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Last Notice for Potlatch 2009!
Don't Miss Seoul Selection's End-of-Year Festival of Sharing
Seoul Selection's Potlatch is this Friday (Dec 4, 6---9pm at the Korean Publishers Association Building, see map at end of newsletter), with a good time promised for all! Snack foods such as gimbap, fruit, tteok (Korean rice cakes) and tacos (provided by Mexican restaurant TomaTillo) and beverages will be available. Oh, if you're driving, there will be parking (paid, unfortunately) at the Gimusa parking lot (located just down the street from Korean Publishers Association Building and Seoul Selection bookshop). And sorry for perhaps belaboring this, but if you're going to attend, we beg you to PLEASE send us an email (to director@seoulselection.com) so we can prepare food and beverage. Much obliged. Fun Things to Do!
Barter your used goods!
Win great gifts from our sponsors in our raffle.
Taken a janggu (Korean hourglass drum) performance by samulnori group Noreum Machi.
Learn about Oriental medicine from guest lecturer Raimund Royer, the first Western practioner of Korean medicine.
Listen to New Zealand hikers Roger Shepherd and Andrew Douch talk about their trek along the Baekdu Daegan trail.
Pick up a copy of our recently released guidebook SEOUL and get it signed by the author, SEOUL magazine editor-in-chief Robert Koehler.
See this newsletter for more information on our end-of-the-year Potlatch celebration and the festivity program.
Click here for the updated donators' list.
Participating Sponsors (as of now) Dongju Mode, Eunha BNC, Gyedong Mananim, Jaseng Hospital of Oriental Medicine, Le Saint-Ex, Somerset Palace, Yoon Moonyoung, Astoria Hotel, Eunha BNC, Noreum Machi, Open Books, Jilkyungyee, Kooksoondang, Modern Dental Clinic, POSTelink, Embassy of Australia, Taipei Mission in Korea, Cafe Tteuran, NANTA, PITEC, Korea Foundation, 63CITY, Drum Cat, Modern Dental Clinic
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- Good tours of the DMZ are conducted by the USO (795-3028) and TOURDMZ (755-0073). For more information on their tours, click here (USO) and here (TOURDMZ). - The Seoul City Bus Tour is a great way to explore the city of Seoul, especially if you're new to town. For more information, click here or call 777-6090. - The Royal Asiatic Society conducts entertaining and informative tours to some of Korea's most historic sites. Click here for more information, including schedule. - For self-starters, the Seoul City Tourism website has several walking tours and self-directed tours. You can also give them a ring at 2171-2461. - The Korea Tourism Organization website is another great place to get information. If you're on the road, just call 1330 for up-to-date tourist information.
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 The Chaebolization of the Korean Music Industry, Part IV In the same way that the Korean economy is dominated by chaebol (multinational conglomerates) like Samsung and Hyundai, so too is the Korean music industry heavily influenced by three music companies, JYP Entertainment, SM Entertainment, and YG Entertainment. In an interview, the Brown Eyed Girls, one of the few groups not affiliated with one of the Big Three* to have a hit song, said that it was very difficult to achieve success. [1], [2] Though the Big Three are ostensibly competitors, they in fact have friendly relations. Park Jin-young, the founder of JYP Entertainment, said in an interview that he has consulted with Lee Soo-man and Yang Hyun-suk of SM and YG Entertainment, respectively, for advice on how to break into foreign markets like Japan. [3] Now that his Wonder Girls have made it onto Billboard's Top 100, they now ask him for tips about the American market. [4] Since all three produce similar groups and music, the consumer in Korea has a choice similar to that of Coca Cola vs. Pepsi. As a result, the music scene in Korea has been rendered a bland wasteland of sameness. [5], [6] Recently, however, one of these titans has been humbled by an even larger goliath. The first annual Mnet Asian Music Awards (MAMA) were held, and SM Entertainment boycotted the event. The reason initially given was that they disagree with the way that they ranked music sales. (Korea does not have the equivalent of the Billboard chart, so there are various, often conflicting charts. [7]) Since the awards are given exclusively on the basis of sales, they protested. [8] However, the issue seems to be bigger and deeper than that. Mnet is owned by CJ Media, which is part of CJ, which is, according to some reports, one of Korea's top five chaebol. (For example, if you go shopping at a supermarket, you can often see the CJ logo on many food products.) Mnet is involved in most aspects of the entertainment industry, and accounts for 44% and 20% of album sales and online music sales, respectively. Mnet and CJ own up to 20% of the shares of YG Entertainment and DSP Entertainment. Smaller entertainment companies are also affiliates of CJ. Thirty percent of JYP is held by SK, another large chaebol, so JYP has someone to lean on in times of adversity. Relations soured between Mnet and SM when SM turned down Mnet's offer to distribute their music. Since Mnet already had distribution rights with JYP, YG, and DSP, adding SM to their roster would have given them total domination of the music market. CJ then attempted a hostile takeover of SM, but failed. [9] This brings us to the MAMA awards. SM fired a shot across Mnet's bow, but Mnet responded with a volley. Mnet put on a good show, gave awards to non-SM artists, and the coup de grace was when members of TVXQ (a.k.a. DBSK) appeared and gave a speech. TVXQ are in a contractual dispute with their company, which is ... you guessed it ... SM. [10], [11] So what's next? Will SM be able to mend frayed relations and yet retain their sovereignty? Or will they surrender? Stay tuned. * 4Minute, for example, is part of Cube Entertainment, which is an affiliate of JYP Entertainment. Written by Richard Stansfield ( smaug1004@hotmail.com). The writer has been living and teaching English in Korea since 1996. Note: The views of the writer do not necessarily reflect the views of Seoul Selection. Related Columns: - The "Chaebolization" of the Korean Music Industry - The Chaebolization of the Korean Music Industry, Part II - The Chaebolization of the Korean Music Industry, Part III |
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The French community will be hosting its annual Christmas Market on Dec 5 (10am to 4pm) at Ginkgo Park, near the French School of Banpo-dong's Seorae Village. As always, there will be wine, cheese, smoked salmon and foie gras. Santa will be hosting a lottery, too. All the proceeds go to charity. Click here for a map to the location.
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The NCKTPA will be hosting "Palace Feast Music --- Music of Peace, Dream of the Dynasty" from Dec 18 to 24. Established in 1951, the NCKTPA created "Music of Peace, Dream of the Dynasty" to celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2001. The work is a 90-minute reconstruction of an artistic production commissioned by King Jeongjo of the Joseon era in 1795, incorporating music, singing, dancing, Confucian ceremony, palace costume and ornamentation and festive royal food. In fact, it was commissioned to celebrate the 60th birthday of Jeongjo's mother, the Lady Hong. A staple of the NCKTPA's repertoire, the performance has been lauded for its color and spectacle. Jeongjo's reign marked the beginning of a cultural renaissance in the later half of the Joseon era, and this performance promises to show some of the highlights of the renewed creative exuberance of the time. Admission: S: 30,000 won, A: 20,000 won, B: 10,000 won. More Information: (02) 580-3300. Getting There: Nambu Bus Terminal Station, Line 3, Exit 5. Transfer to green bus No. 12 or 4429.
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Get in the Yuletide mood with the New York Harlem Singers of Christmas in Korea at Seoul Arts Center on Dec 5 (8pm). The New York Harlem Singers were established in 1996 as The Spiritual Singers of Harlem by Broadway music director Linda Twine. Comprised of some of the top singers in the New York area, the New York Harlem Signers has dedicated itself to bringing the time-honored tradition of the African American spiritual to audiences both in the United States and overseas. This concert will bring you their usual repertoire of spirituals, gospel, blues and musical numbers as well as Christmas carols and songs. Admission: R: 50,000 won, S: 40,000 won, A: 30,000 won, B: 20,000 won. More Information: T. (031) 932-8370. Getting There: Nambu Bus Terminal Station, Line 3, Exits 4 & 5. Walk 5---10 minutes or take shuttle bus, bus No. 12 or bus No. 4429.
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Seoul Design Festival, to be held Dec 2---6 at COEX, is a promotional festival by young & star designers, design trend leaders, design-oriented corporations and the public. It provides new trends and information for designers and a good opportunity for young designers. Seoul Design Festival also welcomes new explorations and participation for international designers into exchanging design cultures and styles. It also an open field for design communication, networking and business with international designers, design institutions, and companies for exchanging and sharing design cultures. Admission: Online reservation required. More information: (02) 2262-7192, 7194, 7199, www.designfestival.co.kr. Getting There: Samseong Station, Line 2, Exits 5 & 6.
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See the Mira Dance Company perform "Women, Filled with Merriment" at the Sejong Center on Dec 2---3 (8pm). Since its foundation in 1989, Mira Dance Company has done much both to maintain the traditions of Korean dance and to continue its path of creativity. In the performance, the company presents its own reconstructions of traditional dances such as the Taepyeong Dance, Sanjo Dance, Hyangbal Dance and many more. Mira Dance Company's work is the subject of much critical acclaim and offers an insight into the striking of a balance between preserving the old and using it as a base for new creation. The Mira Dance Company was founded by Kyung Hee University's Yun Mi-ra (now the group's artistic director), who filled its ranks with dance students at Kyung Hee University, one of Korea's foremost centers of Korean dance. It is now composed of 30 regular dancers and 40 students. It has sought to evolve tradition and bring together the present and past. Admission: R: 30,000 won, S: 20,000 won. More Information: (02) 1544-1555. Getting There: Gwanghwamun Station, Line 5, Exits 1 & 8.
