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Seoul Lantern Festival
Lighting up Seoul to the glory of ancient Baekje
The Seoul Lantern Festival is scheduled for Nov. 1-17 along Cheonggyecheon Stream in downtown Seoul. One of the capital’s flagship events, the annual event is a visual feast of tens of thousands of lanterns handcrafted by domestic and international artisans. The festival site covers the 1.5-kilometer waterway stretch from Cheonggye Plaza to Samilgyo Bridge. This year’s lanterns will pay tribute to “The 1,000 Year-Old Dream of Baekje,” namely the ancient kingdom that thrived in the Seoul area before moving southward in the sixth century.
VENUE: Cheonggye Plaza
PERIOD: Nov 1—17
BUY: Buy your own lantern for KRW 3,000 and make a wish with the lantern before setting it afloat in the stream.
SEE: A large lantern structure of the Seoul Fortress Wall will be set up to promote the municipal government’s effort to get the wall designated on the UNESCO World Heritage list.
MORE INFO: seoullantern.visitseoul.net
GETTING THERE: City Hall Station (Seoul Subway Line 1, 2), Exit 4
New York Wholistic Care Promotion
Thru Nov 30, New York Wholistic Care is offering one month free membership when you sign up for a three-month group pilates membership.
Around the Web
A miscellany of high-quality hyperlinks from the week, courtesy of SEOUL editor-in-chief Robert Koehler.
Korea International School is accepting applications for the 2014–2015 academic year. KIS Pangyo Campus serves students in PK–12, and KIS Seoul Campus PK–G6.
Pangyo Campus (PK–12): Thursday, November 14, 2013. 12:00p.m ~02:00p.m at Conference Hall
Seoul Campus (PK–6): Thursday, November 21, 2013. 11:00am–1:00pm at MPR
For more information, and to R.S.V.P.
Please Call T. 031-789-0525 or email seoy3@kis.or.kr
Get Your College Entrance Exam Rice Cakes at Suyedang
Do you know somebody studying for the Korean university entrance exam? Gormet rice cake maker Suyedang has prepared gift sets of beautiful and delicious “university exam rice cakes.” Koreans believe that sticky rice cakes help students hang on to knowledge and get “stuck” to the university they wish to enter.
Suyedang specializes in “flower rice cakes” (hwagwaja). Crafted in the shape of fruits and flowers, flower rice cakes were originally served in the palace at a time when it was difficult to store fruit. Not only are they delicious, but they’re healthy, too, made from 100% organic ingredients.
You can find several kinds of university exam rice cake gift sets, from KRW 4,900 (three pieces) to KRW 19,000 (ten pieces). See Suyedang’s homepage (Korean) for more info.
Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra
Under the skillful baton of maestro Yuri Simonov, the Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra is set to present the best rendition of Russian classical music written by several of the country’s greatest composers. The program will feature Glinka’s “Waltz-Fantasy for Orchestra,” Rachmaninoff’s “Piano Concerto No. 3” and Tchaikovsky’s “Symphony No. 6.” Globetrotting Russian pianist Andrei Gavrilov and cellist Sergey Antonov will join as collaborators. The orchestra was founded in 1951, and Simonov has been principal conductor since 1998.
VENUE: Seoul Arts Center Concert Hall
DATES: Nov. 1, 4, 8pm
ADMISSION: KRW 50,000-250,000
MORE INFO: T. 02-580-1300, www.sac.or.kr
GETTING THERE: Nambu Bus Terminal Station 남부터미널역 (Line 3), Exit. Transfer to shuttle bus or green bus No. 4429
Bach Meets Piazzolla
Astor Piazzolla was an Argentine musician who revolutionized the tango, infusing that passionate and somewhat melancholic dance with elements of classical music and jazz. But Piazzolla would later name Bach as a major influence and immerse himself in the German composer’s intellectual works. The concert will feature six of the two composers’ signature works, including “Air on G String” and “Oblivion,” through the talents of violinist Jung Sang-hee, Argentine bandoneon artist Fernando Rezk and Quartet Su.
