Nobel laureate J. M. G. Le Clézio’s ‘Bitna: Under the Sky of Seoul’ is an intimate exploration of a city in perpetual change

“The most impressive thing about Seoul is that because it has so many people and a variety of elements, it’s always transforming. When you come back to a certain place six months later, some things have disappeared and new things have constantly been created. Compared with this, Paris is static and unchanging. I was talking with director Park Chan-wook, and he, too, said because Seoul transforms so quickly, he doesn’t want to leave, even for a minute.”

At a press conference at the Korean Publishers Association Building in Seoul’s Gwanghwamun district on Dec. 14, J. M. G. Le Clézio expressed his affection for the city of Seoul, a city with which the renowned French writer has grown intimately familiar since he first visited it over a decade ago. The winner of the 2008 Nobel Prize in Literature’s recently released novel, “Bitna: Under the Sky of Seoul,” is a portrait of the city, its people and places, its beauty and its ugliness. For him, the Korean capital is a place full of tales. “Seoul is a place that fully stimulates the imagination. Seoul let me create stories.”

Seoul through its stories

Published in Korean and English editions, with a French edition scheduled for March, “Bitna” is a picture of life in Seoul as experienced by its denizens. Its characters come from a variety of backgrounds, reflecting the diversity of the city. Le Clézio unwinds their tales against the city’s rich tapestry of backgrounds, from the glitz of Gangnam to the grit of Yeongdeungpo’s working class neighborhoods. He weaves in many of the city’s landmarks as well, including Gyeongbokgung Palace, Changdeokgung Palace, Cheonggyecheon Stream, Bukhansan Mountain, Namsan Mountain and the Hangang River. The result is an exploration of one of the world’s greatest cities, largely as experienced by the writer himself. “All the places that appear in the novel, I visited myself,” he said in the press conference. “I don’t take taxis. I observed people while taking the subway or buses.”

The eponymous main character, Bitna, is a nineteen-year-old in her first year at university and a recent transplant to Seoul from Jeolla-do, where her parents work in the fish market. As it was for Le Clézio, the city is for Bitna an unfamiliar, crowded and lonely place. By chance, Bitna gets a part-time job telling stories to Salome, a woman with an incurable illness who now spends her days at home, waiting to die. Bitna’s stories open up a world of adventure for both Bitna and Salome.

Bitna tells Salome five stories in all: the story of Mr. Cho, a retiree who raises pigeons and imagines the home he left behind in North Korea during the war as a baby on his mother’s back; the story of the mysterious traveler Kitty and the messages she delivers to bring once-distant neighbors together in community and friendship; the story of Naomi, abandoned as a baby, and Hana, the woman who raises her, and their encounter with life and death; the story of the singer Nabi, who rises to stardom but falls victim to the greed and lies of the people around her; and Bitna’s own story, about her life in the city and the fear she comes to experience as a result of a faceless stalker. Each story is layered with diverse themes that have attracted the author’s interest over the years, including Korea’s traditions, religions, history and cuisine, as well as intergenerational conflict, inter-Korean issues and sociopolitical issues.

Le Clézio may not be finished in Seoul, either. He sees many stories to tell in the people he meets on the street. “One morning at 6 a.m. I saw an elderly people picking up waste paper in Sinchon,” he says. “Curious as to where they came from and where they were going, I wanted to follow them. I also want to write novels about a fortune teller I met near Ewha Womans University and about a Seoul taxi driver.”

Bitna: Under the Sky of Seoul  |  빛나­서울 하늘 아래
Author: J. M. G. Le Clézio
English edition translated by Brother Anthony of Taizé
Korean edition translated by Song Ki Jeong
Seoul Selection (December, 2017)
216 pages (English) | 254 pages (Korean)
Hard cover, 128 x 188 mm
Price: KRW 14,000
Available at Kyobo Book Centre and elsewhere

Written and photographed by SEOUL staff

One of Korea’s most popular celebrations, the Yeon Deung Hoe (Lotus Lantern Festival) brightens the soul with not only paper lanterns, but community spirit

The eighth day of the fourth lunar month is the Buddha’s Birthday, when temples nationwide light paper lanterns to symbolically transmit the wisdom and compassion of the Buddha. In Seoul, the holiday is celebrated with the Yeon Deung Hoe, a 1,200-year-old festival of light that brightens not only the night sky above the city but also the hearts of its participants. One of Korea’s best-loved celebrations, especially by international visitors, the festival features not only thousands upon thousands of paper lanterns, but also exhibits, traditional performances and crafts, rallies and, of course, the spectacular Lantern Parade, the festival’s highlight event.