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Join the Royal Asiatic Society on Dec 5 for a hodgepodge of culture, sightseeing and fun. The RAS will be visiting three famous Seoul markets --- the Gangnam Terminal Market, Janghanpyeong Antique Market (and Samhee Antique Market) and Garak Market for a little shopping. This is a great way to experience a bit of Seoul's culture. Cost: 32,000 won for members and 38,400 won for nonmembers. For more information, click here.
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The CJ Culture Foundation will be holding the 2nd CJ Picture Book Festival at the Korea Foundation Cultural Center from Nov 23 through Dec 24 (10am---6pm). Supported by the Korea Foundation, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, and the Korean Publishers' Association, the exhibition will present 100 works for the New Publication Category and 50 for the Illustration Category, selected from hundreds of works submitted by publishers and artists from around the world. Kveta Pacovska, popular with children worldwide for her illustrated books, will be invited to the exhibition to introduce her unique three-dimensional picture books that engage all five senses. Special events to be held in conjunction with the exhibition include a picture book forum, picture book animation screenings and a picture book library. Admission: 5,000 won (adults), 3,000 won (children). More Information: www.cjbook.org, 02-338-6672, info@cjbook.org.
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| These are just some of the diverse events taking place in and around Seoul. SEOUL Magazine's ever-expanding events section is colorfully designed and jam-packed with the latest information. For the complete round-up pick up a copy of SEOUL Magazine at any of the quality bookstores in the city and you'll never have to spend another month in the dark. |
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Taking a Nap
Relaxing at a cafe near Anseong's Gosam Lake. Photo by Ryu Seunghoo.
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SEOUL's Next Top Model - SEOUL, Seoul Selection's monthly travel and culture magazine, is looking for people who'd like to show off themselves in their favorite Seoul backdrops. You name the place and pose, and we'll do the photographing. If we like what we see, we'll put your photo in the magazine. If this sounds fun, send an email (with a photograph of yourself) to sense@seoulselection.com. Both foreigners and Korean nationals are welcome. 
Learn Korean Traditional Dance - Chumsae Dance School is offering lessons on Korean traditional dance. Morning (10:00---11:30, Tue Thu), afternoon (4:00---5:30, Mon Wed) and evening classes (7:30---9:00 Tue Thu) available. Classes are limited to 10 persons each. Tuition is 200,000 won a month. For more information, call (02- 762-7731).
Language Exchange Club - LEC, the multilingual language exchange club, has had great events every month like barbecues, Thanksgiving, Halloween, hiking, swimming, snowboarding and rafting. This month they will be going snowboarding and skiing --- contact discgolf@naver.com for more information. The nonprofit club, located in Myeong-dong, is for people who are interested in exchanging languages and culture as well as making good friends from all over the world. KFCC Films - The Korea Foundation Cultural Center runs regular screenings of both Korean and foreign films, with subtitles. In December, the KFCC will be screening "Special Films in Retrospective." Click here for more information. Korean Language Classes - The Korea Foundation Cultural Center Offers free Korean language classes for foreigners residing in Korea. The classes, led by Korea Foundation volunteer teachers, are held at 7:00-9:00 pm every Monday, Wednesday and Friday (two classes at 4:00 and 7:00 on Wednesdays). Anyone interested in learning Korean language and willing to participate in the language class is welcome to join. For more information, click here. Calling all photographers - SEOUL WEEKLY could use your help with our Everyday Koreans photo section. If you have a camera and enjoy snapping shots capturing everyday scenes in the Republic of Korea, send your photos in along with captions and a brief, one- line bio. Send Your Event Info - If you would like to advertise any upcoming events you are organizing, please send us the press release material to reporter@seoulselection.com by the preceding Friday in order to appear in the following Tuesday's issue. Advertise in SEOUL magazine - Advertisement space available in SEOUL magazine and weekly newsletter. For rates, click here. For more information, please contact Shin Jiwon at sense@seoulselection.com or Hank Kim at hankinseoul@gmail.com. Of you can give us a ring at (02) 734-9567. Freelance Contributors Wanted - SEOUL magazine needs writers who are fluent in both Korean and English. Writers should be able to interview Koreans and also have a strong interest in Korean culture. Send your resume and writing samples to reporter@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. Seoul Selection Looking for Partners Abroad - Seoul Selection is looking for overseas partners who can sell English books on Korea, Korean language learning books, Korean movie DVDs and Korean music CDs. Since Seoul Selection has links to local publishers and DVD/CD production companies, we can provide the best prices possible. Please contact Hank Kim at selector@seoulselection.com for details.
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Publisher: Hank Kim /
Editor: Robert Koehler /
Designer: Jun Shinwook / Website Manager: Ray Hong
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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.
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Seoul Selection Web Site: http://www.seoulselection.com e-mail: hank@seoulselection.com tel: 734-9567 fax: 734-9563 |
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