In this issue, we drop by some of the museums, galleries and cafes of Hannam-dong, go ice climbing in Cheongsong, learn to eat a bit healthier in January and discover what a day in the life of a Buddhist monk is like.
And, of course, there’s always our Goings on Around Town, a list of the the month’s concerts, exhibits, festival and other events.
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.
website: https://magazine.seoulselection.com
Instagram: @seoul_magazine
Enjoy SEOUL on the Go: Download our magazine app for your tablet! (iOS, Android)
Some of the biggest names in Korean musical theater come together for this breathtaking production of “Les Miserables.” Produced by renowned British producer Cameron Mackintosh, this performance features innovative stage sets designed by the original British creative team that immerse the audience in the action. The West End production has run continuously since its debut in 1985; it has also been shown in 44 countries and in 22 languages. The Korean debut in 2012 electrified the Korean musical world, winning over critics and, more importantly, energizing musical fans who flocked to theaters in droves.
VENUE: Blue Square PERIOD: Thru Mar. 6 MORE INFO: T. 1544-1591, www.bluesquare.kr ADMISSION: KRW 60,000-140,000 GETTING THERE: Hangangjin Station (Line 6), Exit 2 or 3
The Great Catsby: RE:BOOT
A crack creative team presents this fun musical rendition of Korean webtoon artist Kang Do-ha’s 2004 hit “The Great Catsby.” Catsby is a young but unemployed cat living in a working class district. His long-time girlfriend Parsu breaks up with him to marry an older, wealthier man, but he soon finds love again with the cheerful Sun. Persu reappears, however, and we have ourselves a musical. “The Great Catsby: RE:BOOT” is completely sung-through with modern rock-based tunes accompanied by an on-stage, five-piece band.
VENUE: Uniplex Daehangno PERIOD: Thru Jan. 31 ADMISSION: KRW 55,000-77,000 MORE INFO: T. 02-3496-8880 GETTING THERE: Short walk from Hyehwa Station (Line 4), Exit 2
A Homage to Korean Architecture: Wisdom of the Earth
The museum’s first ever devoted to Korean architecture embodies the wisdom of Koreans passed down over a thousand years. Marking the 50th anniversary of the Samsung Foundation of Culture, the showing is held in conjunction with a project to publish a photographic collection of Korean architecture as part of the Foundation’s efforts to promote the country’s traditional culture at home and around the world. The exhibition features photographs of royal palaces, Buddhist temples, and traditional houses taken by six prominent Korean photographers- Joo Myeong-duck, Bae Bien-u, Koo Bohn-chang, Kim Jae-gyeong, Seo Heun-kang and Kim Do-kyun – with architecture-related old maps, paintings, artifacts and replicas.
VENUE: Leeum, Samsung Museum of Art PERIOD: Thru Feb. 6 ADMISSION: KRW 5,000 MORE INFO: T. 02-2014-6900 GETTING THERE: A 5-minute walk from Hangangjin Station (Line 6), Exit 1
Boseong Tea Plantation Light Festival
The Boseong Tea Plantation Light Festival brightens scenic green tea plantations of Boseong with light fixtures installed on trees and along the roads around Butjae Tea House and Dahyanggak Observatory. The lights embroider the sky at night in winter. Things to see and do include a giant winter tree, the Green Tea Plantation Theme Street, Milky Way Tunnel of Love, Photo Zone, Light Street, Stairs of Pledge and Hanging Hope Card.
VENUE: Boseong, Jeollanam-do PERIOD: Thru Jan. 24 ADMISSION: Free MORE INFO: http://light.boseong.go.kr (Korean) GETTING THERE: Buses to Boseong depart from Seoul Express Bus Terminal (Travel time: 4 hours).
RASKB: The Natural History Museum of Kyunghee University
In January, the RASKB offers a series of indoor tours to escape the winter cold. The first of these is a trip to Kyung Hee University (KHU), a private comprehensive university renowned for its beautiful garden-like campus. However, it also has plenty of indoor attractions.
The KHU Natural History Museum is one of the oldest such museums on the Korean Peninsula, first opening in 1978 to fulfill the university’s founding spirit of “creating a civilized world” through study of nature. Housing over 90,000 attractions, it consists of various displays of wildlife found around the peninsula and abroad. The first floor deals with geology and even includes dinosaur fossils. The second floor deals with many of the animals and other land mammals that can be found. The five other floors deal with all manner of contemporary plants, animals and insects. Highlights include some extinct species of fish and birds that no longer can be found on the peninsula, as well as an extremely extensive display of butterflies coming from everywhere from the Amazon, West Africa to Malaysia and, of course, Korea.
VENUE: KHU Natural History Museum DATE: Jan. 9 COST: KRW 20,000 for members, KRW 25,000 for non-members MORE INFO and GETTING THERE: See this link.
EVERYDAY KOREANS
Happy New Year, SEOUL readers! Photo by Robert Koehler of SEOUL
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.
https://magazine.seoulselection.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/Seoul-logo.png00rjkoehlerhttps://magazine.seoulselection.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/Seoul-logo.pngrjkoehler2016-01-02 06:47:172016-01-02 15:49:05SEOUL Weekly: SEOUL January Issue
Celebrate the start of a brand new year with 