An age-old tradition reborn

The Yeon Deung Hoe is a celebration that goes back some 1,200 years. In the ancient Korean kingdom of Silla (57 BC-AD 935), subjects celebrated the Palgwanhoe, a major Buddhist festival, with the lighting of paper lanterns. The celebrations grew even grander during the Goryeo Dynasty (918-1382), when it was elevated into a major national celebration. Even during the Joseon Dynasty, when Buddhism was repressed and the festival discouraged by the kingdom’s Neoconfucian elite, the common people continued to hold lotus lantern lighting festivals in the countryside.

The current incarnation of the celebration began in 1976, when a lotus lantern parade to mark the newly designated Buddha’s Birthday holiday proceeded from Yeouido to Jogyesa Temple. In 2012, the Cultural Heritage Administration designated the festival as Important Intangible Cultural Property No. 122.

Procession of light

While the celebration features several days of events, the undisputed highlight is the Lotus Lantern Parade (May 7, 7-9:30 PM), a truly awe-inspiring procession of Buddhist-related floats and lotus lantern-toting marchers along Jongno, Seoul’s historic central thoroughfare. Seen from above, it resembles nothing less than the Milky Way or a river of candlelight flowing through the heart of the city.

The procession features many spectacularly designed floats, usually based on a Buddhist theme. Many temples and Buddhist organizations contribute teams of marchers. In recent years, delegations from Sri Lanka, Thailand and other primarily Buddhist nations have taken part as well, a reflection of Seoul’s growing multiculturalism.

The parade begins at the iconic Dongdaemun Gate and ends at Jogyesa Temple.

GO> All along Jongno street (Subway Line 1, Jonggak station or Jongno-3ga station)

Traditional lantern exhibits

The paper lotus lantern, a symbol of the Buddha’s teachings, is an art form that goes back in Korea over a millennium. During the Yeon Deung Hoe, exhibitions of these lanterns (May 6-14) are held at Jogyesa Temple, the Cheonggyecheon Stream and Gangnam’s Bongeunsa Temple. You can see hundreds of lanterns in countless shapes, colors and sizes, often designed by some of Korea’s top craftsmen.

GO> Jogyesa Temple (Subway Line 3, Anguk Station)
Bongeunsa Temple (Subway Line 2, Samseong Station)
Cheonggyecheon Stream Area (Subway Line 1, Jonggak Station)

Cheering togetherness

The Lotus Lantern Parade is preceded by the Eoullim Madang (May 7, 4:30-6 PM), a Buddhist cheer rally at Dongguk University Stadium where participants get themselves into the spirit by watching exciting performances of dance and music. The symbolic bathing of the baby Buddha and a Buddhist service is held at the end of the performances.

GO> Dongguk University Stadium (Subway Line 3, Dongguk Univ. Station)

Dancing below the flower petals

The fun doesn’t end with the Lotus Lantern Parade. After the parade, the area around the landmark Jonggak Intersection becomes one big street party with music and communal performances of the Ganggangsullae, all below a falling rain of paper flower petals. The atmosphere is intoxicating, and the energy infectious.

The next day, Sunday, May 8, the area around Jogyesa Temple hosts a variety of activities. Especially popular with international visitors is the lantern-making program, where you can try your hand at an age-old tradition. You can also sample Korea’s unique vegetarian temple cuisine, take in displays of folk dancing, music and street performances, purchase crafts and more.

To end the celebration, another lotus lantern parade is held in the Insa-dong arts quarter and in front of Jogyesa Temple (May 8, 7-9 PM). This is a final chance for participants to hoist the lantern high and pray for peace and happiness.

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More Info

www.LLF.or.kr/eng

Written by SEOUL staff

Newly opened Korean Temple Food Center lets you experience Korea’s 1,700-year-old Slow Food tradition

한국사찰음식 문화체험관

It’s a Saturday afternoon, and about a dozen international participants have gathered at the Korean Temple Food Center near Anguk Station, located just across the street from the popular Insa-dong district. They stand in groups of three or four at separate countertops, plates of ingredients placed neatly before them. At the head of the class, standing behind a table covered with an assortment of colorful vegetables and sauces, stands the Ven. Jeong Kwan, a Buddhist nun and expert on Korean temple cuisine. Sensing that her students were a bit tense, she smiles and tells them to relax. “The food will taste better that way,” she says.

Opened in December, the Korean Temple Food Center is designed to give international visitors and locals alike an opportunity to experience the sights, smells and sound of a 1,700-year-old culinary tradition. The programs here are very hands-on, and visitors are encouraged to try some of the delicacies.

