Melanie Steyn’s novel provides a window into Korea
“Social cataloging” website Goodreads is hosting a book giveaway for Once Around the Sun (Seoul Selection, 2010), Melanie Steyn’s novel about a Korean family. Providing a window into Korea, Once Around the Sun introduces the Lee family: Dong-ju, the 12-year-old son—boisterous, exuberant and curious; Ji-young, the 16-year-old daughter, ripped from childhood and thrown into an adult world too soon; Yun-hwa, defined as a wife and a mother, but searching to be just herself; and Kyu-ah, the grandmother, who looks back on a life full of heartache but also forward to the legacy she will leave through her family.
Goodreads is giving away 10 copies of the book. The givaway ends March 31—see this page for participation details. Good only in Korea and the United States.
Of course, if you’d simply like to buy a copy, you can do that via Seoul Selection.
Around the Web
A miscellany of high-quality hyperlinks from the week, courtesy of SEOUL editor-in-chief Robert Koehler.
CORRECTION: On page 30 of the March issue of SEOUL, we gave some mistaken information regarding the Richard Clayderman concert. The Clayderman performances at Sejong Center for the Performing Arts (Gwanghwamun Station 광화문역, Line 5, Exit 1 or 8) will be on April 11–12 (8pm). Admission is 50,000–150,000 won. For more info, call 02-3463-2466.
Singer/songwriter Rufus Wainwright is set to steal the limelight when he comes to Seoul for a concert. His musical style draws on classical music, opera, musicals, and pop, yet he cannot be pigeonholed into any of these categories. The American-Canadian artist was affectionately referred to by Elton John as “the greatest songwriter on the planet” and highly praised by the New York Times for his “genuine originality.” Some of his songs used as original sound tracks include “Across the Universe” for I Am Sam, “The Maker Makes” for Brokeback Mountain, and “Hallelujah” for Shrek.
Rufus Wainwright
Singer/songwriter Rufus Wainwright is set to steal the limelight when he comes to Seoul for a concert. His musical style draws on classical music, opera, musicals, and pop, yet he cannot be pigeonholed into any of these categories. The American-Canadian artist was affectionately referred to by Elton John as “the greatest songwriter on the planet” and highly praised by the New York Times for his “genuine originality.” Some of his songs used as original soundtracks include “Across the Universe” for I Am Sam, “The Maker Makes” for Brokeback Mountain, and “Hallelujah” for Shrek.
VENUE: Uniqlo AX
DATE: Mar 16, 7pm
ADMISSION: 110,000 won
Tickets: http://ticket.interpark.com/global
MORE INFO: T. 02-563-0595
GETTING THERE: Gwangnaru Station 광나루역 (Line 5), Exit 2
France in SongEun: The French Haunted House
In March of 2013, SongEun ArtSpace will present its second special annual project, titled France in SongEun: The French Haunted House. It will feature emerging promising French young artists who are showing for the first time in Korea.
The exhibition concept is based on a reflection to this moment of art history, when the focus of the avant-garde has moved from France to the United States. The exhibition will show that the “spirits” of modernity are now returning to haunt the practices of young French artists, who are getting rid of the “inferiority complex” in which France was plunged in recent decades, facing the commodification of art. The exhibition The French Haunted House will stage a certain idea of a flippant poetry in the visual arts field by following a bouncing scenario. The pieces of 12 young French artists will be presented, using visual echoes and surprise effects.
The French Haunted House will show the conceptual vivacity, strangeness, visual richness, but also the humor of the young French art scene. This exhibition will bring together well-recognized artists along with new emerging talents, and is already receiving great anticipation from universities and press alike.
The City of Jeju is holding the 16th Jeju Deulbul Festival Mar 8–10. The site of the event is Saebyeol Oreum, a small crater formation west of the city. It is part of Korea’s agricultural tradition to set fire to farm fields in the early spring and thereby ready them for planting new crops by removing dead grass and destructive insects. The festival has evolved over the years and has now become an annual event that attracts thousands of tourists. Visitors place a note of their wishes in the burning bales of hay in hopes of their wishes coming true.
VENUE: Aewol County, western Jejudo
PERIOD: Mar 8–10
ADMISSION: Free
MORE INFO: www.buriburi.go.kr
GETTING THERE: Flight to Jejudo takes about 1 hour.
OH! MY TODAY!
Check out the most expected bands of the year. Today Express 2013 will offer you ways of laughing, dancing, singing, enjoying TODAY more pleasantly. APPEARING: Crying Nut, Peterpan Complex, Monni, Motel Rose, Gogoboys, Soran, The Soulutions, Rock’N’Roll Radio, Bascussion, Common Ground, achime, The Electric Eels, Core Magazine, WHOwho.
VENUE: Club Soundholic City
DATES: March 8 (8pm), March 9 (7pm), and March 10 (6pm)
ADMISSION: 33,000 won
MORE
INFO: soundholic1@naver.com
GETTING THERE: Hongik University Station (Line 2), Exit 5
St. Patrick’s Day Festival 2013
Traditional Irish music performances, storytelling, dancing lessons, the opportunity to try out Irish musical instruments, face painting, and balloons are all there for the children so bring out the whole family.
VENUE: D-Cube City
DATE: Mar 16, 11am–10pm
MORE INFO: T. 02-797-3698, www.facebook.com/events/347326432048332
GETTING THERE: Sindorim Station 신도림역 (Lines 1, 2), Exit 1
ANZA Korea Ball 2013
Celebrate the dazzling age of art deco and jazz!
Join ANZA for an evening of fine dining, live entertainment, and fabulous prizes in Art Deco splendour at the luxurious Conrad hotel.
VENUE: Conrad Seoul
DATE: Mar 16, 6:30pm–Mar 17, 2am
ADMISSION: 245,000 won.
MORE INFO: www.anzakorea.com
GETTING THERE: Yeouido Station 여의도역 (Line 5, 9), Exit 3 or 4
Digital Peace 2013
Hosted by the French and German embassies, the Institut Francais, and the Goethe Institute, Digital Peace is an artistic season oriented toward the celebration of peace and reconciliation, a series of events fitting into the historic continuity of this opening up of Korea. The program proposes a selection of Franco-German works, artists, thinkers, designers, expositions, schools, institutions, labels, and festivals—the common thread is the notion of peace expressed through the broadest variety of digital approaches, forms, and expressions. All the events are organized in collaboration, correspondence, or connection with Korean artists, galleries, institutions, schools, and labels.
Jeonju, a bustling city of over 700,000, is the capital of Jeollabuk-do and the hometown of the Lee family that founded the Joseon Dynasty (1392–1910), as well as where the last living descendant of the royal family, Lee Seok, still lives. It has been designated by UNESCO as a City of Gastronomy and is considered the culinary capital of Korea, famed for its delicious local food.
On the trail to Baegundae Park, Bukhansan National Park. Photo by Robert Koehler.
*Click the photo to see a full-size version at our website.
NOTE: If you have a photo you would like to see in our Everyday Koreans section, please sent it to story@seoulselection.com. Photos should be AT LEAST 950px wide. Send a one-line bio, too.
Notifications
Tell Us About ‘Your Korea’: If you’re a longtime resident of Korea and would like to share your story in KOCIS’s KOREA Magazine, shoot an email with your story idea to book@seoulselection.com.
Update Your Shopping Mall ID – Seoul Selection encourages you to change your ID and password for our online bookshop and shopping mall at Seoulselection.com. The old IDs and passwords no longer
work following our recent upgrade.
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 Eugene at planner@seoulselection.com.
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.
Seoul Selection via Ingram – Seoul Selection now has a direct wholesale distribution agreement with Ingram Book Group, the world’s largest wholesale distributor of publisher content. By choosing to allow Ingram to represent our material, we have opened our titles to a wider audience. Our titles will be available for order through Ingram at more than 35,000 distribution channels worldwide. Ask your local bookstore to have Seoul Selection titles available!
Send Your Event Info – If you would like to advertise any upcoming events you are organizing, please send us the press release material at book@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 book@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.
I AM: SMTOWN LIVE WORLD TOUR in Madison Square Garden
Fermentation Family
Publisher: Hank Kim / Editor: Robert Koehler
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
Seoul Selection Web Site: https://www.seoulselection.com
https://magazine.seoulselection.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Once_Around_the__4c930cfe4ceac.jpg490315rjkoehlerhttps://magazine.seoulselection.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/Seoul-logo.pngrjkoehler2013-03-06 11:40:322013-03-06 13:24:34Weekly SEOUL: Goodreads Book Giveaway For 'Once Around the Sun'
“Social cataloging” website Goodreads is 
Check out the most expected bands of the year. Today Express 2013 will offer you ways of laughing, dancing, singing, enjoying TODAY more pleasantly. APPEARING: Crying Nut, Peterpan Complex, Monni, Motel Rose, Gogoboys, Soran, The Soulutions, Rock’N’Roll Radio, Bascussion, Common Ground, achime, The Electric Eels, Core Magazine, WHOwho.
Traditional Irish music performances, storytelling, dancing lessons, the opportunity to try out Irish musical instruments, face painting, and balloons are all there for the children so bring out the whole family.
[SHOUT OUT] ONE-TO-ONE MBA EVENT!!!