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Jeongwol Daeboreum Celebrating the First Full Moon of the Year  On the 15th day of the lunar calendar (in 2010, Feb. 28) is Daeboreum, which celebrates the first full moon of the lunar year. Moon-gazing is the most popular activity---people brave the dark and the cold and climb to the tops of local hills and mountains to get a good look. Foods such as ogokbap (five-grain rice) and yaksik (a treat of sweet, sticky rice) are served. Another tradition is the game of jwibulnori, which involves whirling around a hot briquette in a can while the rice straw in the field is set alight. There's actually a pragmatic reason for all this---burning the straw drives away rats and other pests that could destroy the crop of the coming year.
[ Major Daeboreum Events 2010 ]
* 2010 Jeju Jeongwol Daeboreum Fire Festival
The most famous of Korea's Daeboreum festivals, this popular celebration on Jeju Island is highlighted by the nighttime fires that set the island's Saebyeol Oreum field ablaze.
- VENUE: Saebyeol Oreum, Bongseong-ri, Aewol-eup, Jeju-si, Jeju
- PERIOD: Feb 26~28
- ADMISSION: Free
- MORE INFORMATION: (064) 728-2751~4, Website
- GETTING THERE: It takes an hour to get from Seoul to Jeju-do by airplane.
Transfer to the airport limousine bus and get off at the venue.
* Full Moon Festival at the National Theater of Korea--Round Moon over Mt. Namsan
This festival attempts to revive Korean traditions that are gradually losing the attention of modern society but reflect the wisdom of its ancestors. Why not go and discover traditional Daeboreum games such as "bridge walking," "moon's nest burning" and "street games"?
- VENUE: National Theater of Korea
- DATE: Feb 27
- ADMISSION: Free
- MORE INFORMATION: (02) 2280-4115~6
- GETTING THERE: Take shuttle bus at Dongguk Univ. Station, Line 3, Exit 2
or yellow bus No. 2 at Exit 6.
* 2010 NCKTPA Jeongwol Daeboreum Performance-
This performance by the NCKTPA recreates some of the holiday pomp of the old royal palaces.
- VENUE: Yeakdang, National Center for Korean Traditional Performing Arts
- DATE: Feb 28, 4pm
- ADMISSION: A Seats: 10,000 won, B Seats: 8,000 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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- 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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'Megacity Network' Exhibition Sheds Light on Contemporary Korean Architecture
If Seoul is good at one thing, it's dividing opinions. Polarization of the city's critics reached a peak in early January this year: Lonely Planet’s website labeled Seoul the third-most unpopular city among its readers---"...an appallingly repetitive sprawl of freeways and Soviet-style concrete apartment buildings..."---while just eight days later the New York Times placed the city third in a list of 31 places to visit in 2010---"Design aficionados are...drawn by the Korean capital’s glammed-up cafés and restaurants, immaculate art galleries and monumental fashion palaces..." But between the anonymous high-rise efficiency of Seoul’s endless apartment blocks and the charm of its very few remaining traditional hanok houses, who are the architects forging the future of Seoul’s building culture?
Enter "Megacity Network---Contemporary Korean Architecture_Seoul", an exhibition at the National Museum of Contemporary Art in Gwacheon that shines a spotlight on contemporary Korean architecture's international status. Megacity Network features the work of 16 domestically and internationally renowned creative Korean architects, all of whom strive to create cultural value in Korea's harsh architectural market. Returning to Korea after a successful European tour, the exhibition offers a chance to witness the originality and uniqueness of a national architecture scene that is often hidden behind those of China and Japan. Through the various hanok (traditional Korean houses), high-rise apartments, churches, residential-commercial mixed use complexes, offices, public buildings, art galleries, libraries, hospitals and stadiums and abandoned mining villages that their projects include, these architects present a variety of perspectives onto the city we live in, and perhaps a hint of a contemporary Korean architectural identity. Highly recommended for anybody trying to make sense of Seoul’s cityscape.
More Info
"Megacity Network" runs until March 7.
Website: www.moca.go.kr/eng
Opening hours: Tue-Fri 10am~6pm; Sat & Sun 10am~9pm.
Admission: Adults 3,000 won; others cheaper
Getting There
Seoul Grand Park Station, Line 4, Exit 4. Take the free shuttle bus to the National Museum of Contemporary Art (every 20 mins).
Written by Ben Jackson
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 Legendary boy band Backstreet Boys, one of the best selling groups of all time, is coming to Korea. With global sales of more than 100 million albums, these boys might be from the back streets but they're certainly no strangers to the limelight. Far from sitting back and waiting for a collective mid-life crisis, however, Backstreet Boys are heading for Korea this February as part of their "This Is Us" tour. Check out their new R&B and pop sound!
VENUE: AX-Korea
DATE: Feb 24, 8pm
ADMISSION: 110,000 won
MORE INFORMATION: (02) 3443-9969
GETTING THERE: Gwangnaru Station, Line 5, Exit 2. Cross the road, turn left and walk 5 minutes. The hall is located behind the youth center.