Mandala on a dining table

Today, the students are making glutinous rice steamed in a lotus leaf, or yeonipbap. One of the most aesthetically pleasing dishes in Korean Buddhist cooking, yeonipbap is sometimes called a “mandala on a dining table,” likening it to the beautiful works of Buddhist art. Jeong Kwan demonstrates how it’s done: She molds a lump of pre-cooked glutinous rice in the center of a giant lotus leaf, garnishes it with a slice of lotus root and, with great artistry, folds the lotus leaf into a tight packet, which is then placed in a steamer. After Jeong Kwan’s demonstration, the students give it a try, with the nun-chef lending assistance and giving advice when needed.

Jeong Kwan’s unassuming cheerfulness and approachability – she even helps one student tie her apron properly – might be what you’d expect from a Buddhist nun who spends most of her days in a picturesque hermitage in the mountains of southwest Korea, but perhaps not from someone many celebrated chefs praise for making “the most exquisite food in the world,” according to the New York Times. Try picturing Gordon Ramsay smiling as he helps a student tie her apron – you just can’t.

The yeonipbap, as well as the other dishes prepared this day, are completely vegan. “The biggest difference between temple food and regular Korean cuisine is that temple food does not use ingredients from animals,” explains Jeong Kwan. “This is in accordance with Buddhist teachings that consider all life precious and order us not to kill.”

The ultimate farm-to-plate food

Korean temple food is, as the name suggests, the food eaten daily at Korea’s Buddhist temples. This is a lot more significant than it sounds, however. The Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism explains that temple food constitutes “a cultural core that gives a concrete form to the essential teachings of Buddhism on its path to healthy living and ultimate enlightenment.” It teaches humanity to live in harmony with nature and appreciate the spirit of interbeing.

The act of cooking is itself a form of meditation. “In Korean Buddhism, we believe every process in preparing food is a form of practice,” explains Jeong Kwan. “Because we farm and harvest ingredients ourselves and use those ingredients to make the food we eat, we cannot help but use seasonal ingredients. And because we cook what we’ve harvested from the garden, I think temple food is truly farm-to-plate.”

Experiencing a healthy lifestyle

For the students, the class was a rare opportunity to experience the beauty of Korean Buddhist culture in the most direct way possible. Some were impressed by the space itself. “What most impressed me was the wall-mounted, touch-display recipe generator,” says Douglas Holden, an American professor. “Pictures of the foods could be scrolled through and then a recipe could be printed out.”

Others appreciated the opportunity to about “slow life” from a master. Ashley Higgins, an American teacher, says the experience felt like a “glimpse into living a true, unadulterated wholesome life via food.” As she explains, “To learn about food and cooking firsthand from someone who forages, grows and makes from scratch most – if not all – of her ingredients was inspiring, thought provoking and awesome.”

Written and photographed by Robert Koehler

A+ Dental Clinic offers the best care in an internationally friendly environment

When you’re living overseas, finding a good dentist with whom you can communicate is not always easy. A+ Dental Clinic, with two locations in Apgujeong-dong and one in the Seoul suburb of Bundang, offers not only top-quality service but does so in a friendly, English-speaking environment tailored to international patients. Whatever your dental needs are, A+ Dental Clinic has you covered.

Expat-tailored service

Founded in 1996, A+ Dental Clinic has spent nearly two decades providing some of Korea’s best-quality dental services to local and international patients.

A+ Dental Clinic is especially popular with expatriate patients – not only is it a favorite of international residents of Seoul but many expatriates living in the countryside make the long trip to Seoul just to get treatment there, too. A number of patients from nearby countries, including Japan and China, make a point of dropping in for treatment when they come to Korea on business, too.

The clinic’s top-quality care is the primary draw, of course, but the hospital goes out of its way to welcome international patients and make their therapy experience as hassle-free as possible. In the case of orthodontic work, for example, the hospital ensures that you can continue to get consistent treatment overseas at sister clinics all around the world. It also accepts a variety of popular insurance plans, including the Tricare plan favored by many U.S. service personnel stationed in Korea.

Communication proves no problem at A+ Dental Clinic, either. Not only are the department heads, specialists who received their training in the United States, perfectly fluent in English but the staff is composed of fluent English speakers, too, so patients can communicate their needs with little worry.

The hospital also works hard to minimize treatment times. Thanks to the clinic’s in-house 3-D carving machine, the clinic can complete certain prosthodontic treatments, such as crowns, in just a single day. There’s also an in-house lab where dental prostheses are made.