VENUE: Seoul Arts Center IBK Chamber Hall
DATE: Nov. 2, 8pm
ADMISSION: KRW 33,000, 55,000
MORE INFO: T. 02-2658-3546, www.sac.or.kr
GETTING THERE: Nambu Bus Terminal Station 남부터미널역 (Line 3), Exit. Transfer to shuttle bus or green bus No. 4429
Savoy Sauna
An experimental stage production focused on art, “Savoy Sauna” is the name of the public bath that its director Yeo Shin-dong frequented in his childhood. The drama starts with the question, “How can stage art independently lead a performance?” Yeo thus shares with the actors the image of Savoy Sauna, a motif of individual sensitivity, in searching for the image of each individual. Through this, the process of connecting with others is explored. This work won the Artists Incubator Program supported by Doosan Art Center.
VENUE: Doosan Art Center Space 111
PERIOD: Nov. 2-10
ADMISSION: KRW 30,000
MORE INFO: T. 02-708-5001~3, www.doosanartcenter.com
GETTING THERE: Jongno 5-ga Station 종로5가역 (Line 1), Exit 1
La Divina Commedia: DI DANTE ALIGHIERI
Dante Alighieri’s masterpiece “La Divina Commedia (The Divine Comedy)” will be staged as an epic drama spiced with a crossover ensemble of ten traditional musical instruments from Korea and the West. The literary classic describes Dante’s travels through Hell, Purgatory, and Heaven, but at a deeper level, it allegorically represents the soul’s journey toward God. The poem’s imaginative and allegorical vision of the afterlife will skillfully be portrayed through magnificent stage design and impressive choral numbers. The epic will run 150 minutes, including a 20-minute intermission.
VENUE: National Theater of Korea
PERIOD: Nov. 2-9
ADMISSION: KRW 20,000-70,000
MORE INFO: T. 02-2280-4132, www.ntok.go.kr
GETTING THERE: Dongguk University Station 동대입구역 (Line 3), Exit 6
Ra Ra Riot
The American indie rock band, consisting of vocalist Wes Miles, bassist Mathieu Santos, guitarist Milo Bonacci, violinist Rebecca Zeller, and drummer Kenny Bernard, will be haunting Korea for Halloween shows. It was formed in Syracuse, New York, in 2007. In 2011, Ra Ra Riot was nominated for the 10th Annual Independent Music Awards under the Pop/Rock Album Nominee . Most recently, the band’s third studio album, Beta Love, marks a shift in their musical style away from their earlier baroque pop sound and more towards synthpop.
VENUE: Club FF
DATE: Oct 31
ADMISSION: KRW 35,000–40,000
MORE INFO: T. 011-9025-3407, supercolorsuper.com
GETTING THERE: Hongik University Station (Line 2), Exit 6
RASKB: Seoraksan National Park and Waterpia Excursion
The RAS will once again offer you its very popular excursion to the magnificent Seorak Mountains in Gangwon Province. In addition to the usual magnificent beauty of this scenic area, participants will have two options of dipping in to the local Cheoksan hot springs, first night, and to even extend the chill-out to second day, at the Seorak Waterpia This is a Hot-spring resort which features a Spa, hot sauna, 18 kinds or artificial waves, etc. For those who would not take the options and rather enjoy the mountain range, you are guaranteed will enjoy the excursion just as much.
A lone highway cuts its way though a misty Surijitae Pass, Boeun, Chungcheongbuk-do. 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.
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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https://magazine.seoulselection.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/export4.png823629rjkoehlerhttps://magazine.seoulselection.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/Seoul-logo.pngrjkoehler2013-10-30 09:13:242013-10-30 09:13:24SEOUL Weekly: Seoul Lantern Festival
The American indie rock band, consisting of vocalist Wes Miles, bassist Mathieu Santos, guitarist Milo Bonacci, violinist Rebecca Zeller, and drummer Kenny Bernard, will be haunting Korea for Halloween shows. It was formed in Syracuse, New York, in 2007. In 2011, Ra Ra Riot was nominated for the 10th Annual Independent Music Awards under the Pop/Rock Album Nominee . Most recently, the band’s third studio album, Beta Love, marks a shift in their musical style away from their earlier baroque pop sound and more towards synthpop. 
Dosan Seowon