Happy Chuseok: Seoul Selection would like to wish you a happy and healthy Chuseok holiday. Our bookshop will be closed on Thursday, but will reopen on Friday afternoon.
‘Korean Antique Furniture & Accessories’
New book looks at Korean furniture and its place in Korean culture
Seoul Selection is pleased to announce the imminent release of Korean Antique Furniture & Accessories by Mathieu Deprez. Despite a rich woodworking tradition, Korea’s traditional furniture remains relatively unknown, especially in the West. Taking their cues from nature, Joseon-era carpenters built furniture that was functional, beautiful in its simplicity and purity of lines, ingenious in its use of wood joints, and perfectly suited to the Korean home and the local environment. Korean Antique Furniture & Accessories introduces the various types of furniture and accessories commonly seen during the Joseon era (1392–1897) and provides the associated historical, social, and cultural background to help see how Korean furniture came to be. Also presented are the tools, wood, and techniques often used by traditional woodworkers. Rich in illustrations and color photographs, this book will help the reader better understand Korean furniture and better appreciate its role and place within Korean culture.
Price: KRW 12,000. Sales will begin from next week.
Around the Web
A miscellany of high-quality hyperlinks from the week, courtesy of SEOUL editor-in-chief Robert Koehler.
The 2013 Gwangju Design Biennale will explore cultural habits, shared characteristics and coded conventions by which we communicate with one another. Accordingly, the event has been themed “Gusigi, Masigi” (“Anything, Something”), a Jeolla Province colloquialism used when memory fails. The common ground of these themes implies that the matter of ‘Anything’ becoming ‘Something’ depends on people’s perspectives. Reflecting this, some of the projects will include redesigning basic necessities and also help develop the regional economy by pairing local rice farmers with design companies to rebrand their packaging.
PERIOD: Sep. 20–Nov. 6
VENUE: Gwangju Biennale Hall
ADMISSION: KRW 10,000
MORE INFO: www.gb.or.kr
GETTING THERE: Buses to Gwangju depart from Yongsan Station.
Nanjang, Festival of Thanksgiving
The National Gugak Center celebrates the Chuseok holiday with a special performance featuring percussion music, folk singing and dancing, and even a tightrope performance. A good time is guaranteed for all!
VENUE: National Gugak Center
DATES: Sep 19–20, 7pm
ADMISSION: Free
MORE INFO: T. 02-580-3300
GETTING THERE: Take Seocho bus 7, 15 or 17 from Exit 1 of Bangbae Station, Line 2.
Chewsock Film Festival
Only Korean films, 20 screenings, all of them will be subtitled for foreigners that often wonder what to do during Chuseok. Koreans with no family obligations that wish to join are of course more than welcome to join the fun. The festival will also organize cultural events (concerts, traditional game contests, Chuseok lunch, barbecue, closing party in Itaewon). Please invite all your bored friends to come and watch movies instead of chewing their socks.
GETTING THERE: Isu Station 이수역 (Lines 4 and 7), Exit 7
RASKB: Lecture on North Korea
Author Brian Meyers gives a perspective on North Korea’s infamous cult of personality that you won’t get from mainstream media in his lecture “Red Herring: North Korea’s Juche Myth.”
DATE: Sep 24, 7:30–9:30pm
VENUE: Somerset Palace, Jongno
ADMISSION: Members: free, nonmembers KRW 7,000
MORE INFO: www.raskb.com
GETTING THERE: Anguk Station, 3
Bukchon Hanok Walking Tour
Have you ever explored the myriad of hanok houses that exist in Bukchon with a knowledgeable guide? Join this tour to discover the cultural centers, guesthouses, restaurants, and teahouses found within the traditional Korean homes and learn a little about the culture and history of the land in the process.
DATE: Sep 25, 9:15am–12pm
VENUE: Bukchon Hanok Village
ADMISSION: KRW 25,000–40,000, includes admission to Gahoe Museum and to hanok with tea service
MORE INFO: http://siwapage.com/activities
RASKB: Seonunsa Temple and Gochang Fortress
Gochang is in a rural area lying not far from the coast of the province of Jeollabuk-do. It has been the birthplace of celebrated poets and pansori singers but today it is not very well known, except perhaps for its dolmens and standing stones from prehistoric times.
This excursion is scheduled for the Saturday at the end of the Chuseok holidays, for people who have stayed in Seoul and would like to get away briefly. Traffic should be relatively light, since most people will surely head back to Seoul on the Sunday.
Reflections of Sungnyemun Gate in the pond/fountain in front of the Shinhan Building, Seoul. 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.
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 trans@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 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.
Conversations with Ban KI-Moon- What the United Nations Is Really Like: The View from the Top
Pays lointains, Pays voisins: La Corée
New DVDs
That Winter, the Wind Blows
Born to Sing
South Bound
Tosuni: The Birth of Happiness
All About My Romance
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
e-mail: hankinseoul@gmail.com tel: 734-9567 fax: 734-9563
Seoul Selection is pleased to announce the imminent release of 
Only Korean films, 20 screenings, all of them will be subtitled for foreigners that often wonder what to do during Chuseok. Koreans with no family obligations that wish to join are of course more than welcome to join the fun. The festival will also organize cultural events (concerts, traditional game contests, Chuseok lunch, barbecue, closing party in Itaewon). Please invite all your bored friends to come and watch movies instead of chewing their socks.
Author Brian Meyers gives a perspective on North Korea’s infamous cult of personality that you won’t get from mainstream media in his lecture “Red Herring: North Korea’s Juche Myth.”
Gochang is in a rural area lying not far from the coast of the province of Jeollabuk-do. It has been the birthplace of celebrated poets and pansori singers but today it is not very well known, except perhaps for its dolmens and standing stones from prehistoric times.
Sunrise at Yangsu-ri