SEOUL Weekly: Cezanne & Landscapes of Impressionism: Miracle de la couleur

Don’t miss the first-ever exhibit in Korea of landscape works by Van Gogh, Gauguin, Cezanne, Signac, Manet and other impressionist masters, brought together in one spot for your viewing pleasure. Impressionism is the elevation of natural light into high art, and the landscape was its perfect canvas. The exhibit explores the work of early and later impressionists, German and French impressionists, neo-impressionists, and Fauvism and Les Nabis.

VENUE: Hangaram Art Museum, Seoul Arts Center
PERIOD: Dec. 19-Apr. 3
ADMISSION: KRW 15,000
MORE INFO: T. 02-724-2900
GETTING THERE: Nambu Bus Terminal Station (Line 3), Exit 5. Transfer to shuttle bus, or green bus No. 4429.

Map Banner Special Event

From December, SEOUL Magazine will be offering banner space in our magazine’s Maps & Guides section for the low, low price of KRW 50,000 a month. International visitors and expats make great use of our maps, which include detailed information about Gwanghwamun, Samcheong-dong, Itaewon, Dongdaemun, Hongdae, Gangnam and other tourist destinations. Our packages begin from three months (KRW 150,000, VAT not included). We can also promote your establishments via SNS as well, so please, send your inquiries to sense@seoulselection.com.

Enjoy SEOUL on the Go: Download our magazine app for your tablet! (iOS, Android)

The Mountain of Gods
Hiking Jejudo’s sacred Mt. Hallasan in winter is a divine experience

Rivers, mountains and stars
The Gwangnaru neighborhood offers terrestrial and extraterrestrial treasures, historic battle sites and very early sunrises

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

• Bon Appetit looks at Seoul’s dining scene.
• Some Korean companies are holding mock funerals to combat suicide.
• ARKO’s new book series introduces modern Korean art.
• Korea: it’s cool!
• Stereotypes continue for North Korean defectors.
• Star trails over Suwon Hwaseong Fortress.
• First sunrise in Busan.
• Ulsan’s industrial landscape.
• Winter sunrise at the watery tomb of King Munmu.
• Another week passes at Robert Koehler’s photo blog.

Busan Polar Bear Swim Registration

Busan’s popular Haeundae Polar Bear Fesival – named by the BBC one of the world’s top 10 unusual winter sports – might be on Jan. 10, but THE REGISTRATION PERIOD ENDS ON DEC. 23. So if you’re gonna participate, sign up NOW!

See the event’s website for more information.

Carmen

The Beseto Opera and Teatro Giuseppe Verdi put on a joint performance of “Carmen.” When it debuted in Paris in 1875, Bizet’s tragic tale of love and betrayal in Spain was panned, strangely enough, but within a year it had become one of the most popular and widely performed operas in the world. Based in Verdi’s hometown of Busseto, Italy, the Teatro Giuseppe Verdi specializes in work by the Italian great; this is the troupe’s first visit to Korea.

VENUE: Sejong Center for the Performing Arts
PERIOD: Dec. 25-27
ADMISSION: KRW 30,000-250,000
MORE INFO: T. 02-3476-6224
GETTING THERE: Gwanghwamun Station (Line 5), Exit 1 or 8

Universal Ballet’s The Nutcracker

Since its debut performance at St. Petersburg’s Mariinsky Theater in 1892, Tchaikovsky and Petipa’s The Nutcracker has gone on to become a Yuletide staple, performed by ballet troupes large and small across the world. The Universal Ballet has been performing the The Nutcracker since 1986; it currently stages the version choreographed by renowned Soviet-era choreographer Vasili Vainonen.

VENUE: Universal Arts Center
PERIOD: Dec. 18-31
ADMISSION: KRW 10,000-200,000
MORE INFO: T. 1544-1555
GETTING THERE: Achasan Station (Line 5), Exit 4

Figure Museum W

If you find yourself in the Cheongdam-dong neighborhood (see SEOUL’s Exploring Seoul feature for December), check out the Figure Museum, where you can see your favorite movie and animation characters in 3D. Ironman, Batman, Astro Boy, Gundam… they’re all there.

ADMISSION: KRW 15,000
MORE INFO & GETTING THERE: See this link.

Christmas cakes at Sheraton Seoul D Cube City Hotel

Sheraton Seoul D Cube City Hotel’s chefs present various kinds of Christmas Cakes for the festive season.

Sheraton Seoul D Cube City Hotel welcomes the Christmas cheer by offering Christmas Cakes. Enjoy utterly delicious Sheraton Christmas cakes from cheese cake, brownie, tiramisu, red velvet, dark chocolate mousse, caramel mousse to white chocolate mousse. The caramel mousse is covered in white chocolate glaze resembling a snow covered field and dark chocolate mousse covered with dark chocolate and vanilla mousse filling inside is also available. Also, white chocolate mousse cake with egg-nog and hint of coconut scented mousse filling covered in white chocolate glaze, can be enjoyed with family, friends and loved one during the festive week of Christmas. These special cakes are moist, full of flavor and just the perfect size.

Christmas Cakes are available at Feast, located on the 41st floor of Sheraton Seoul D Cube City Hotel. Prices begin from KRW 30,000 (inclusive of tax).

VENUE: Sheraton Seoul D Cube City Hotel’s Feast, 41F
PERIOD: Now until De. 31, 2015 *Pre-order is required 3 days prior to take-out.
PRICES: From KRW 30,000
MORE INFO: T. 02-2211-1710

RAS-KB Excursion: Buyeo & Gongju: Kingdom of Baekje

Surrounded by beautiful mountain and river scenes, the ancient Baekje capitals of Gongju and Buyeo played very important roles in the tides of Korean history. Dating back almost 1700 years, the Baekje Kingdom at its height was the center of arts and culture on the Korean peninsula and beyond.

VENUE: Buyeo and Gongju, Chungcheongnam-do
DATE: Dec. 19
COST: KRW 65,000 for members and KRW 78,000 for non-members
MORE INFO and GETTING THERE: See this link.

Rainy December day at the beautiful Bukchon Cultural Center. Photo by Robert Koehler of SEOUL

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.