SEOUL Weekly: SEOUL May Issue

May is the month of the family, so why not celebrate with a copy of the May issue of SEOUL, Seoul Selection’s monthly travel and culture magazine. In this issue, we explore the artistically gritty Mullae-dong district, head to the green fields of Anseong (a family travel destination if there ever was one), enjoy some good Southern BBQ, do some second-hand shopping, and much, much more.

And of course, there’s our Goings On Around Town section, your guide to the month’s concerts, exhibits, festivals and other events.

Enjoy SEOUL on the Go: Download our magazine app for your tablet! (iOS, Android)

City of Art and Industry
In Mullae-dong, culture thrives in a gritty, urban atmosphere of creativity

Pastoral Elation
Anseong enchants with rolling hills, steaming lakes and unbroken traditions

A miscellany of high-quality hyperlinks from the week, courtesy of SEOUL editor-in-chief Robert Koehler

• The Wall Street Journal looks at StarCraft, Korea’s unofficial national sport.
• Of course, not all is well in the StarCraft world.
• Great, Everland now has pandas.
• Might the Lotte Tower indicate the limitations of Korean industry?
• At home in the Korean-style residence of the American ambassador in Seoul.
• Hanbok and spring blossoms at Changgyeonggung Palace.
• Morning at Upo Wetland.
• Night sky above Gyeongju.
• Tulips, tulips and more tulips in Paju.
• Another week passes at Robert Koehler’s photo blog.

9th bbb International Friends Day

The one and only language-culture NGO, BBB Korea, holds the 9th IFD(International Friends Day) on Apr. 30 at Seoul Grand Park, Gwacheon. With this year’s concept, “bbb wonderful day”, BBB invites locals, foreigners, volunteers and anyone who wants to participate. Participants will have the opportunity to run (bbb run together marathon), paint (Heart & Communication Children’s Painting festival), feel (bbb wonderful music concert) and enjoy (various booths).

VENUE: Seoul Grand Park, Gwacheon
DATE: April 30
MORE INFO: www.bbbkorea.org
ADMISSION: KRW 20,000
GETTING THERE: Seoul Grand Park Station (Line 4), Exit 1-3

Andrea Bocelli Concert in Seoul

The Italian tenor who practically created the “popera” genre is sure to mesmerize audiences during his upcoming performance at Seoul’s Olympic Park. A frequent collaborator with some of the greatest directors, orchestras and vocalists in the world, Bocelli has released about 20 albums in his 30-year-career. His 1996 song “Time to Say Goodbye,” performed with Sarah Brightman, became a global hit and cemented the signer, who is legally blind, as an international star. He will be singing with the Prime Philharmonic Orchestra under the direction of Eugene Kohn.

VENUE: Olympic Park Gymnastics Gymnasium
DATE: May 1
MORE INFO: T. 02-410-1114
ADMISSION: KRW 115,000-290,000
GETTING THERE: Olympic Park Station (Line 5), Exit 3

Newsies

Disney Theatrical Productions’ musical “Newsies” makes its Asian premier at the Chungmu Art Hall stars a young and energetic cast of some of Korea’s rising young theatrical talent. Based on the Newsboys’ Strike of 1899, “Newsies” is a powerful performance that features tap dance, acrobatics and even ballet and stirring tunes such as “Carrying the Banner,” “Seize the Day” and “Santa Fe.” Nominated for eight Tony Awards when it debuted on Broadway in 2012, the show has played over 1,000 times and drawn over 1 million theatergoers.

VENUE: Chungmu Art Hall
PERIOD: Thru July 3
MORE INFO: T. 02-1588-5212, www.cmah.or.kr
ADMISSION: KRW 50,000-130,000
GETTING THERE: Sindang Station (Line 6), Exit 9. Walk 50 m in the direction of the Dongdaemun Design Plaza.

Unswallowable

This exhibition, part of the Doosan Humanities Theater project, offers the opportunity to see how artists recognize reality as an individual, and how they are able to capture the universal human adventure through their works that reflect each of the artists’ own adventures in this society. On display are works by Gwangsoo Park, Hye Jeong Cho & Sook Hyun Kim, Hyein Lee and Limbai-jihee. Doosan Humanities Theater is a site of exchange for scientific, artistic and multidisciplinary exploration into human and nature. The theme for this year is New Imagination on the Extended Territory.

VENUE: Doosan Gallery
PERIOD: Thru May 21
MORE INFO: www.doosangallery.com
ADMISSION: Free
GETTING THERE: Jongno 5-ga Station (Line 1), Exit 1

Imperial Palace Seoul: Buffet Restaurant “Familia” Grand Open

Imperial Palace Seoul Hotel today announced that the Buffet Restaurant “Familia,” with its 27 years of history, opens on April 27 after an extensive, three-month renewal process. Signature dishes such as the Buddha’s Temptation (seafood soup), pane pasta, cold raw fish noodle soup and more are to be presented and enjoyed as a la carte items. The seven live stations create a premium fine dining ambiance.

The Buffet Familia is planning special events for the upcoming May family month. On May 5, for Children’s Day, one child receives a complimentary meal when visiting with a three-generation family. On May 8, for Parents’ Day, one adult eats for free. Face painting, a clown performance, coloring activities and more are also planned on Children’s Day.

The price for the weekday lunch is KRW 65,000, while weekend lunch is KRW 78,000. Weekday and weekend dinners are KRW 88,000, and the wine dinner is KRW 95,000. Tax and service charges included.

MORE INFO: Call T. 02-3440-8000 or visit www.imperialpalace.co.kr.

RAS-KB: The Spirit of Gwangju

The queen of southwest Korea, the city of Gwangju has a long and proud history of arts and culture political activism. In modern history, it is best known for the Gwangju Democratic Movement of May 1980, when a popular uprising briefly rested control of the city from the forces of Korea’s ruling military dictatorship before government troops brutally retook the town.

In this excursion, we will explore some of Gwangju’s early modern and modern historical sites.

VENUE: Gwangju
DATE: May 8
ADMISSION: KRW 60,000 for members, KRW 72,000 for non-members
GETTING THERE and MORE INFO: See this link.

LED-lit streets of Jongno on a rainy night. Photo by Robert Koehler of SEOUL.

Seoul Selection Offline Bookshop Sale – One of the greatest repositories of Korea-related English-language books anywhere, Seoul Selection is offering a 10% sale on any and all books published by Seoul Selection purchased from our OFFLINE bookshop next to Gyeongbokgung Palace.

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 atoz@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 sense@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 marmotshole@gmail.com.