, the hip restaurant celebrating its first anniversary with a variety of champagne specials and set menus. Aiming to be an ideal all-around venue, Between has become popular for its casual brunch specials, afternoon coffee breaks, fine dining evening appointments and relaxing late night drinks. “People from all over the world and Korea visit Itaewon everyday and so there’s a true variety in tasting palates,” Keith Brett, vice president of Between, said in an email. “Between has always tried to be authentic and dynamic in its food, atmosphere and music, mixing them together to create a truly cosmopolitan feel in Seoul.’ Combining marble, steel and wood, the modern and elegant interior was featured in a shoot for the Korean edition of Vogue magazine in November 2010. Such decor makes Between a top spot in the district. Last December, it hosted a high-profile New Year’s Eve party with some 700 revelers enjoying an eclectic array of music different in the sep

Expat play says home may not be best bet

PTC to perform '10 Good Reasons Not to Go Home' By Kim Young-jin For any expats from the West thinking of packing up and heading home for good, the Probationary Theatre Company (PTC) believes you may want to think again. After a well-received run last year, the expat-run PTC is reprising “10 Good Reasons Not to Go Home,” a collection of monologues that remind expats of the unsavory aspects of life back home ― but not without a dose of humor. “Last time, people said they couldn’t stop talking about it,” Desiree Munro, creative director of PTC said. “But still, a lot of people didn’t get to see it.” That may change as the production will be staged at the newly-opened White Box Theatre near Hyochang Park station, the only venue in Seoul exclusively for English-language theater, after being held in a bar last time. The show comprises of 10 monologues, each a caricature of a prototypical character you’re bound to know from back home. As each unfolds, the characters reveal their true colors, providing a satirical look at social ills ranging from corporate greed to narci

(440) Phone Conversations (I)

(439) Operation and surgery

(438) Plastic surgery (I)

(437) Riding the subway (II)

New building to offer new possibilities for Global Center

By Kim Young-jin The Seoul Global Center’s (SGC) planned move to a more prominent location will open a wide range of possibilities in its mission to assist foreign residents, especially the growing number of those from the developing world, its director said. Seoul City, which funds the SGC, announced the relocation last week as part of a slate of measures aimed to improve the conditions for its some 360,000 foreign residents. “One of the biggest restrictions we’ve had is sheer space,” SGC head Alan Timblick said in an interview at the center’s current location at the Seoul Press Center. “The new building will allow us to expand what we do.” Now under construction near Jonggak Station, the 15-story building is expected to house an immigration office, foreign chambers of commerce and cultural facilities. These add to its array of existing services ranging from pro-bono legal advice to help register for a mobile phone or getting a small business off the ground. “It will be a great advantage to be able to come to one place and do everything,” the 66-year-old Briton said

Indie, tribute bands to rock Midan City

Rock bands from Korea and around the world will converge on Midan City, near Incheon Airport, on June 4 for an 18-hour indie music extravaganza. The RocKorea festival will feature local bands including expat groups the Lance Reegan-Diehl Band, the Tremors, and Sotto Gamba as well as Korean indie favorites the Rocktigers and Minha Band. Also on the bill is a slate of renown cover bands to be flown in from around the world including Led Zeppelin tribute band Over The Hills and Far Away, Rolling Stones tribute band Sticky Fingers and a Guns N’ Roses tribute band. As the concert begins at noon and rages on until the following morning, camping spaces will be available for concertgoers with their own tents. Breakfast will be served at the end of the concert. Organized by Softindustry in cooperation with the Korea Tourism Organization, the festival will also feature an art fair and international food court offering everything from Thai to Mexican cuisine. Tickets cost 40,000 won, with discounts available for groups. For more information visit RocKorea.com or call 010-8682-08

Homebrews compete in the art of beer and ale

By Agnes Yu The season of patios, lounge chairs, and a cold beer in the afternoon sun is upon us. In timely fashion, Homebrew Korea, an Internet based community of ex-pat and Korean home brewers, is holding “Brew your hops off’’ on May 14 at Oktoberfest near Gangnam station. It will take place from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. The “2011 Korea Homebrew Competition” is a chance for amateur beer makers to showcase various styles of the malty beverage they produce. Over 200 people attended last year’s event which was a heated competition among twenty-five beers. The winner was an India Pale Ale beer by Bill Miller. Even more beers and their brewers are expected to battle it out in the upcoming contest. The 2011 victor will be determined after entries are blind tasted by Joe McPherson, a food and restaurant blogger, Joshua Hall, wine reviewer and consultant, along with Homebrew Korea’s founder Rob Titley. Titley’s personal interest in brewing his own beer led him to develop expertise in the drink. His special knowledge allows him to consult on beer for companies such as Craftworks