Feb 27, 2013 / Issue No. 569

Seoul Selection Bookshop is looking for one full-time staffer. The position is for 9:30am to 6:30pm, Monday to Friday, plus a half-day every other Saturday. Applicants should speak Korean and English. Send a resume and cover letter to Hank Kim at hankinseoul@gmail.com.

Around the Web

Beautiful shots of Seoul from Chincha in the Guardian.

Korea’s Korea Creative Content Agency is helping Korean artists overseas.

There’s speculation that Bae Doona and Jim Sturgess are an item.

Who knew Park Chan-wook was a Mad Men fan?

Korean pop culture boosts sales of Korean cosmetics in China.

Borisa Temple—one of Gyeongju’s less-visited sites.

Chris Backe goes to the Cheonggyecheon Museum.

Kim Sungjin photographs the iconic Gwanghwamun Gate.

Learn how to play janggi, Korean chess.

Yours Truly went to Mt. Ansan on Sunday morning.

Events

The duo that is Twenty One Pilots—Tyler Joseph and Josh Dun—has earned widespread applause for their energetic live sets and distinctive fusion of piano-driven schizoid pop and lyrical uplift. No strangers to the road, Twenty One Pilots has built a fervent national following via their electrifying live performances at innumerable headline shows and tours. The band made its Fueled By Ramen debut with a new EP titled Three Songs released in summer 2012 and was followed by a full-length album titled Vessel available now.

VENUE: Walkerhill Theatre

DATE: Mar 1, 10pm

ADMISSION: 77,000 won

Tickets: http://ticket.interpark.com/global, http://ticket.yes24.com/Home/PerfFN/PerfListFN.aspx

MORE INFO: T. 010-3360-7846

GETTING THERE: Take shuttle bus at Gwangnaru Station 광나루역 (Line 5), Exit 4

In 1952, Festival Pablo Casals in Prades was founded by legendary cellist Pablo Casals. The festival is an international music festival that takes place in Prades, France for three weeks. Undoubtedly one of the oldest festivals still in existence, it is among the most innovative in the quest to extend its repertoire and introduce new talents.

The most famous musicians in the Pablo Casals Festival in Prades will be in Korea in 2013. The artists who will play in the Pablo Casals Festival in Korea include pianist Ralf Gothoni, Violinist Gerard Poulet, violist Avri Levitan, cellist Henri Demarquette, as well as Korean musicians: violinist Ju-Young Baek, So-Ock Kim, bassist Min-je Sung, and cellist Na-Young Baek.

VENUE: Concert Hall, Seoul Arts Center

DATE: Mar 2, 5pm

ADMISSION: R: 66,000 won, S: 44,000 won, A: 22,000 won

MORE INFO: T. 1544-5142, www.casalsfestival.co.kr

GETTING THERE: Nambu Bus Terminal Station 남부터미널역 (Line 3), Exit 5. Transfer to shuttle bus, or green bus No. 4429.

Free-of-charge Korean classes are open to international residents in Seoul and are designed for adults. Placement tests are scheduled between Feb 18 and 28.

VENUE: Yeoksam Global Village Center

PERIOD: Mar 4–Jun 28

MORE INFO: T. 02-3453-9038

http://global.seoul.go.kr/yeoksam

GETTING THERE: Gangnam Station 강남역 (Line 2), Exit 4

For many Asians, including Koreans, modernism has two faces. On one hand, it gives democracy and industrialization to Asia. On the other hand, it undermines the Asian sense of cultural identity; as a result, modernism in Asia has come to mean westernization. The situation is changing; many Asians now believe that they no longer have to feel “indebted” to the West. Instead, they turn to their own culture, tradition, and history, once considered either dead or outdated, and see them as a source of new inspiration and awareness that will help Asians develop a newer and more refined version of global modernism. In light of Asia’s changing view of modernism, architect Doojin Hwang will share with the audience his thoughts and experiences in working at the frontline of Korea’s contemporary architecture.

VENUE: Seminar Room (2nd Floor), Seoul Museum of History

DATE: March 5, 10:30am to noon

ADMISSION: Free

REGISTRATION: Send name and contact details to yeol400@hanmail.net for registration

MORE INFO: T. 02-736-5868, www.yeol.org

Seoul Basketball College is about to open a new basketball academy for children and adolescents aged 7–17 in Samgakji. Classes commence March 9th, the second Saturday of the month. Seoul Basketball College is focused on providing fun and engaging basketball exposure to younger players, which then progresses into professional training for older students.

Classes are taught in English by a wide range of international coaches. It is extremely close to the foreigner center of Seoul, Itaewon, which could be of particular interest to parents.

More Info: T. 02-796-8483 or 010-4620-4299, www.basketballseoul.com

Spend your holiday with the RASKB! March 1st is a national holiday here in Korea, commemorating Korea’s independence movement in 1919. Stops on this tour include Hyeonchungsa, a memorial to admiral Yi Sun-sin; Onyang Folk Museum; and Independence Memorial Hall.

DATE: March 1

COST: 37,000 won for members, 44,400 won for non-members

MORE INFO: See this link.

GETTING THERE: See link above.

Everyday Koreans

Seoul in the predawn hours, seen from Mt. Ansan. 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

(March 2013)

Poems of 99 Modern Poets Korean

Almost Che(Iron Dae-oh: The Nation’s Iron Bag)

HORS LES MURS

Trois jours en automne

47 Korean Pronunciation for Foreigners 2

Poems of 3 Modern Korean Poets

Consumer Trend in Korea 2013

Paradox Circle

The Peach Tree

Perfect Number

I AM: SMTOWN LIVE WORLD TOUR in Madison Square Garden

Fermentation Family