Filmmakers gear up for two-day blitz

The 48 Hour Film Project launched in Seoul on Saturday, giving prospective filmmakers the chance to size up this year’s competition and meet potential collaborators.The Seoul project is part of an international competition that takes place in 120 cities worldwide, in which teams get two days to make a short film.The best film in each city is sent to Filmapalooza, the official awards event for the global project, at which the best 10 films are chosen for a screening at the Cannes Film Festival. C

Expat LivingSept. 10, 2013

Tour to give a taste of shamanistic dance

A day trip is being held to give people the chance to experience Korean culture, food and shamanistic dance on Sept. 28. Hosted by Korean food consultancy Zenkimchi International and food communications company Plan EL, the tour will travel from Seoul to Cheongpyeong Lake in Gyeonggi Province and cross by ferry to a traditional hanok home. There, they will be given a full Korean lunch of local, seasonal food, and take in a “neokjeon” performance by Buddhist monk Hyein, who is also a shamanistic

Expat LivingSept. 10, 2013

Filipino group to host culture-themed race

Filipino Scholars Organization in Korea (PIKO) will host a “Running Man” style competition for young Korean and expat Seoulites next month. “Tara Na: Finding the Philippines in Seoul” is a race connecting four locations in Seoul on Oct. 6.Teams of three are required to stop at each site and do different tasks related to Philippine culture. The first to complete the course will receive prizes worth 300,000 won ($270), with second and third prizes of 250,000 won and 200,000 won, respectively.“Inst

Expat LivingSept. 10, 2013

‘Parsifal’ to show the essence of Wagner opera

Korea National Opera’s staging of Wagner’s “Parsifal” at the Seoul Arts Center Opera House on Oct. 1, 3 and 5 will be a highlight for Wagnerians here celebrating the 200th anniversary of the German composer’s birth. It is the Korean premiere of the master’s last piece and perhaps the longest production in the history of the state opera company ― the show starts at 4 p.m. and ends at 9 p.m. with an hour allotted for dinner between the acts.  Internationally acclaimed Wagnerian bass singer Youn Kw

PerformanceSept. 10, 2013

Long-lost painting by Van Gogh is identified

AMSTERDAM (AP) ― A painting that sat for six decades in a Norwegian industrialist’s attic after he was told it was a fake Van Gogh was pronounced the real thing Monday, making it the first full-size canvas by the tortured Dutch artist to be discovered since 1928.Experts at the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam authenticated the 1888 landscape “Sunset at Montmajour” with the help of Vincent Van Gogh’s letters, chemical analysis of the pigments and X-rays of the canvas.Museum director Axel Rueger, at a

PerformanceSept. 10, 2013

Blair points to tourism as key to removing barriers

The World Travel & Tourism Council’s Asia Summit kicked off its inaugural year by hosting its first gathering at the Lotte Hotel in Seoul on Tuesday. The WTTC works to raise awareness of tourism and travel as one of the world’s largest industries, generating nine percent of the world’s GDP.“This dynamic and vibrant city is known for its advancing technology,” said WTTC Chairmen Michael Frenzel. “It is the 11th ranking and fastest growing tourist economy in the world ... so it is only fitting tha

TravelSept. 10, 2013

Concept Korea show in New York explores Korean identity

The Concept Korea fashion show presented a unique mix of four different Korean designers during New York Fashion Week on Monday. Under the theme of “4cus on Ma Dang” ― Ma Dang meaning courtyard in Korean and here referring to sharing the stage ― the annual fashion event presented a show that reflected both the distinctive personalities of four designers and a balanced mix of different styles on the runway at The Stage at Lincoln Center. The four designers, Lee Suk-tae (Kaal E. Suktae), Choi Bo K

Arts & DesignSept. 10, 2013

G-Dragon presents ‘Space 8’ art exhibition

In commemoration of the release of his second solo album “Coup d’Etat” and his first solo world tour, Big Bang leader G-Dragon is holding a weeklong art exhibition at the Cais Gallery in Seoul, from Sept. 10-17. Entitled “Space 8,” which opened exactly eight days after the release of “Coup d’Etat,” the exhibition represents what the artist believes is his lucky number, the number 8. Because G-Dragon was born on Aug. 8, 1988, he has always had a special attachment to the number. “There has been n

