Aug 13, 2014 / Issue No. 645
Translator Wanted: Seoul Selection is looking for a translator with a firm knowledge of economics. For more info, drop an email to atoz@seoulselection.com.

Goodreads Book Giveaway: Across the Tumen
Moon Young-sook’s novel focuses attention on the tragedy of the North Korean refugee crisis

Seoul Selection will be giving away 10 copies of novelist Moon Young-sook’s book “Across the Tumen: A North Korean Kkotjebi Boy’s Quest.” Participants have until Aug 25 to enter the giveaway.
Across the Tumen is a true-to-life novel about the horrific famine that swept North Korea in the 1990s. Yeong-dae, an ordinary boy becomes a kkotjebi, prisoner, and finally a defector. Learn about the heartbreaking human rights abuses against North Korean children today.

SEOUL Guidebook iPad Version Giveaway Winners
We hope you enjoy the electronic version of our best-selling guidebook

We are pleased to announce the five lucky winners of the Summer Vacation Giveaway Draw.

To see who won, follow the link above.

Special congratulations to the winners, and many thanks to all who entered.

Thank you again for your participation.
 


 
AROUND THE WEB

A miscellany of high-quality hyperlinks from the week, courtesy of SEOUL editor-in-chief Robert Koehler.

 


 

EVENTS

Teen Templestay Program at International Seon Center

Seoul’s International Seon Center will host a two-day Templestay program for teens on Saturday and Sunday, Aug 16–17. The program is a good chance for teenagers to find their true selves through chanting, meditation and conversations with monks.
The International Seon Center is a Seon (Zen) meditation and Buddhist propagation training center as well as a learning facility for Buddhist cultural practices. The overall aim of the center is to promote awareness of the inherent value of Korean Buddhism and its practices to the global community.

MORE INFO: T. 2650-2242
GETTING THERE: See this link.

 2014 Seoul Philharmonic Pre-Tour Concert 

Come see the Korea’s premier musical ensemble before they take off for their European tour. Founded in 1948, the Seoul Philharmonic is one of Korea’s oldest orchestras, having managed to survive the tragedy of the Korean War. The orchestra made a breakthrough in the international music scene by signing a contract with Deutsche Grammophon in 2011 to produce 10 albums over five years. Its current music director, Myung-whun Chung, became the first Korean to earn a top prize in the International Tchaikovsky Competition in 1974. His conducting career, however, started with the Mannes College of Music and the Julliard School, both in New York City. After working with the likes of the Los Angeles Philharmonic (USA), the Deutsche Radio Philharmonie Saarbrucken Kaiserslautern (Germany) and the Teatro Comunale (Italy) and the Metropolitan Opera (USA), he served as musical director under the legendary Paris Opera from 1989 to 1994, and was named “Artist of the Year” in 1991 by the Association of French Theatres and Music Critics. He was awarded the Legion of Honour, a French order established by Napoleon Bonaparte, in 1992 for his contribution to the Paris Opera. In 1995, he was named “Man of the Year” by UNESCO. He also made a significant visit to North Korea in 2011, returning with a promise to eventually form an orchestra with musicians from both Koreas. 
Pianist Ju-hee Lim has been playing the piano since she was three years old. Her professional career began only six years later, in 2009, when she played at the Yamaha Little Pianist Series. She has since developed an illustrious list of accomplishments, as well as performing in such places as China, Germany, France and Russia—quite a feat for a 14-year-old. A promising upcoming talent paired with a legendary veteran: the resulting show is sure to be a treat.

VENUE: Seoul Arts Center
DATE: Aug. 16, 20:00
MORE INFO: T. 02-1588-1210, www.sac.or.kr
ADMISSION: KRW 10,000–120,000
GETTING THERE: Nambu Bus Terminal Station 남부터미널역 (Line 3), Exit 5. Transfer to shuttle bus, or green bus No. 4429.

The Masterpieces

“The Masterpieces” is an exhibition that takes the very best and the most memorable pieces from the Museum of Photography’s vast collection and displays them in an organized and retrospective fashion. See moments captured by the likes of Eugene Atget, Edward Steichen and Yousuf Karsh, among others. The Museum of Photography was established in 2004 to expand Korea’s presence in the international photography scene, as well as to enlighten the public regarding the complexity and artistic value that photographs hold. The museum is also a place for people to come and be inspired to take better photos themselves. Moreover, the institution aims to discover hidden talent in Korea and promote the country’s local artists to the rest of the world. Given that photography is still a relatively underdeveloped discipline in Korea, it’s important for Korean photographers to retain a sense of identity and uniqueness without being swayed too much by global trends or succumbing too much to Western influence. This goal is something that cannot be accomplished by photographers alone; they need the support of an active community and consistent exhibitions that both promote existing work while nurturing the creativity of future artists. “The Masterpieces” is one of such initiatives, an exhibition to ignite the creative minds of those who visit.

VENUE: The Museum of Photography, Seoul
PERIOD: Thru Aug. 30
MORE INFO: www.photomuseum.or.kr
ADMISSION: KRW 5,000–6,000
GETTING THERE: Mongchontoseong Station 몽촌토성역 (Line 8), Exit 2

RASKB: Cheongpyeong Boat Excursion

Spend your Saturday outside of Seoul, enjoying the green countryside and relaxing atmosphere of the area around Cheongpyeong Lake. Today’s excursion will be quite leisurely, and offers a choice of activities; the RAS therefore recommends this as an excursion for the whole family.

VENUE: Chuncheon, Gangwon-do
DATE: Aug 23
MORE INFO: See this link
COST: KRW 80,000–96,000
GETTING THERE: See link above.
 


 

EVERYDAY KOREANS


Bukchon on a rainy summer day. Photographed by Robert Koehler.

NOTIFICATIONS

Seoul Selection’s Free Book Giveaway – Our free book give-away continues! Check out the list in last week’s newsletter here

Seoul Selection Offline Bookshop Sale  One of the greatest repositories of Korea-related English-language books anywhere, Seoul Selection is offering a 10% sale on any and all books published by Seoul Selection purchased from our OFFLINE bookshop next to Gyeongbokgung Palace.
 
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 atoz@seoulselection.com. Experienced translators only.
 
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.
 
Send Your Event Info – If you would like to advertise any upcoming events you are organizing, please send us the press release material at pubco@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 english@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.

Facebook
Facebook
Twitter
Twitter
Website
Website
Email
Email

SEOUL (August 2014)


Buy Books at Seoul Selection’s ONLINE Bookshop!


 


SPONSORS




















 


RECOMMENDED


Reading Korean for Academic Purposes: Advanced


Tough as Iron
 


NEW BOOKS


New TOPIK 1


The Mountain Rats


HOT TOPIK 1


The Data Atlas of South Korea: Demography, Society, Economic Activity


Get It Korean Grammar 1
 


NEW DVDs


Broken


Snowpiercer


You Who Came From The Stars


The Ugly Duckling


Mr. Perfect

Copyright © , All rights reserved.

Our mailing address is: