Global Community

British Intl Kindergarten opens school in Cheongdam-dong

British International Kindergarten (BIK), a kindergarten providing British-style education for Korean and expat children, has opened a school in Cheongdam, Seoul. BIK Cheongdam is ideally located in an attractive and exclusive district of Seoul. It is the sister campus to BIK Hannam, located across the river in Hannam-dong. It is open to students from two to seven years of age. Emphasis is placed on the main areas of developmental learning for young children, but this is also modified to meet the needs of the young children who are learning English as a second (or sometimes third) language. As well as preparing children for an understanding and appreciation of the world at large, the school also teaches the values, good manners, appropriate behavior, courtesy, confidence and respect. The curriculum is based on the well-respected National Curriculum of England and Wales. Personal banking seminar The Yeoksam Global Village center will host a free seminar on personal banking in Korea April 29, from 4 p.m. through 6p.m. In collaboration with the Korea Exchange Ba

Going, going, gone for 39 million won

By Agnes Yu Auctions can be thrilling as the final price for items sold rises higher and higher with each raised hand. Last Wednesday a Rugby Charity Dinner was hosted by the New Zealand Chamber of Commerce in Korea, known as The Kiwi Chamber, and the Australian Chamber of Commerce in Korea, AustCham. The auction at the event had a suspenseful outcome of millions and millions of won being flung about the Grand Ballroom of the Hyatt hotel as competing bidders raced frantically to claim assorted rugby paraphernalia and other special lots. Of the many items the “Fevernova Crystal Ball,” a rare 14-karat gold-plated official 2002 FIFA World Cup match ball with the Korean and Japanese flags and official FIFA logo, was donated by adidas and proved to be the top draw. It fetched 39 million won, 50 percent of which went to Save the Children and 50 percent to adidas’s Japan-linked charity work. Justin Sampson, an ESPN Star Sports rugby commentator of 11 years and the master of ceremonies for the evening, was an engaging auctioneer. He piqued the crowd and raised, according to the

First International Improv Festival to take place in Seoul May 13-15

By John Redmond Seoul City Improv (SCI) will present Seoul’s first International Improv Festival at Spazio Luce Theater from May 13 to 15. The first-ever international improv festival is held to celebrate SCI’s fourth anniversary in style. Troupes including SCI, Improv Boston from the United States, Bilingual Improv Group (BIG) from China and People’s Liberation Improv from Hong Kong will take part. The three-day festival will also showcase SCI’s newly minted troupe of Korean performers. The event will include incredible improvised performances at night, followed by after-parties at different bars in the Itaewon area. During the day on Saturday and Sunday, Will Luera, artistic director of Improv Boston, will hold workshops for anyone interested in acting and/or improvisation. The SCI said that the festival was inspired by the Tokyo Improv Festival, where the troupe participated in November 2010. Improv Japan, a Japanese troupe based in Tokyo, had planned to attend the Seoul event, but sadly had to withdraw in the wake of the recent earthquake and tsunami. As an act of

Han River Pirates going strong

By Jeremy Burks Six years after their first-ever rugby practice along the banks of Han River, the Han River Pirates recently launched their new spring season at Dulwich College Field in Banpo-dong, southern Seoul. Some 30 girls and boys, aged 7-14 attended the first training session. “What a great start to the season; lots of kids, beautiful weather and excellent facilities provided by our hosts, Dulwich College Seoul,” said Guillaume Lauzol, the club’s new president. Lauzol emphasised how grateful the Han River Pirates were for the loan of the facilities. “It is so important to get a reliable and safe place to play; I know past club presidents had to battle hard to find good facilities,” he said. While the club is open to all boys and girls, the leadership has always come from the international community and this year the management team are all French. “Of course we welcome kids of all nationalities,” said Nic Klebnikoff, whose son has played with the Pirates for several years. “Rugby has always been able to bring people together and the Han River Pirates has

(424) Tea ceremony ― Dado (II)

(423) Tea ceremony ― Dado (I)

(422) Bongeun Temple (II)

(421) Bongeun Temple (I)

2 years of subculture going strong at Platoon Kunsthalle

By Agnes Yu Celebrating two years of successful subculture in contrast with the surrounding ultra, upscale Cheongdam sybarites, Platoon Kunsthalle invites everyone on Friday April 15 to join an evening of charity auctioning and participate in the premiere “mook-jji-bba” competition. The event will also have a delicious barbecue and special DJs. In April 2009, Platoon Kunsthalle was built using 28 ISO cargo containers. They were deftly stacked to create nearly 3000 square feet of creative, energetic space in a unique four-storey building and the subculture playground was born. A spawn of German initiative with headquarters in Berlin, this flexible architecture was set up as an incubator ― nurturing underground artists by offering them studio residencies as well as supporting diverse cultural and communication projects. During the past 2 years, diverse events have taken place within the corrugated container walls as more than 80 young upcoming artists have exhibited in the showcases on the first floor. Over 100 cultural events ranging from a tattoo convention, dj seminar

Taste new ale and save a bear with every sip

Craftworks Taphouse & Bistro will unveil their latest seasonal beer: Jirisan “Moon Bear” India Pale Ale (IPA) on Thursday. A bold, hoppy American-style ale, with an alcohol content of well over six percent, Jirisan marks an important milestone in Korea’s domestic beer culture. Craftworks is using the new beer, named for the southern peak of Mt. Jiri, to assist local conservation groups in working to eradicate the trade in moon bear bile, a practice Korea