Goodreads will be giving away 20 copies of Maija Rhee Devine’s The Voices of Heaven through May 5. Only residents of Korea or the United States can participate.
2013 International Garden Exposition Suncheon Bay Korea
Beautiful wetlands, inspiring sunsets, and lots of gardens
Suncheon Bay Garden Expo 2013 will kick off Apr 20 for a 6-month run in the southern coastal city, highlighting an exemplary model for an ideal future city through green industry development, sustainable garden development, and electronic transportation. The exhibition is divided into three areas: the main exposition venue, the International Wetlands Center, and gardens with various themes. The 5.2-kilometer rapid transit system will connect the main expo venue alongside the waters down to Suncheon Bay, where visitors will have breathtaking views of the ecological park surrounded by mudflats and thickly growing reeds. It is home to about 200 types of migrant birds and 120 types of salt plants.
VENUE: Around Suncheon Bay, Jeollanam-do
PERIOD: Apr 20–Oct 20
ADMISSION: 1-day pass: KRW 15,000
Tickets: http://ticket.interpark.com/global
MORE INFO: T. 1577-2013, www.2013expo.or.kr
GETTING THERE: Jeolla KTX trains depart from Yongsan Station and take 3-plus hours to get there.
Looking for Writers
We are looking for writers to pen the Korea Essentials 2013 series, a cooperative project between the Korea Foundation and Seoul Selection. We’ve published 12 volumes so far, which you can find on Seoul Selection’s online bookshop. This year, we plan to release four volumes: Hanbok and Korean Fashion, Taekwondo, Korean Traditional Medicine, and Korean Dance. Each volume is about 20,000 words; manuscripts should focus on providing readers fun, easy explanations rather than excessively technical content.
If you are interested in writing, please send a resume and writing sample to the appropriate supervisor below:
Taekwondo: Hwa-pyeong Kim word@seoulselection.com
Korean Traditional Medicine: Eugene Kim planner@seoulselection.com
Around the Web
A miscellany of high-quality hyperlinks from the week, courtesy of SEOUL editor-in-chief Robert Koehler.
Korean hanbok design brand Jilkyungyee will be marking the Inter-Pacific Bar Association’s annual meeting in Seoul with a fashion show at the MBC historical drama set in Yongin on April 18 (8pm). Featuring the participation of 35 lawyers and their families, from 13 nations, the show will help participants better understand the characteristics of Korean traditional clothing and how to wear them. The next day (11am, 2pm), Jilkyungyee will host a cultural experience program at its new hanok cultural hall, Mubongheon, in Samcheong-dong.
For more information, call (02) 744-5606.
Lorin Maazel & Munich Philharmonic
Lorin Maazel will meet Korean fans with the Munich Philharmonic Orchestra in two Seoul concerts. The Munich Philharmonic first visited Korea in 2007. The US maestro will present a selected program of Beethoven’s Coriolan Overture, Symphony No. 4, and Symphony No. 7 on April 21, while Igor Stravinsky’s “The Rite of Spring” is on offer the second day. Teenage prodigy pianist Cho Sung-jin will take the stage as a collaborator. Born in 1930, Maazel is one of the most important conductors of our time. He is also a violinist and composer.
VENUE: Concert Hall, Seoul Arts Center
DATES: Apr 21, 5pm / Apr 22, 8pm
ADMISSION: KRW 70,000–350,000
MORE INFO: T. 02-580-1300, www.sac.or.kr
GETTING THERE: Nambu Bus Terminal Station 남부터미널역 (Line 3), Exit 5
SIWA FRIDAY FIESTA CHARITY GALA 2013
SIWA’s Friday Fiesta Charity Gala offers the unique opportunity to experience the sounds and flavours of exciting Latin-American culture while raising money to help Korean charities.
On Friday April 26 at the Grand Hyatt Hotel, festivities will get under way at 7:30pm with a cocktail hour offering Fiesta Fizz signature drinks—margaritas, sangria, rum punch, and Corona beer! Dinner will follow at 8:30pm—a four-course feast showcasing the tantalizing flavors of South American cuisine. World-class wines donated by Pernod Ricard will accompany this outstanding meal. The music and songs of the mariachi band and DJ Mariya Maderich will keep us dancing into the wee hours of the night.
