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(325) Trees of Korea (II)

(324) Trees of Korea (I)

Westside hidden treasure

Christopher Jay While the eastern and southern coasts of the Korean Peninsula are championed by many as the beach line to frequent, the west coast of Korea remains the much maligned black sheep of the family. Having sought advice many times as to where one might venture to for a coastal trip, very few people have ever pointed this writer to the west. The name Yellow Sea comes from the color of its water. The relatively shallow sea receives large amounts of silt and sand from Chinese rivers and the Korean coastal waters have been tidally mixed with run-off and discharge from the Korean peninsula. The wetlands along the west coast are some of the largest in the world and include nearly 100,000 hectares of tidal mud flats. While sandy beaches are what we seek, mud certainly does not equal pollution. In fact, quite the opposite, as tidal mud flats can absorb sewage and organic matter that might flow into the sea from land. Just a one meter squared area of tidal flat is capable of purifying 1 to 2 kg of waste per year. It is true that some parts of the west coast are heavil

Stompers Battle of Bands ready to rock

By Alan Green This Saturday, Olde Stompers Rock Spot will kick off its third annual Battle of the Bands. For the next four Saturdays, a total of 15 acts will be hoping to emulate Korean rockers Galaxy Express and funky Latin combo The Willman Band in winning the contest and scooping the 1 million-won prize. As in previous years, a mixture of Korean and expat musicians will take to the Itaewon rock bar’s stage, representing a variety of genres, from punk to funk. The competition is again expected to be fierce and the judges will have the unenviable task of determining who will ultimately triumph. The first three weeks will see five bands a night hoping to make it through to the final on Nov. 20, where the winners of each round accompanied by the best runner-up in qualifying will rock out one more time. Originality and musicianship will be the key criteria in the competition. There are more prizes for the bands this time around thanks to sponsors of the event. Second place will receive 100,000 won from Groove Korea. Third place will get rehearsal time from Studio Naisu, and

Sohodolls to play Club FF for Halloween

By John Redmond For lovers of local and foreign indie rock, punk and electronica, Club FF, located in the student neighborhood of Seoul’s Hongdae, is a must, especially when the management decides to host a special event. For the Halloween celebrations this weekend, Club FF has invited special guests, London band, Sohodolls. They will play on Oct. 30, with events kicking off at 6.30 p.m. Formed in London in 2003 by Maya van Doll (vocals) and Toni Sailor (guitar), Sohodolls are an electro group known for a sound that incorporates elements of 1970s glam and ’80s electronica with elements of ’90s punk. The stage shows are known for exploring the erotic aspect of music, as can be witnessed in videos such as “Stripper” and “Bang, Bang Bang Bang.” Sohodolls will perform with local bands: The Koxx, GoGo Star, Wiretap In My Ear, Bye Bye Sea, Romantic Punch and Pony. Basement indie rock venue, Club FF is managed by Eddie. It features regular live performances that has grungy feel with the DJs focusing on ’90s rock and pop. FF’s main attraction is its lively crowd and

Breaking barriers with Broken Teeth

By Agnes Yu Are you ready? Can you hear the music? You will because Broken Teeth are going to turn up the volume this Friday at Club Answer. Broken Teeth was initiated in early 2010 by French people living in Korea with the objective to develop Panda Media's activities involving party planning, artistic event organization and live music promotion. Broken Teeth has no pretention of doing something unique or new. They just want to be an alternative option for music lovers, offering more various musical contents to the Seoul scene. Instead of a “one music style promoter,” the founders hope to always be able to offer quality in diversity. Until now, the target audience has been more club oriented as the artists brought to Korea have been DJs. Nowadays clubs in Seoul have the potential to gather a wider range of people with one common desire: to listen to good quality music and have some fun. No matter if those are electronic sounds, folk guitars, hip-hop beats ... the aim is to provide the chance to listen to new, talented artists. Upcoming shows include French Attack

KEB to hold expat banking seminars

By John Redmond Living away from one’s home country often means even the most minor daily tasks such as using public transport, an ATM machine or paying a bill can become major obstacles. As far as personal finances are concerned, the problem in Korea is magnified as one may encounter language and cultural differences, as well as unfamiliar and complex regulations related to banking affairs. With this in mind, Korea Exchange Bank (KEB), the only bank in Korea to have an all English banking service — “Expat Banking” launched a few years ago — is organizing a seminar for expatriates in Korea to introduce Korean banking regulations and to give information on money management. The seminar will focus on the following financial topics: basic Korean banking regulations, products and services for expats, bank accounts, foreign exchange, debit and credit cards, loans, electronic banking, bill payments and bank checks. English speaking staff from KEB will be on hand to offer advice and answer questions. There will also be a question and answer session. Snacks and dr

(323) Elevators (I)

(322) Seafood ― shellfish

(321) Health and Fitness (III)