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Learn the basics of Korean dance, then go on to master the Buddhist jukbi dance, performed with a split bamboo clapper and designed to bring about renunciation of worldly desires. The course is taught by Song Min-suk, a qualified performer of the Ilmu dance. Ilmu is part of Korea's Important Intangible Cultural No. 1, the epic Confucian Jongmyo Jeryeak ceremony.
Cost: 100,000 won for the three-month course.
For more info, send an email to
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
VENUE: Jogyesa Temple, near Insa-dong
DATE: From Mar 4, every Thursday for 3 months, 10:30am~noon
ADMISSION: 100,000 won for the three-month course
MORE INFORMATION:
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
GETTING THERE: Exit 2, Jonggak Station, Line 1
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On the 200th anniversary of Chopin's birth, one of Korea's leading young pianists returns for his first home recital in two years. Lim Dong-hyek will treat audiences not only to three mazurkas and a polonaise by Chopin, but also works from Ravel and Prokoviev. Lim is one of Korea's top Chopin specialists, having won joint third place together with his brother Dong-min at the 2005 International Fryderyk Chopin Piano Competition. This promises to be a very special performance.
VENUE: Concert Hall, Seoul Arts Center
DATE: Feb 27, 8pm
ADMISSION: R: 100,000 won, S: 80,000 won, A: 50,000 won, B: 30,000 won
MORE INFORMATION: 1577-5266
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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Join the Royal Asiatic Society for a tour of the lovely Jeonju area. Jeonju, a bustling city of over 700,000 is the capital of Jeollabuk-do and the city where the Joseon Dynasty (1392---1910) was founded and where the last living descendant of the royal family, Lee Seok, still lives. Our tour will begin with a traditional lunch of dolsotbap, mixed rice and vegetables served in a hot stone bowl. Following a short bus ride along the banks of the Jeonju River, we will begin our walking tour of the old city stopping to explore Joseon Dynasty sights, each of which is rich in history and local lore. VENUE: Jeonju, Jeollabuk-do
DATE: Feb 27
ADMISSION: 48,000 won for members and 57,600 won for non-members
MORE INFORMATION: Click here
GETTING THERE: Transportation provided by RAS-K. See website (above) for details |
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65 years have passed since the concentration camp at Auschwitz was liberated by Soviet troops. Visiting the German Bundestag in January this year, Israeli President Shimon Peres implored everyone to remember the cruel crimes committed by the National Socialists, emphasising the importance of remembering this atrocious act of genocide---especially by the younger generations. This is what the exhibition " At Home Everywhere and Nowhere" hopes to achieve. It will be opened by Martin Doerry on Wednesday, March 3. Over the span of several years, photographer Monika Zucht and author Martin Doerry travelled through Europe and America to talk to those that had survived Nazi Germany's concentration camps, those that had been sent abroad for their own safety by their parents, as well as those that had survived the Nazi years by living in hiding. An insightful body of work by Zucht emerged from these encounters, with interviews and essays by Doerry. The photos portray 23 individuals; they are some of the last representatives of a time when the Jewish presence in Europe was strongly felt. VENUE: Korea Foundation Cultural Center
DATE: March 3~25
ADMISSION: Free
MORE INFORMATION: (02) 2151-6514, www.kfcenter.or.kr
GETTING THERE: (02) 2151-6514, www.kfcenter.or.kr |
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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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All Aboard
Train for Seoul pulls into Yeongwol Station. Photo by Robert Koehler.
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Free Tickets for Inca Exhibit - Have you checked out the National Museum of Korea's "Great Myth and Mystery of the Inca Civilization" exhibit yet? Well, if you haven't, here's more reason to go: the museum will be giving out 25 free tickets (two tickets per person) on a first-come, first-serve basis---send an email to
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. BE SURE TO INCLUDE YOUR MAILING ADDRESS---the tickets will be mailed to you. This latest display of the mysterious Peruvian culture will feature 351 artifacts from major Peruvian museums, with 41 of them making their debut in Korea. For those fascinated by the medieval Andean civilization, this exhibit will be the perfect introduction to Peru's cultural heritage and history. Mt. Bugaksan Hiking Routes Open - The last of Mt. Bugaksan's hiking routes will be opened to the public on Feb 27. Now it will be possible to hike from the Bukgak Skyway to the Bugak Haneul-gil. See this Korean newspaper article for a small map of the new routes.
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).
KFCC Films - The Korea Foundation Cultural Center runs regular screenings of both Korean and foreign films, with subtitles. In February, the KFCC will be screening "Shedding Light on the Lives of Real People," including "La Vie en Rose," "A Beautiful Mind" and "My Father." 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
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by the preceding Friday in order 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 be able to interview Koreans and also have a strong interest in Korean culture. Send your resume and writing samples to
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. 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.
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Publisher: Hank Kim /
Editor: Robert Koehler /
Designer: Suh Su Kyoung / 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:
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tel: 734-9567 fax: 734-9563 |
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