Wide range of treatments

Staffed by a crack team of doctors trained at top American and Korean dental schools, the clinic offers an impressively varied range of services, from the therapeutic to the aesthetic. Its specialized departments include:

Orthodontics Led by Dr. Kim Eung-soo, a Columbia University-educated and American board-certified orthodontist, the orthodontic department works to bring your teeth, lips and jaws into proper alignment, not only giving you a prettier smile but also allowing you to eat more comfortably and enjoy a better quality of life in general.

Prosthodontics If you’re already missing a couple of chiclets, the prosthodontics department is here to help. Led by two American-trained prosthodontists, the department specializes in maintaining the oral function, comfort, appearance and health of patients with missing or deficient teeth, making use of gold and ceramic crowns, bridges, dentures and implants.

Periodontics The periodontics department treats gum diseases and disorders. Dr. Chung Kyung-uk provides a variety of periodontal treatments, including implant surgery, deep scaling and root planning, laser treatment, periodontal regeneration and soft tissue grafting. A graduate of New York University’s advanced training program in implant dentistry, Chung has years of clinical experience with an over 99.2 percent implant success rate, and his implant department received the Grand Prize at the Korean Global Medical Service Awards 2008.

More specialized treatments

A+ Dental Clinic also has four specialty clinics that provide state-of-the-art treatments to patients who need them.

Implant Clinic Implants are artificial teeth that are implanted directly into the jawbone. In addition to their aesthetic function, implants play the same role as natural teeth.

Aesthetic Dentistry Clinic This clinic specializes in improving the cosmetic beauty of your smile through laminate veneers, ceramic restorations, composite resin fillings, teeth whitening and gum reshaping.

Laser Clinic The latest laser treatments can restore your smile with little bleeding or pain, if any. Teeth whitening procedures using lasers are available, too.

TMJ Clinic Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders can be quite debilitating, causing discomfort even during basic jaw movements when eating, speaking or yawing. The TMJ clinic accurately diagnoses the spectrum of TMJ disorders and provides the necessary treatments.

More info

A+ Sterilization System

In the Sterilized Implant Center, A+ Dental Clinic takes the utmost care to prevent any possible infections as they operate. All patients are treated with sterilized and/or disposable dental instruments. The clinic also uses sterilized-taped equipment and sterile water to provide patients with an absolutely sanitary environment for treatment.

GO> Apgujeong Branch
A short walk from Apgujeong Station (Line 3), Exit 2

Apgujeong Rodeo Branch
A 10-minute walk from Apgujeong Rodeo Station (Bundang Line), Exit 6

Bundang Branch
A short walk from Seohyeon Station (Bundang Line), Exit 3 or 4
T.02-3442-7616 for English-speaking coordinator
www.aplusnetworks.co.kr

Written by SEOUL staff

Gyeongbokgung and Changgyeonggung palaces’s nightime admission will end Aug. 27 (Changgyeonggung) and Aug. 28 (Gyeongbokgung), so if you haven’t visited them yet, please do so this week.

VENUE: Gyeongbokgung Palace, Changgyeonggung Palace
DATES: Gyeongbokgung: Aug. 12-28 (closed on Aug. 18, Aug. 25), Changgyeonggung: Aug. 11-27 (closed Aug. 17, Aug. 24). 7:30-10:00 PM (entry ends at 9:00 PM)
ADMISSION: KRW 3,000 for Gyeongbokgung, KRW 1,000 fo Changgyeonggung. IMPORTANT! Koreans should reserve a ticket ahead of time (go here and here). Foreigners, however, can get tickets on-site on a first-come, first-serve basis (200 tickets a day at Gyeongbokgung, 100 tickets a day at Changgyeonggung).
MORE INFO: See this link.
GETTING THERE: See this map.

Silk Road Cultural Festival in Gyeongju 2015

The Silk Road Cultural Festival in Gyeongju seeks to foster understanding of Eurasian culture and promote international exchanges through exhibits, cultural performances and more. In particular, check out the Silk Road Grand Bazaar, where some 20 Eurasian nations have come together to present their traditional architecture, food, crafts and performing arts. The event also makes a great opportunity to explore the historic city of Gyeongju, the ancient capital of the Silla Kingdom (57 BC-AD 935). Don’t miss the Special Exhibit of Golden Shilla Artifacts at the Gyeongju National Museum, featuring 460 artifacts including the beautiful Gilt-bronze Maitreya in Meditation, National Treasure of Korea No. 83.

VENUE: Gyeongju World Culture Expo Park and surrounding area
PERIOD: Thru Oct. 18
MORE INFO: See this link.
GETTING THERE: See here.

