Herald Design Forum written auction

Japanese architect Toyo Ito’s sketch and an Alessi cup gift set inspired by it will be auctioned at the Herald Design Forum next month.The “Ripples” drawing by the winner of the 2013 Pritzker Prize features green frogs creating ripples on a pond. The coffee cup set by the Italian kitchen utensil brand Alessi consists of two simple white porcelain cups accented with green frogs and white saucers. Ito’s works will be on display on the first floor of Blue Square, the main venue of the Herald Design

Arts & DesignSept. 4, 2013

Art magazine hosts exhibition in Daegu

Expat art magazine (b)racket is running its first gallery exhibition in Daegu.The monthly magazine features work by expat artists across Korea and is circulated in the city, and the chance to exhibit some of the magazine’s artwork came through an invitation from a local university.“We’ve wanted to do something like this for a while now, so when Keimyung University asked us to put a show together we were ecstatic,” said Jess Hinshaw, the magazine’s editor-in-chief. “Our goal for (b)racket upon it

Expat LivingSept. 3, 2013

Zombies to get another bite of Seoul

After he and 70 others spent a September evening freaking out the locals in Hongdae dressed as ghoulish zombies, Kim Minwoo did not want to take the subway home. But unfortunately finding a taxi while covered in fake blood and festering wounds was harder than he had bargained for.“It was really hard to take a taxi. There was a really nice taxi driver who was really interested in what we were doing,” he said. “I didn‘t want to take the subway, but I think I will have to this year.”He was the orga

Expat LivingSept. 3, 2013

Scholar suggests name change for Tripitaka Koreana

An American scholar on Tuesday suggested that the Tripitaka Koreana, the English name for the “Palmandaejangyeong (80,000 canons),” be changed to simply “Goryeo Daejanggyeong” or the Korean Buddhist Canon. Scholars from Korea, the U.S. and Japan also urged academia to launch comprehensive, transdisciplinary studies into the world’s oldest wooden canons, consisting of some 1,514 texts carved on 81,258 individual blocks and bundled into 6,815 fascicles at the 2013 Tripitaka Koreana Festival, Inter

CultureSept. 3, 2013

Oak Ju-hyun to play green-skinned witch

After playing the unhappy Austrian empress (Elisabeth) and the mysterious, obsessive housekeeper (Rebecca), musical actress Oak Ju-hyun has now been cast to play the famous green-skinned witch.The highly anticipated cast of the upcoming musical “Wicked” was finally announced on Monday. The upcoming run is the first Korean-language edition of the popular Broadway musical, also featuring an all-local cast. Based on Gregory Maguire’s 1995 novel “Wicked: the Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the

PerformanceSept. 3, 2013

KARA bloom at album showcase

Girl group KARA held a showcase performance for their fourth studio album “Full Bloom” at UNIQLO-AX Hall in Gwangjang-dong, Seoul, Monday. Dressed in revealing all-black outfits, the members kicked off the showcase with the title track for the album, “Damaged Lady,” which came one year after the release of their third album “Pandora.” Composed by Sweet Tune, the song is a mixture of French pop and rock, and tells the story of a woman facing a breakup.  KARA released a teaser image in early Augus

Sept. 3, 2013

Communication key to Korea’s image: CICI president

As president of the Corea Image Communication Institute, Choi Jung-wha has made it her life’s mission to take whatever steps necessary to promote Korea internationally. Whether it be by awarding people or entities for their impact on the country’s overall image, or inviting a small group of leading figures in various fields from around the world to come and see Korea for themselves, Choi believes that even the smallest forms of communication can have a big impact. “Small drops of water can turn

CultureSept. 3, 2013

CCF panel debates traditional vs. modern Korea

The fourth annual Culture Communication Forum organized by the Corea Image Communication Institute wrapped up on Tuesday with a panel discussion by the 16 foreign delegates who got to experience Korean culture over three days. The CCF participants held the discussion at the Westin Chosun hotel under the theme “Old vs. New: Presenting the Case for Traditional or Modern Culture.” The guests, ranging from a wine critic to a playwright, were invited to this year’s event in the hope of increasing the

CultureSept. 3, 2013

Antique furniture displayed as art in hanok

Set in some of Seoul’s most picturesque hanok in Seongbuk-gu is the Korea Furniture Museum. The museum housed in 10 small traditional Korean houses displays a stunning array of the country’s most prized and brilliantly crafted antique furniture dating back to the Joseon period. The Furniture Museum was one of the many stops made by the Culture Communication Forum participants to learn about the creativity and intricacies of the design of Korean furniture in a non-museum-like atmosphere. During t

CultureSept. 3, 2013

Kanye West ‘plays wedding of Kazakh leader’s grandson’

ALMATY, Kazakhstan (AFP) ― American hip-hop superstar Kanye West was the surprise celebrity guest at the lavish wedding party this weekend in Almaty of the grandson of Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev, Kazakh media reports said Monday.Aisultan Nazarbayev celebrated his marriage to bride Alima Boranbayeva in a no expense spared party on Saturday night at the Royal Tulip hotel in Almaty, the Tengri news website reported. It published pictures that guests had published on their Instagram and s

PeopleSept. 3, 2013

‘Comfort women’ run held in U.S.

A run was held in Bergen County, New Jersey, on Monday to bring awareness of the history of women forced to provide sex to Japanese soldiers during World War II and urge the Japanese government to acknowledge history.According to Yonhap News and NorthJersey.com, a community website for local news, approximately 100 runners participated in the first-ever “Comfort Women Memorial Peace Marathon,” organized by the Korean American Association of Palisades Park and sponsored by several Korean organiza

PeopleSept. 3, 2013

G-Dragon sweeps charts with ‘Coup d’Etat’

K-pop superstar G-Dragon swept all the major music charts with the release of his second studio album “Coup d’Etat.” On Monday, part of the track list of the singer’s new album was released on the official YG Entertainment blog. Five tracks including “Black,” “R.O.D.,” “Niliria,” and “Who You” were released from the 14-track album. Seven tracks are set to be released on Thursday, while the rest of the album is planned for release on Sept. 13. “Black” and “Who You” instantly topped the music char

PerformanceSept. 3, 2013