PerformanceSept. 10, 2013

One Hip-Hop Festival cranks up heat at KINTEX

CJ E&M certainly wanted its tribute to hip-hop to be big. In addition to bringing in foreign acts Tyga and Nelly, One Hip-Hop Festival ran from 2 p.m. to nearly 5 a.m. at KINTEX in Ilsan, just outside of Seoul, on one of the biggest hip-hop stages in the country.The long hours made it possible for Korean hip-hop’s heavy hitters to take the stage. Everyone from rookies to top hip-hop agencies Hi-Lite Records, Illionaire, Brand New Music and Standart Music Group performed, with Jay Park even stopp

PerformanceSept. 10, 2013

Cho Yong-pil to perform in Japan

Cho Yong-pil is to fly to Japan to perform in Tokyo International Forum Hall for his concert, “One Night Special” on Nov. 7. Cho’s last performance in Japan was in 1998, making this concert his first there in 15 years. The singer is set to release the Japanese version of his 19th album “Hello” on Oct. 16 with 2PM member Taecyeon featuring on the title track. The lyrics for three track ― “Hello,” “Bounce,” and “Walking Along” ― have been translated into Japanese. The K-pop veteran is also plannin

Sept. 10, 2013

FT Island to release EP

FT Island is releasing a new EP on Sept. 23 to commemorate their sixth year in the music industry and to also thank fans for their continued support. The album, “Thanks To,” stands apart from the group’s previous albums because it marks the first time that the members wrote and composed all of the tracks.The title track for the album is “Memory,” which was composed by group vocalist Lee Hong-gi. He gained positive reviews in the past composing “Black Chocolate” and “Orange Sky” as a capable sing

Sept. 10, 2013

Fans organize TVXQ Forest Project

To commemorate TVXQ’s 10th anniversary, fans are organizing the TVXQ Forest Project to plant several trees dedicated to the K-pop boy group near Yunjung-ro in Yeouido, western Seoul this month. Several different types of trees are to be planted in the area, including Chinese plum trees whose leaves turn a bright red, TVXQ’s representative color. Fans organizing the event recently set up a website on Sept. 6 with the goal of raising 5 million won ($4,600) to fund the tree planting. When the trees

Sept. 10, 2013

India, Chad groups win UNESCO King Sejong Literacy Prize

Two groups that campaign against illiteracy in India and Chad have won the 2013 UNESCO King Sejong Literacy Prize. UNESCO presented the prize to the Federation of the Associations of the Promotion of the Languages of Guera, Chad, and the National Literacy Mission Authority of the Indian Ministry of Human Resources Development in an award ceremony in Paris on Monday, the Korean National Commission for UNESCO said.  The prize was created by the South Korean government in 1989 to memorialize the ou

PeopleSept. 10, 2013

U.N. chief wins alumni award from Seoul National University

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has been chosen as a winner of the alumni award from his alma matar in Seoul for his contribution to world peace, his school said Tuesday.Seoul National University decided to confer the Distinguished Alumni Award on Ban “for his decades of service to his home country and his contribution to global peace and the welfare of all mankind as the U.N. chief,” it said. The awards ceremony is scheduled to be held next month to mark the school’s foundation day, though i

PeopleSept. 10, 2013

Kim Jong-jin appointed head of Korea Cultural Heritage Foundation

Kim Jong-jin, a former director of the Cultural Heritage Administration, was appointed the president of the Korea Cultural Heritage Foundation, the CHA said Monday. Kim will serve a three-year term.The government said Kim’s wealth of experience in cultural heritage management will boost the state-subsidized organization’s work to preserve and transmit traditional culture in a creative way.Kim started his career at the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and then moved to the CHA. The Korea C

PeopleSept. 10, 2013

Vice minister in charge of sports offers to resign

Second Vice Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Park Jong-kil on Tuesday offered to resign over a scandal involving the illegal transfer of a private shooting range to his wife. Park is also likely to face prosecution if found to have fabricated an official document in the process. Those who fabricate public documents could face up to 10 years in prison. According to the revelation made by Rep. Lee Yong-sup of the Democratic Party, Park fabricated a Seoul Metropolitan Government document whi

PeopleSept. 10, 2013