Hesse’s Drawing Exhibition: A Travel to Myself

While he’s best known as a Nobel Prize-winning poet and novelist, Hermann Hesse was also an accomplished painter and drawer. This exhibit features some 500 of his 2,500 drawings, including 150 which have been projected on big screens using HD projectors, turning the entire space into a canvas. The German-born Swiss cultural giant, whose work explored themes such as self-knowledge and spirituality, is one of the most widely read European authors of the 20th century, with works such as “Steppenwolf” and “Siddhartha” attaining particular popularity with the rise of the counterculture movement of the 1960s.

VENUE: War Memorial of Korea
PERIOD: Thru Nov. 1
MORE INFO: T. 02-540-0329
ADMISSION: Free
GETTING THERE: Samgakji Station (Line 6), Exit 12

RAS-KB Excursion: Donggang River Rafting

Join the RAS as it takes an adventurous rafting tour along the scenic Donggang River in Gangwon-do. The Donggang is a serpentine, 60 kilometer-long stream flowing through rugged limestone terrain in mountainous Gangwon province’s Yeongweol, Pyeongchang, and Jeongseon counties. Besides boasting breathtaking scenery, the Donggang is an ecological jewel – it is the only remaining virgin territory in South Korea, boasting a wealth of rare flora and fauna. It is often compared to Guilin in China, a world famous tourist destination owing to its picturesque limestone mountains; however, the Dong River retains a more pristine and serene atmosphere, according to tourist experts.

VENUE: Donggang River, Gangwon-do
DATE: Aug. 29
MORE INFO: See here.
PRICE: KRW 83,000-99,600
GETTING THERE: See link above.

LTI Korea’s online library makes the world of Korean literature accessible to the non-Korean speaking masses

Less than a decade ago, those living outside the country who hoped to track down works of Korean literature likely found themselves seeking out an Asian Studies Library, purchasing an academic reader or coming to Korea and buying translations here. Put simply, learning about Korean literature had some very real technical barriers. Today, however, nearly anyone with internet access can open his or her browser and in seconds be studying classic works of contemporary Korean novelists or reading up on famous Korean authors from the comfort of their computer or e-reading devices.

It’s never been easier to become familiar with Korean literature.

A little background

When the Literature Translation Institute of Korea (LTI Korea) was originally founded in 2001 it focused on translation and text-based publications of Korean literature. LTI still honors this mandate, but there has also been a vast shift toward reaching more readers across the globe. To do this, however, embracing digital technology was key.

In person, the library is traditional looking, with 3,055 translations of Korean literature available in nearly 40 different languages available. While the library was first designed to serve the needs of those seeking print copies of the texts in question, it has evolved at an accelerating pace, moving quickly into the digital arena and taking full advantage of the opportunities afforded by the web.

Going digital

In 2009 the library opened its first e-library website (library.klti.or.kr). The site was relatively simple but evolved exponentially over time. Today the digital footprint of the LTI Korea Library is massive, with some 16,000 separate records. Its head librarian Kim Hye-young notes that, “One the most convenient elements of our (web) pages is that they are quick to access; comprehensive; can be reached any time, anywhere, and we have made a conscious effort to make certain that all related information is linked.” Reflecting on the user-friendly nature of the site, she adds, “You can find almost all the information you want about an author on one page in the Korean Writers section of the site. If you want to learn more, the pages also contain links to deeper information on related pages.”

Myriad features

Perhaps the simplest way to use the site is to start at the bibliography page using a basic author search. This engine reveals one of the most impressive features of the website: its integration. The search tool at the top of the page connects users to a listing in which most Romanizations of Korean author names are recognized, with the first result leading to a page with complete information about each author and links to more extensive information in all areas. The author page includes biographical information in multiple languages, a listing of books and e-books published, news on the authors from abroad, a record of overseas appearances and a catch-all category that includes additional reports and publications. If you find a book you are interested in by a certain author, its entry also contains convenient links to online bookstores and libraries that have that book available, including whether or not it is available in the LTI e-Library, either free or for e-loan.

The site can be used in other ways as well, as the search tool will also find particular works, translators and other information any Korean lit aficionado may desire. For example, the LTI Korea Library site boasts 52 stories or novels of translated Korean literature from the “20th Century Korean Literature Series” in PDF or EPUB format, each of which being available for free download.

Even better? Many commercial books are available for e-check-out as the LTI Library, working with Overdrive, has made an increasingly wide variety of modern fiction available online. Simply go to the overdrive site (lti.lib.overdrive.com) and for 15 days you can “borrow” many of Korea’s greatest works, from historical texts written in the Classical era to books like the recent international smash “Please Look After Mom” by Shin Kyung-sook.

