Global Community

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Int’l football academy to open in Seoul

By J.R. Breen Contributing Writer Two expatriates in Korea have begun holding teaser clinics for a soccer academy they plan to open this summer. International Football Education Academy (IFEA) will be a year-round program with the goal of producing top-class soccer players. Free clinics began last weekend and continue throughout May, with classes on Saturdays and Sundays. ``We want to target the expat community,'' Phil Neiland, 28- year-old technical director of IFEA, said Monday. ``The goal of the (May free clinics) is to give the Seoul community the opportunity to see the professionalism of the IFEA brand and to experience first-hand the training environment that IFEA coaches create.'' The launch of IFEA is aimed to bring a full-time, professional youth soccer organization to Seoul, organizers said. Although this month's clinics are aimed at 5- to 13-year-olds, the full academy will cater for the development of players from age 5-18. The IFEA says they aim to provide players the opportunity to develop as athletes, students and as people it will strive to p

Children’s Charity Art Auction to bring together art enthusiasts

By J.R. Breen Contributing writer The fourth Children's Charity Art Auction fundraiser will be held Sunday at Roofers Bar in Itaewon, Seoul. The event will bring together art world insiders, collectors, enthusiasts, and artists from a variety of backgrounds to benefit organizations serving children and families in crisis situations. The day's activities will primarily consist of an art auction with work donated by the Seoul Art Collective and various Korean and foreign painters, printmakers and photographers. The auction will also include live music, a massage therapist providing Tiger Balm massages, a lottery, and food and refreshments. The event begins at 1:30 p.m., with performances starting at 7 p.m. All money raised will go directly to the organizations themselves, not through an intermediary. This year, the founders of the Children's Charity Art Auction are expanding their donations to include both the Baan Unrak Children's Village as well as the Nalom Village Elementary School. Baan Unrak (House of Joy) is a refugee camp based in Thailand near the

Foreignline

Seoul City Improv to perform at Roofers Seoul City Improv will perform this Friday, their first show since returning from abroad. The well-known expat improvisation comedy troupe recently came back from their first international trip. They visited Taichung, Taiwan to perform alongside fellow improv troupe Taichung Improv. The show starts at 10 p.m. and continues until 11:30 p.m. with one short intermission. The venue is Roofers Bar in Itaewon, Seoul. Admission is free. Seoul City Improv regularly put on shows in the Itaewon area. For more information, contact community@koreatimes.co.kr Evaluating 4 River Restoration If you want to get a first-hand look at what is happening as a result of President Lee Myung-bak's Four Rivers Restoration project, this Saturday is an opportunity. There will be the chance to walk along the South Han River to visit river sites already under construction. This trip is hosted by the Eco Horizon Institute of Korea. The tour will be conducted in English. The program includes walking along Namhangang road, visiting Yeoju

(240) ON THE PLANE III

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(237) TECHNOLOGY II

Foreigner sets up blood donation scheme

By J.R. Breen Contributing writer In the wake of the death of a 19-year-old Korean youth, Jeon Yoo-woon, from lymphoma, an expatriate in Korea has set up a group to encourage blood donations in Korea. The group, which has yet to be registered, is a non-profit organization, called Blood Connections, and has been established by Marie Frenette, a Canadian who lives in Seoul. ``We want to assist the Korean Red Cross, and produce materials in English and hopefully other languages to state clearly the rules when it comes to donating blood,'' Frenette said. ``And we also set up a program to encourage those who can donate blood to commit to donating on a regular basis, every two months or so.'' Jeon passed away two weeks ago after a one month battle with lymphoma, a cancer of the blood. Jeon was in constant need of platelet donations, the part of the blood which causes it to clot. However, because his blood type was RH B negative, extremely rare in Koreans, it proved difficult to get sufficient donations, even after Frenette began a campaign among the expat community.