Friday Fiesta brings SIWA members and friends together for a night of song and reflection, with the singular goal of raising money for SIWA’s philanthropic work, helping the most disadvantaged throughout Korea. The Silent Auction will feature high-value items like round-trip air tickets to the US; Longchamp and MCM designer handbags; Chanel cosmetic hampers, a Persian rug; and many more. The Piñata Raffle promises a fun twist with a fabulous Club Med vacation for the grand prize. In addition, guests will have the opportunity to learn about and contribute directly to three of our most deserving charities: Anna’s House, Spring of Life, and Hae Nu Ri Study Room.
Book your tickets and complete registration and payment before April 17 at: www.siwapage.com
VENUE: Grand Hyatt Hotel, Seoul
DATE: Apr 26, 7:30 pm
ADMISSION: 125,000 won for SIWA members; 140,000 won for non-SIWA members, and 1,250,000 won for a table of ten (members and nonmembers)
MORE INFO: For any queries please contact Ms Lorrie Gomes, Gala Committee Chair at: gala@siwapage.com
Rocking Out for a Good Cause Vol.3—PSCORE
Fundraising Rock Concert
PSCORE, an NGO focusing on human rights issues in North Korea, is planning to hold its third fundraising concert at Club Freebird (Hongdae) on April 27: Rocking Our for a Good Cause Vol.3.
The event is a charity concert, with the proceeds going to the funding of educational activities and social programs for North Korean defectors in South Korea. It will also go toward activities that raise awareness of the ongoing human rights violations taking place in North Korea.
Lineup:
11.00pm Liqueur Brandy
11.30pm Space Papa
12.05am Wasted Johnny’s
12.40am The Studs Lonigan Experience
01.15am The Roosters
01.50am Primary
02.30am End of the Concert ? Rock and Roll DJ
VENUE: Club Freebird (Hongdae)
DATE: Apr 27, 11pm
ADMISSION: KRW 10,000. Proceeds go to PSCORE’s educational activities and social programs for North Korean defectors in South Korea.
MORE INFO: http://pscore.org/en/. Facebook event page:
https://www.facebook.com/events/185039818311621.
Olleh International Smartphone Film Festival
The Olleh International Smartphone Film Festival will open in Seoul on April 17, helping explore a new avenue for filmmaking in an era of media revolution.
The three-day event is an annual film competition that brings together 10-minute shorts produced solely by the use of smartphones. The festival aims to encourage work from aspiring filmmakers and amateurs who don’t have access to more expensive production equipment. Some candidates will use smartphone video editing apps, while others choose to use PC tools.
This year’s opener, titled Drawing Paper, was produced by a group of children living on remote islands under the guidance of filmmaker Bong Man-dae.
There are three competition sections: local moviemakers, teen filmmakers, and a newly added group for international contestants. The festival has also introduced a section for children; last year, judges gave out special prizes to middle schoolers.
VENUE: COEX Millennium Square & Megabox
PERIOD: Apr 17–20
MORE INFO: www.ollehfilmfestival.com
GETTING THERE: Samseong Station (Line 2)
RASKB: Cherry Blossom Excursion
With the return of spring to the peninsula comes the RAS Cherry Blossom Excursion. Participants will explore some of the best places to see these beautiful harbingers of warmer weather in Seoul and Gyeonggi-do.
The excursion will begin close to its point of departure in Yeoido, near the National Assembly Building. Every year, the road along the river is beautified by the blooming of the hundreds of cherry trees that line it; participants will take the opportunity to explore the area around the National Assembly and the banks of the Hangang to view this metropolitan isle in its full spring regalia.
Next, participants will head for Gwacheon City where, along an approximately two-kilometer stretch between Seoul Grand Park and the Contemporary Art Museum, participants can again enjoy nature’s beauty in full bloom. Participants will also enjoy a hike up to the hill (round trip 50 min.), ideal for those wanting a moderately gentle hike.
The last stop on the excursion will be the Ho-am Art Museum in Yongin, Gyonggi-do, and its beautiful Hee Won garden. The garden was opened in 2001 to commemorate the 15th anniversary of the Ho-am Art Museum. HeeWon garden recreates the unique aesthetic qualities of a traditional Korean garden in every detail. The entranceway leading to Hee Won Garden and continuing up the mountain nearby will be full of cherry blossom at this time of the year.