Checking in, checking out

Fortunately for avid readers, obtaining a membership is easy, requiring only your email and language preference. The LTI staff members are constantly keeping abreast of new additions to the e-publication scene, with the library hoping to expand its collection to include works that are not only available in English.

The site is also dedicated to providing links to external media related to Korean literature, including information about 276 online videos of Korean works that have been turned into movies. Moreover, site administrators have been known to post links to external articles from around the globe that are concerned with Korean literature in translation. In addition, the website contains related content including lists of translators, publishers and a range of reports on the status of Korean translation. At its core, the LTI Korea website is a one-stop location for information about translated Korean literature everywhere and anywhere.

The future

The year 2014 was a banner year for the library, as the team created a database for the names of Korean writers, established an e-library system and executed a successful overhaul of the LTI website. In 2016 another update will make the site even more comprehensive, a tribute to the LTI Korea Library’s commitment to cutting-edge literary research.

The LTI Library likes to remind browsers and Korea literature fans that it is constantly evolving. As a part of this development, Kim Hye-young notes that LTI takes reader feedback extremely seriously. This year the LTI Library has created a two-month project that will integrate information gathered from visitor comments and feedback during the year 2015 in order to make the site more usable for the average website viewer. With a laugh, the librarian adds, “So please inspect the site and send us feedback.”

At its core, the LTI Korea website is a one-stop location for information about translated Korean literature everywhere and anywhere.

LTI Korea Library

FYI>  T.02 6919 7700, www.klti.or.kr, Online Library: library.klti.or.kr

GO>  Bongeunsa Station (Line 9), Exit 4

Written by Charles Montgomery

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The K-Book Silk Road

LTI Korea President Kim Seong-kon is bullish on Korean literature’s global future

Kim Seong-kon, president of the Literature Translation Institute of Korea (LTI Korea), believes Korean literature is poised to take off globally. “ Hallyu (the booming popularity of Korean pop culture overseas), information technology and fantastic economic development have built a Silk Road, especially to the West,” he says. “So we can just hit the road.”

An author, literary critic and academic with a long career in both Korea and the United States, Kim was reappointed to lead LTI Korea in February as a recognition of his efforts to globalize Korean literature. And with overseas interest in Korean literature growing, those efforts are bearing significant fruit. He notes, “We are currently knocking at the door of big publishers in New York and London, and by doing so, we can easily promote Korean literature because they have connections to things like the New York Times Review of Books.”

Korea may have gotten a late start in promoting itself, says Kim, especially compared to neighbors with much longer histories of interaction with the West such as China and Japan, but Korea’s growing economic and cultural prominence is giving Korean literature a certain cache it has hitherto lacked. And, more importantly, literature can present Korean culture in a way other media cannot. “K-pop or Hallyu cannot represent Korean culture comprehensively,” he says. “Literature is a good medium of letting the world know about Korea – what we think, how we live – because literature incorporates history, politics, economics, all sorts of things.”

Rome, however, wasn’t built in a day. “It takes some time to make Korean literature conspicuous” in overseas markets, he cautions. “It’s just beginning to emerge.” To help it emerge more fully, certain things will need to change, beginning with Korean writers themselves. Citing the success of works that have adopted the detective story technique such as Dan Brown’s “The Da Vinci Code” and Umberto Eco’s “The Name of the Rose,” he calls on Korean authors to produce more engaging writing. “Today, we have lots of fun things,” such as television and the Internet, he says. “That’s why we have to write intriguing work.”

And it goes without saying that globalization also requires good translators – the kind of translators LTI Korea works hard to cultivate. According to Kim, good translation requires three things: knowledge of both languages and culture, a keen sense of literature and a polished writing ability. On top of that, you need to love the work you’re translating. When you’ve captured these elements, “the translated work can be as good as the original work, or even better,” he says.

Written by Robert Koehler

2015 Pentaport

Pentaport is the conglomeration of “Airport, Seaport, Teleport, Business-port, and Leisure-port” to bring you the best of the 80’s and 90’s music and culture of Korea. Largest concert of its kind, don’t miss this chance to travel back in time.

VENUE: Incheon Songdo Pentaport Park
PERIOD: Aug 7-9, 10:00AM~11:00PM
ADMISSION: KRW 130,000-220,000 (refer to websiite for details)
MORE INFO: http://pentaportrock.com/

The Techno Temple with Takaaki Itoh

Gowl presents “The Techno Temple with Takaaki Itoh” at Club Vurt, so get your Saturday Night Fever on with live music and good times.

VENUE: Club Vurt
DATE: Aug 8, 10:00PM
ADMISSION: KRW 20,000
MORE INFO: http://vurtkr.flavors.me

Festivals

Fire Festival Korea

Seoul is holding a fire festival, so get in on all the fiery action. This 1st-annual Fire Festival Korea will feature Fire Gala Shows, Flow Arts, and Circus workshops with talents artists from all around.

VENUE: Somesevit, Banpo Hangang Park
PERIOD: Aug 7-9, Time TBD
ADMISSION: Free
MORE INFO: https://www.facebook.com/groups/FireFestivalKorea/

Expositions/Exhibits

Halal Expo Korea 2015

After placing emphasis on developing Halal markets initiated by President Park on the 2015 State of Union Message, the Korean government has established the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with UAE on the cooperation of agriculture and Halal Food.

VENUE: COEX 3rd floor, Hall C
PERIOD: Aug 7-9, 10:00AM~05:00PM
ADMISSION: Free for pre-registration, KRW 5,000 at door
MORE INFO: http://www.halalexpokorea.co.kr/eng/visit/info.php

Travel/Exploration

Organic Farm Experience

This is part of a series of Korean farm and countryside experience. You’ll be taken around unique places where you’ll be able to experience farm life, first-hand. Learn to cultivate various kinds of fruits and veggies while you’re there!

VENUE: Gochang countryside
DATE: Aug 8, 7:00AM
COST: KRW 56,000
MORE INFO: http://gohtravelkorea.net

Deserted Island Beach Camping

The hot days of summer are here and what better way to spend it than on a beach enjoying the sun and water? Not only that, the beach happens to be on a deserted island that is all yours for the weekend! Are you ready?

VENUE: Incheon Ferry Terminal
DATE: Aug 8, 8:00AM
COST: KRW 82,000
MORE INFO: https://www.facebook.com/WinKTravels/events

The Elegant Wisdom of the Joseon Tradition

Changdeokgung Palace was designated as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1997 and is a definitive historical landmark in Korean Palace architecture. It is a symbol of national pride and global acknowledgement, and this event aims to create more awareness of its uniqueness and relevance pertaining to the overall Joseon palace.

VENUE: WCO Seoul Office, Anguk Building
DATE: Aug 8, 7:00-9:00PM
COST: TBD
MORE INFO: https://www.facebook.com/events/1594069060854394/

Crown Relocations relies on 50 years of moving experience to make your transition to life abroad as painless as possible

Moving is often a stressful experience. This is doubly so when moving to a new country, where the logistical difficulties of the move are compounded by the pressures of adjusting to a new culture, often in an environment where you don’t speak the local language. It’s an undertaking that can leave even the most experienced globetrotter feeling exhausted.

The good news, however, is that Crown Relocations is here to help. Celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, Crown  relies on its talented staff and decades of experience helping businesses and individuals relocate and assist you in making a seamless transition to your new life overseas. The company provides a wide range of relocation services to clients prior to, during and after the move, including shipment of household goods, storage facilities, help with immigration procedures, language training and even pet relocations.

Beginning your Korean adventure

Crown’s team in Seoul has been helping expats settle in the Korean capital since 1998. One of the world’s great cities, Seoul can be a bit daunting for newly arrived expats trying to make their way around for the first time. The metropolis is sprawling, the public transportation system is extensive and communication is often rendered difficult due to the language barrier.

This is where Crown steps in.

Crown’s services begins with your personal Move Manager who will guide you through the entire relocation process in the comfort of your home country. Crown will also survey your home to help you decide what’s best to take with you and what’s best left behind. Once that is completed, a fully trained packing team will pack up your things and safely ship them to Korea.

From transportation to intercultural services

Crown began as a moving company, and this heritage business still forms the core of Crown Worldwide Group’s extensive menu of services. The company owns and operates over 200 facilities in almost 60 countries, ensuring secure handling of personal belongings. Crown’s “Move Management” system and “One Point of Coordination” structure simplifies the moving process by providing informed and responsive service, from pre-move planning through to settling into the new home. What’s more, Their unique online tracking tool lets you know where your belongings are in real time.

Pet owners should rest at ease, too. With a network of pet transfer specialists, Crown attends to all registrations, special travel requirements and medical regulations, and guides you through these details, so you can feel confident that Fido will arrive at his new home safe, sound and happy.

Crown’s settling-in services give prospective expats a chance to learn about their new destination prior to the big move and, importantly, find the perfect accommodation to fix the client’s budget and needs. Preview trips arranged by expert consultants take you on a fact-finding trip to Korea (or any of 60 other destinations) so you can get a feel for how things are done. Its property services, meanwhile, advise clients on finding a place to live. With extensive contacts in the local housing market, they can easily take care of the formalities of securing a new home. Crown also helps you set up bank accounts, organize basic utilities, get a driver’s license and even provides an orientation service so you can get to know your new neighborhood.

Employee and family support

A common concern for expatriates with families is education. Here, too, Crown Relocation strives to ease the client’s stress. Its relocation specialists provide inside information on local schools, arrange visits and coordinate admissions.

Crown also provides a range of intercultural training programs. This includes executive coaching programs tailored to specific challenges faced by executives working in a new culture and communication classes to help make you better understood in your new country. Language training, meanwhile, gives you greater confidence in both business and social situations.

FYI> www.crownworldwide.com, T. 02-796-5717

Written by SEOUL staff

When the Seoul Pops Orchestra held its inaugural concert in Sep. 14, 1988, just four days before the opening ceremony of the Summer Olympic Games in Seoul, they were, quite literally, the only game in town. “Many foreigners were in Seoul at the time, but there were few concerts being held,” recalls Ha Sung Ho, the long-time principle conductor of the orchestra. “So half the audience of our opening concert were foreigners. We had no name back then, but as there were no other concerts, they bought our tickets. We sold out our first concert.”

Some 27 years later, the Seoul Pops Orchestra is still going strong. Very strong, in fact – Korea’s premier pops orchestra has played some 3,000 performances in 28 countries, making it, at least according to Guinness, the country’s busiest orchestra. And the fun has only just begun.

Multi-genre music with a helping of audience participation

Like other well-known “pops” orchestras such as the Boston Pops Orchestra, the Seoul Pops Orchestra specializes in “light” classical music and orchestral arrangements of popular music. “Other orchestras are 100% classical,” explains Ha. “Pops are all genres: pop, jazz, film soundtracks, classical.” A recent concert to celebrate 70 years of Korean independence, for instance, featured a program of a “popified” arrangement of Tchaikovsky Sym. No. 4, Celine Dion’s “My Heart Will Go On” from the soundtrack of “Titanic” and “Korea Fantasia,” a bibimbap-like mash-up of Korean folk song “Arirang” and the Korean national anthem, penned by Ha himself.

Seoul Pops Orchestra are not stuffy, serious affairs. Most songs last just five or six minutes, resulting in very fast-paced concerts. Ha interacts with his audiences in ways unthinkable for most symphonic conductors – on Christmas, for instance, he’ll dress up like Santa and hand out gifts. And audiences interact right back. “People know the music, even if they don’t know the titles,” says Ha. “Audiences are very active.”

A musical pioneer

The conductor of the Seoul Pops Orchestra since its founding, Ha has been something of an adventurer, starting from his college days when he became, almost by accident, the first Korean student to attend Boston’s Berklee College of Music, the world’s most prestigious school of contemporary music. “I was originally at the New England Conservatory of Music, and I didn’t know about Berklee,” he recalls. “One day I was walking around and I saw a sign on the entrance of Berklee’s performance center. They were having a free performance.” Intrigued, he entered and found a jazz performance underway. He was more than impressed. “I was emotionally very shocked,” he says. “So the next semester I entered Berklee as an undergraduate freshman, even though I was a graduate student at the conservatory.”

The experience helped make him an exceptionally qualified pops conductor. “I studied jazz and I studied classical, which is why I can conduct both of them,” he says.

Ha and his orchestra maintain a busy schedule that includes regular weekend performances at their outdoor stage in Children’s Grand Park and international tours. That, along with the physical demands required of the pops genre, means that when Ha’s not working, he’s working out. “I spend an hour and half at the gym for our five days a week.” Even during the interview, he enjoys a simple lunch of rice cake and omija tea in a bid to lose a bit of weight.

Since the orchestra’s founding 27 years ago, the local music scene has developed greatly, and the Seoul Pops Orchestra spends a lot of time bringing musical fund to audiences beyond Korea’s boundaries. Music is still music, however. “Rich countries, poor countries, different cultures, they all get it,” says Ha. “Music is the international language.”

UPCOMING CONCERT: Seoul Pops Orchestra will be holding a free “Concert in the Forest” performance on Jul. 25 at 7 PM at Children’s Grand Park. This concert will feature orchestral renditions of music from popular films.

FYI: www.seoulpops.com, T. 02-593-8760