Aug 14, 2013 / Issue No. 593 Changgyeonggung Morning Beautiful Korean traditional music and dance in a sublime setting What better way to spend a Saturday morning is there than to experience beautiful Korean traditional music in the sublime confines of one of Seoul’s historic royal palaces? The National Gugak Center’s Changgyeonggung Morning program features performances of Korean traditional music and dance in the early morning hours at Changgyeonggung Palace. In addition to the performance, audiences can enjoy an early morning walk around the grounds of Changgyeonggung Palace, which makes the event well worth the price of admission. Speaking of admission, the performances on Aug 17, 24 and Sep 7 (500 seats available)—held in back of the Myeongjeongjeon Hall—are free, but the Aug 31 and Sep 14 performances (50 seats available)—held inside the Tongmyeongjeon Hall—are KRW 30,000. You can reserve a spot at the National Gugak Center’s homepage (http://www.gugak.go.kr). PERIOD: Every Saturday morning, 7:30 am from Aug 17 to Sep 14 VENUE: Changgyeonggung Palace ADMISSION: See above. Click here for the reservation page (in Korean). MORE INFO: T. 02-580-3043 GETTING THERE: Hyehwa Station (Line 4), Exit 3. Around the Web A miscellany of high-quality hyperlinks from the week, courtesy of SEOUL editor-in-chief Robert Koehler. – There’s a Korean boom going on in Toowoomba, Australia. – Beyond the Korean Taco: When Asian and Latino American Cultures Collide. – Korea’s image industry is drawing Chinese couples for wedding photos. – The Korea Herald looks at some of Korea’s cultural icons over the ages. – Billiards in making a comeback. – Wind farms can really be quite beautiful. – Samgyetang, Korean medicine and the summer heat. – In case you missed the Pohang International Fireworks Festival… – In case you get stuck around Guui Station. – Yours Truly attended one of Unhyeongung Palace’s regular Thursday evening performances. Events The Hyundai Card Super Concert 19 Citybreak The Hyundai Card Super Concert 19 Citybreak is bringing together such legendary bands as Metallica and Muse on the same stage. Metallica’s fast tempos, instrumentals, and aggressive musicianship placed them as a founder of thrash metal. The American band has won nine Grammy Awards and has had five consecutive albums debut at number one on the Billboard 200. Muse, from Britain, are known for their energetic and extravagant live performances and their fusion of many music genres, including space rock, progressive rock, alternative rock, heavy metal, classical music, and electronica. Other bands, like Iggy And The Stooges, Limp Bizkit, Rise Against, and Japandroids, will also join the show. PERIOD: Aug 17–18, 1pm–11pm VENUE: Jamsil Sports Complex ADMISSION: 2-day pass: KRW 250,000, 1-day pass: KRW 165,000 —Tickets: http://ticket.interpark.com/global MORE INFO: T. 02-2176-5717, http://citybreak.superseries.kr GETTING THERE: Sports Complex Station 종합운동장역 (Line 2), Exit 6, 7 Hot Summer Sale Coupons The Gangnam Tourist Information Center (T. 02-3445-0111) has recently opened its doors, with the aim of offering international tourists a range of services, including interpretation, consultations on medical tourism, Internet access, and currency exchange. The second floor of the center’s two-story building features the K-Wave Experience Zone, dedicated to Korean pop culture. Visitors can also pick up a coupon book and gift pouch from the Seoul Hot Summer Sale 2013 (August 1–31), organized by the Seoul Metropolitan Government and the Seoul Tourism Organization. EVENT: Seoul Summer Sale 2013 PERIOD: Thru Aug 31 MORE INFO: www.seoulsale.com Jecheon Int’l Music & Film Festival (JIMFF) Due for August 14 through 19, JIMFF strives to celebrate films that feature exhilarating music, enriching the local film festival scene. World Music Film Today, JIMFF’s sole competition section, will present eight films from around the world this year. Other sections will introduce the various aspects of music cinema and showcase a number of musical performances outdoors against the beautiful landscape of Cheongpungho Lake. PERIOD: Aug 14–19 VENUE: Various locations in Jecheon, Chungcheongbuk-do ADMISSION: General screening: KRW 5,000 MORE INFO: T. 02-925-2242, www.jimff.org GETTING THERE: Intercity buses bound for Jecheon depart from Express Bus Terminal or Dong Seoul Bus Terminal. Everyday Koreans Performance at Unhyeongung Palace   Friday evening performance of Korean traditional music at Unhyeongung Palace, the residence of Korea’s 19th century prince regent Heungseon Daewongun. 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.

Forward this email to a friend Unsubscribe / Change Profile SEOUL Magazine SEOUL (August 2013) Buy online for just $1 Buy Books at Seoul Selection’s ONLINE Bookshop! Sponsors Recommended 거침없이 한국어 1: 가족과 일상 6.25 Korean War New Books Enjoy learning Chinese characters Korean Art: In the Freer and Sackler Galleries DMZ Eco-Tourism Map – DMZ: Land of Life & Rebirth New GANADA Korean for Foreigners (Intermediate 1) Public Management: A Research Handbook New DVDs 26 Years New World Boomerang Family Miracle in Cell No.7 Gu Family Book

Friday evening performance of Korean traditional music at Unhyeongung Palace, the residence of Korea’s 19th century prince regent Heungseon Daewongun. Photo by Robert Koehler.

© Seoul Selection

© Seoul Selection

Unhyeongung Palace | 운현궁

Unhyeongung Palace is not, technically speaking, a palace at all, but rather a grand mansion that was originally the home of Heungseon Daewongun (1821–1898), the arch-conservative prince regent who dominated the Korean political scene for much of the late 19th century. In addition to being the Daewongun’s home and seat of power, it was also the birthplace of his son, the future King Gojong, who spent his first 12 years here. Like many of Seoul’s other palaces, time has not been kind to Unhyeongung. What you see today is only a portion of the original residence, much of which was demolished, damaged, or destroyed during the Japanese colonial period and Korean War. What remains, however, makes for an enchanting stroll in one of Korea’s most sublime examples of Joseon-era residential architecture.

EAT>
Across the street from Unhyeongung Palace is the atmospheric Mingadaheon (Min’s Club) 민가다헌 (T. 02-733-2966), a renovated Korean hanok home serving excellent Korean/Western fusion cuisine.

The home, built in the 1930s by famed Korean architect Park Gil-ryong, brings to mind a Victorianera social club.

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Not far from Unhyeongung are the antique and craft shops of Insa-dong.

SEE>
Also across the street from Unhyeongung Palace is Cheondogyo Central Temple, an imposing Art Nouveau landmark completed in 1921. The hall serves as the main temple of Korea’s indigenous Cheondogyo religion.

FYI>
Hours: 9am–6pm, closed Mondays
Admission: 700 won
T. 02-766-9090, www.unhyeongung.or.kr
(114-10 Unni-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul | 서울시 종로구 운니동 114-10)

GO>
Short walk from Anguk Station 안국역 (Line 3), Exit 4

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