May 21, 2013 / Issue No. 581

Seoul Selection would like to hire a full-time or part-time designer to help us with our publishing load. The position is open to both Koreans and international applicants. Korean applicants should be able to understand at least basic English, while international applicants should be able to speak colloquial Korean. Proficiency with Adobe InDesign would be a major plus, too.

Those interested should send a resume and cover letter to hankinseoul@gmail.com. A link to any online portfolio you have might help, too.

Maija Rhee Devine will hold a reading of her novel The Voices of Heaven at 4 pm, May 29 at Seoul Selection Bookshop.

In addition to the reading, Mrs. Devine will also be signing copies of her book. Attendees can purchase a copy at our bookshop.

Simple refreshments will be served.

Everyone is welcome to attend the reading.

The latest from Korean-American author Maija Rhee Devine, The Voices of Heaven is a rare gem in English-language literature about Korea, a story that takes us deep into the devotion and secrets of a family living in Seoul at the cusp of the Korean War. A tale that spans decades, The Voices of Heaven has been expertly woven together to reveal not only the injustices of unmitigated life circumstances but also the restorative power of truth and love. Maija Rhee Devine presents a stellar cast of empathetic characters to spin a tale that draws readers into the shadows of Korea’s Confucian web that at once constrains and defines the powerful will of its people.

Around the Web

Might Korean baseball star Shin-Soo Choo be the start of the Met’s rebuilding process?

More Chinese are coming to Korea than visa versa.

Has South Korea grown so hip that it’s outgrown the desire to reunify with the North?

Here
are some of Korea’s best walking trails.

Twentyfour hours in Busan.

The best way to see the Cheonggyecheon at night is from above.

If you missed Jogyesa Temple on the Buddha’s Birthday, it’s a shame.

Daegu’s Donghwasa Temple on a really beautiful day.

Does Korea need help marketing itself?

Yours Truly went to Mungyeong’s Bongamsa Temple on the Buddha’s Birthday, followed by a stop at Danyang’s famous Dodam Sambong Rocks.

Events

The New Zealand Chamber of Commerce in Korea, known as “The Kiwi Chamber,” brings its NZ Wine Festival to Busan. Building on the success of New Zealand wine events over the last four years, this time the Kiwi Chamber will offer oenophiles over 80 premium red and white wines from 26 participating wineries.

For more details and registration, please contact chamber@kiwichamber.com or sunny@tiwitrade.com.

VENUE: Park Hyatt Busan

DATE: May 25, 6pm to 10pm

ADMISSION: KRW 90,000 (KRW 75,000 for Kiwi Chamber members)

MORE INFO: chamber@kiwichamber.com or sunny@tiwitrade.com.

GETTING THERE: Not far from Dongbaek Station, Busan Subway Line 2

The International Women’s Film Festival in Seoul (IWFFIS) will take place at the Megabox theater in Sinchon for a week between May 24 and 30. Celebrating its 15th edition, IWFFIS 2013 will welcome over 100 entries that will deal with various aspects of life seen through the eyes of women. The event will provide a rare, valuable chance to observe the most recent trends of women’s films of today. In particular, its competitive section will focus on short films by Asian women directors.

VENUE: Megabox theater (Sinchon)

PERIOD: May 24–30

MORE INFO: T. 02-589-3598, www.wffis.or.kr

GETTING THERE: Ewha Woman’s Univ. Station 이대역 (Line 2), Exit 2 or Sinchon Station 신촌역 (Gyeongui Line)

The drums hit you in the chest first, spraying your speakers like swift gunshots. But then Meric Long’s finger-picked chords kick in, cascading across Logan Kroeber’s brass knuckle beats like only the best Dodos songs can.

This forward motion feeling has driven the duo since 2005, but several key changes lift their fourth LP (No Color) to another level. For one thing, the band reunited with Portland producer John Askew, the man behind the boards of the Dodos’ first two full-lengths, Beware of the Maniacs and Visiter. Having an old friend around was like adding an honorary third member; a voice of reason who can isn’t afraid of vetoing illfated ideas. Ideas like glossy layers of vibraphone that lost their luster halfway through.

VENUE: Seoul Mullae Mun

DATE: May 24, 10pm

ADMISSION: KRW 28,000 (KRW 24,000 in advance)

MORE INFO: http://supercolorsuper.com

GETTING THERE: Mullae Station 문래역 (Line 2), Exit 7.

Jankura Artspace, Seoul’s first foreign owned and operated art class space and share studio is rolling into summer with a ton great events for all levels of artistic and English ability!

Friday May 24 7:30-9:30 (10,000won)

Saturday June 1 (10,000won per session or 1 punch on “5session cards”)

3-5pm: nude life drawing (long poses)

6-8pm: Malaysian Beauty (costumed drawing session)

June 8th (introduction to drawing the bones of the body)

3:00-5:30pm (5000won or donation)

Sunday June 9th

1:30-6:30pm (prices start at $84.00 if paid online)

Saturday June 15th Costumed Drawing Session of U.S. Soldier

6:00-8:00pm (10,000won)

June 22nd (bookmaking workshop)

12:00-5:30pm (40,000won)

June 29th (instructed workshop with materials provided)

3:00-5pm (20,000won)

DATE: May 25—26

COST: KRW 175,000 for members and KRW 210,000 for non-members

MORE INFO: See this link.

GETTING THERE: See link above.

Everyday Koreans

The beautiful Baegundae Valley of Mungyeong’s Bongamsa Temple. Photo by Robert Koehler.

Notifications

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.

SEOUL (May 2013)

The Orphan Master’s Son

No Blood No Tears

Eerie Tales from Old Korea

10 MOST TRESURED KOREAN CLASSICS

Bi-lingual Edition Modern Korean Literature Set 1

Gateway to the Study of Korean Contemporary Composers

The Real North Korea: Life and Politics in the Failed Stalinist Utopia

Masquerade, “Gwanghae, The Man Who Became King”

National Security

White Night, Suddenly Last Summer, Going South

Juvenile Offender

Elbowroom