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Seoul Festival of Lights!
Gwanghwamun Square Shines This Winter
Seoul's renovated Gwanghwamun Square transforms into a winter wonderland when the Seoul Festival of Lights brightens the night skies from Dec 19 to Jan 24. Under the theme, "Seoul, Delightful City," the festival makes use of cutting edge media technology to transform downtown's urban spaces into works of art through "Media Facade" shows on public buildings and "light paintings" by well-known artists. A skating rink will be set up in Gwanghwamun Plaza, too. Led by artistic director Kim Hyung-su, the Seoul Festival of Lights will represent Seoul's past, present and future as a global city. By bringing together light, art and technology, you couldn't ask for a more "Seoul-esque" festival. For more on the festival, click here (in Korean). |
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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 NCKTP will be putting on a performance of "Music of Peace, Dream of the Dynasty" on Dec 18---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. Jeongjo's reign marked the beginning of a cultural renaissance in the latter 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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Hot on the heels of its debut album release in 1971, American R&B legend Earth, Wind & Fire is about to give its first performance in Korea on Dec 17 (8pm) at COEX. Winners of no less than ten Grammy Awards and four American Music Awards, the members of EWF have sold 90 million albums in the course of their career, placing them seventh in the ranks of best-selling bands of all time. Their music includes touches of disco, punk, soul, R&B, pop, rock and jazz---in short, pretty much everything except Bavarian oom-pah-pah---and has been described by one source as "the most dynamic and exciting music on this earth." They are most famous in Korea for their "September" track, of which the familiar brass opening has become synonymous with Earth, Wind & Fire. The band's name might sound like an Oriental medical diagnosis of chronic indigestion but it is still more than capable of blowing audiences away. Admission: 55,000---110,000 won. More Information: (02) 3444-9969. Getting There: Samseong Station, Line 2, Exits 5 & 6.
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Film fans will want to check out the Jean Genet / Jean Cocteau Retrospective at Cinematheque on Dec 15---20. Jean Cocteau was gifted in many artistic fields: he was a poet, novelist, dramatist, designer, boxing manager, playwright, artist and filmmaker. His friend and fellow poet/filmmaker, Jean Genet, was an orphan who grew up a vagabond, petty thief and prostitute. Both were two of the most important avant-garde directors in film history. Admission: Adults: 6,000 won, Youths: 5,000 won, Seniors and members: 4,000 won. More Information: (02) 741-9782, www.cinematheque.seoul.kr. Getting There: Jongno 3-ga Station, Lines 1, 3 and 5, Exit 5. Walk straight for 5 minutes. The theater is located in Nagwon Arcade.
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Join the Royal Asiatic Society on a trip to lovely Mungyeong and Mireuksa Temple. From Seoul, the RAS will head southeast of Chungju and begin its hike to the Mungyeong Pass from Suanbo side. One of the five principal passes in the Sobaeksan Mountain range, it was once a main route between the old Gyeongsang and Chungcheong provinces. The pass played a strategic role in monitoring the flow of people along this route, deterring the influx of foreign troops from the south, and it has been the scene of several armed conflicts. The hike itself will take about three hours (round trip). As participants climb, the scenery is spectacular, but the view from the peak is unsurpassed by any other valley site. Those who do not wish to complete the full hike may hike half way up and return to the bus, which will meet everyone on the other side of the mountain. Next it's off to the beautiful Worak-san National Park region and the upper end of the Songgye valley, the site of Mireuksa temple. This temple was once considered the greatest Buddhist temple during the kingdom of Baekje. Today, the only remnant of the original structure is a stone Buddha statue. Cost: 42,000 won for members and 50,400 won for non members. 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 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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Cup of Tea
Preparing a cup of tea at Tteuran, a traditional teahouse near Nakwon Arcade. Photo by Robert Koehler
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Seal Engraving Classes - Yejang in Bongcheon-dong is recruiting students for a year-long seal engraving class. Classes, which meet twice a week (two hours per class), begin from Jan 6. Calligraphy lessons are included, too. Classes are 300,000 won per three months. For more information, call 017-353-6818 or send an email to yejang@yejang.com. 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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