DATE: April 21
COST: KRW 42,000 for members and KRW 50,400 for nonmembers
Azaleas at Gangnam’s Bongeunsa Temple. Taken in early May, 2011. Photo by Robert Koehler.
*Click the photo to see a full-size version at our website.
NOTE: If you have a photo you would like to see in our Everyday Koreans section, please sent it to story@seoulselection.com. Photos should be AT LEAST 950px wide. Send a one-line bio, too.
Notifications
Tell Us About ‘Your Korea’: If you’re a longtime resident of Korea and would like to share your story in KOCIS’s KOREA Magazine, shoot an email
with your story idea to book@seoulselection.com.
Update Your Shopping Mall ID – Seoul Selection encourages you to change your ID and password for our online bookshop and shopping mall at Seoulselection.com. The old IDs and passwords no longer work following our recent upgrade.
Looking for Translators – Seoul Selection is looking for a few good translators (Korean to English) for general translation work. Those interested should send a resume and cover letter to Kyehyun at trans@seoulselection.com.
Seoul Selection eBooks – You can purchase some Seoul Selection titles in ebook format via Amazon.com (for Kindle) and Apple’s iBookstore. Titles include Ask a Korean Dude, Moon Tides, Doing Business in Korea, Once Around the Sun, and seven volumes of our Korean Film Directors series: BONG Joon-ho, IM Kwon-taek, KIM Jee-woon, LEE Chang-dong, LEE Man-hee, PARK Chan-wook, and SHIN Sang-ok.
Seoul Selection via Ingram – Seoul Selection now has a direct wholesale distribution agreement with Ingram Book Group, the world’s largest wholesale distributor of publisher content. By choosing to allow Ingram to represent our material, we have opened our titles to a wider audience. Our titles will be available for order through Ingram at more than 35,000 distribution channels worldwide. Ask your local bookstore to have Seoul Selection titles available!
Send Your Event Info – If you would like to advertise any upcoming events you are organizing, please send us the press release material at book@seoulselection.com by the preceding Friday in order for it to appear in the following Tuesday’s issue.
Freelance Contributors Wanted – SEOUL Magazine needs writers who are fluent in both Korean and English. Writers should have a strong interest in Korean culture and be able to interview Koreans. Send your resume and writing samples to book@seoulselection.com.
We Buy & Sell Used Books – Seoul Selection buys and sells used books in English. Unlike our regular selection of publications that specialize in Korea-related topics, our Used Book section carries books on all subjects. It’s all part of our effort to make life easier for the English-speaking community.
Learn Korean Language and Culture through Korean Stories (Korean Only) – for intermediate learners
New DVDs
Bridal Mask
Peppermint Candy
Code Name: Jackal
Confession of Murder
Two Weddings and a Funeral
Publisher: Hank Kim / Editor: Robert Koehler
Seoul Selection reserves all intellectual property rights on information provided in this newsletter. Some event information has been provided by the Korea Foundation. The IPRs are protected by pertinent laws
Seoul Selection Web Site: https://www.seoulselection.com
https://magazine.seoulselection.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/as_순천만.jpg6921280rjkoehlerhttps://magazine.seoulselection.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/Seoul-logo.pngrjkoehler2013-04-17 12:07:052013-04-25 15:06:52SEOUL Weekly: 2013 International Garden Exposition Suncheon Bay Korea
Suncheon Bay Garden Expo 2013 will kick off Apr 20 for a 6-month run in the southern coastal city, highlighting an exemplary model for an ideal future city through green industry development, sustainable garden development, and electronic transportation. The exhibition is divided into three areas: the main exposition venue, the International Wetlands Center, and gardens with various themes. The 5.2-kilometer rapid transit system will connect the main expo venue alongside the waters down to Suncheon Bay, where visitors will have breathtaking views of the ecological park surrounded by mudflats and thickly growing reeds. It is home to about 200 types of migrant birds and 120 types of salt plants.
SIWA’s Friday Fiesta Charity Gala offers the unique opportunity to experience the sounds and flavours of exciting Latin-American culture while raising money to help Korean charities.
PSCORE, an NGO focusing on human rights issues in North Korea, is planning to hold its third fundraising concert at Club Freebird (Hongdae) on April 27: Rocking Our for a Good Cause Vol.3.
The Olleh International Smartphone Film Festival will open in Seoul on April 17, helping explore a new avenue for filmmaking in an era of media revolution.
Dancing the night away in the heart of Seoul