SEOUL Weekly: SEOUL March Issue Released!

SEOUL March Issue Released!
Ikseon-dong, Yeosu, and more

Celebrate the start of spring by picking up a copy of the March issue of SEOUL, Seoul Selection’s monthly travel and culture magazine!

In this issue, we explore the charming alleyways of Ikseon-dong, visit the lovely seaside city of Yeosu, talk with all-natural cosmetics company CEO Min Jung-gi, take in Buddhist martial arts at Golgulsa Temple, and much, much more.

If that’s not enough, there’s always our Goings On Around Town, our listings of the month’s concerts, festivals, exhibits and other happenings. So go out and get a copy while it’s still got that new magazine smell.
 

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

• Yeol has a new series of lectures going.
• A look at “shame” in Korea.
• The government gets tough on unlicensed Chinese tour guides.
• “Birdman” sparks controversy in Korea.
• Korean millennials are not an optimistic bunch.
• Lots and lots of ridges seen from Mt. Daedunsan.
• Seagulls and fish at Gyeongju’s Gampo.
• It’s already spring at Busan’s Tongdosa Temple.
• The world from Saetgang Station.
• Another week passes at Robert Koehler’s photo blog.

North Korean Hidden Treasures Revealed

The Springtime Art Foundation of the Netherlands presents “North Korean Hidden Treasures Revealed,” an exhibition of about 150 paintings by 70 North Korean artists, some of whom are international award-winners. The exhibition, which has already toured Europe, is the first exhibition featuring artwork by North Korean artists held in South Korea.

VENUE: KINTEX, Hall 6A
PERIOD: Thru March 6
ADMISSION: TBA
MORE INFO: T. 031-995-8183
GETTING THERE: 15 minute walk from Exit 2, Daehwa Station (Line 3)

Ed Sheeran Live in Seoul

As one of 2014’s most notable breakthrough artists, Ed Sheeran’s first visit to Korea is generating much anticipation and buzz among the pop-music fans. The British singer-songwriter debuted with album “+” and rose to worldwide stardom with hit songs “The A Team,” “Give Me Love” and “Lego House.” Released in June 2014, his second album “x” became more successful than the first by topping both the UK Albums Chart and US Billboard 200 and by becoming the most-sold album of the year within just six weeks of its release. Hit producers Pharrell Williams, Benny Blanco, Rick Rubin and Jeff Bhasker participated in the making of this album, incorporating the warmth of acoustic folk music and the catchy hooks of hip-hop and R&B. The Song “Thinking Out Loud” from the album is still topping the Billboard charts to this day.

VENUE: SK Olympic Handball Gymnasium, Olympic Park
DATE: March 8, 18:00
MORE INFO: T. 02-410-1114, www.olympicpark.co.kr
ADMISSION: KRW 121,000-143,000
GETTING THERE: Olympic Park Station 올림픽공원역 (Line 5), Exit 3

The Romantist: Richard Yongjae O’Neill, Yoon Han, Sung Min-jae and Chris Lee

Enjoy the beginning of spring with the sweet jazz melodies of violist Richard Yongjae O’Neill, pop pianist Yoon Han, double bassist Sung Min-jae and pianist Chris Lee. Star violist O’Neil and double bassist Sung Min-jae will perform a rendition of ‘50s classic jazz songs from Louis Armstrong, Dave Brubeck, Edith Piaf and Nat King Cole. Berklee College of Music graduates Yoon Han and Chris Lee will perform “Autumn Leaves,” Thelonious Monk’s “Straight, No Chaser” and songs from the Italian film “Cinema Paradiso” (1988) on piano.

VENUE: Grand Theater, Sejong Center for the Performing Arts
DATE: March 3, 20:00
MORE INFO: T. 02-741-1523, www.sejongpac.or.kr
ADMISSION: KRW 30,000-120,000
GETTING THERE: Exit 1 or 8, Gwanghwamun Station, Line 5

Complicite: Lionboy

Fans of theatrical plays should be on the lookout for the famous theater company Complicite’s first performance in Korea. The company is well-known for incorporating media and text to create a dreamlike ambiance on stage, strengths that are sure to out in full force for the troupe’s first children’s play in its 30-year run. “Lionboy” is based on the children fantasy trilogy of the same name written by Zizou Corder and follows the adventures of Charlie Ashanti, a man who accidentally acquires the ability to speak the language of cats. 

VENUE: National Theater of Korea
DATES: March 5-7
MORE INFO: T. 02-2280-4114/6, www.ntok.go.kr
ADMISSION: KRW 20,000-70,000
GETTING THERE: Dongguk Univ. Station 동대입구 (Line 3), Exit 2

Linda McCartney Retrospective

Daelim Museum and the McCartney family have collaborated to display Linda McCartney’s candid but inspiring works of photography. Though Linda McCartney is known for capturing the images of many famous artists such as Jimi Hendrix, Bob Dylan, Eric Clapton, her husband Paul McCartney and the Beatles, for this exhibition, viewers will get to take a more intimate look into Linda’s life as an artist, activist, wife and mother.

VENUE: Daelim Contemporary Art Museum
PERIOD: Thru Apr. 26
MORE INFO: T. 02-720-0667, www.daelimmuseum.org
ADMISSION: KRW 2,000-5,000
GETTING THERE: Exit 4, Gyeongbokgung Station, Line 3

RASKB Excursion: Making Magkeolli

The Susubori Academy is devoted to the instruction of proper brewing techniques and offers beginner courses as well as an advanced master brewers course (available to those who have completed the intro class). This introductory class is specially organized for members and friends of the RASKB. The cost of the class covers instruction, supplies, and a bucket of hand-made magkeolli for each participant. The class size is limited to fifteen people maximum and will be held if a minimum of 8 people have signed up by March 2.

VENUE: Susubori Academy
DATE: March 8, 2 to 5 PM
MORE INFO: See this link.
ADMISSION: KRW 40,000 for members, KRW 50,000 for non-members
GETTING THERE: See link above.
 

Snowy forest on the Seonjaryeong Ridge, PyeongChang, Gangwon-do. Photographed by Robert Koehler.

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.