The Korea Herald

Nominations open for Michael Simning award

Nominations are being accepted for the Michael Simning Community Builder Award, an annual prize that recognizes people who have contributed to the community in Gwangju.To be eligible, nominees should be involved in an expat-oriented organization that has made a significant, lasting impact on the local community. The selection committee will consider community activities in the last year when deciding on the winner. Michael Simning. (Gwangju Foreigners’ Network)The award was created to honor Mich

April 18, 2017

Nominations open for Michael Simning award

Four-way forum to discuss multiculturalism in Asia

Trans-East-Asia Multiculturalism will hold a weekend of workshops and forums in Seoul following on from a similar event in Taiwan last year.TEAM is a collaboration of academics that formed to help develop “multiculturalism from below” across Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and Hong Kong through grass-roots level activities involving Asian expatriates.The event, “EthniCities: The Art of Embracing Diversity,” aims to encourage sustainable, long-term efforts to encourage ways for different cultures to l

April 18, 2017

Daejeon Artists stay humble for group show

Daejeon Arts Collective will be running a group exhibition from Wednesday, showing off work by 16 artists from Korea and abroad.Although the show doesn’t have a theme, its title comes from a Korean saying about not teaching grandmothers to suck eggs. “The title, ‘Writing Chinese in Front of Confucius,’ comes from a Korean saying which means a talentless showoff telling a master how it‘s done,” DJAC president Rosalie Knaack said. “I think the title can have a different meaning to different artist

April 18, 2017

Daejeon Artists stay humble for group show

RASKB offers tour to Mungyeong pottery festival

A tour at the end of the month offers Seoulites the chance to get away from the city and immerse themselves in Korea’s ceramic traditions.The Royal Asiatic Society is organizing a trip to the annual Tea Bowl Festival held in the fortress town of Mungyeong, North Gyeongsang Province, to celebrate Korea’s ceramic heritage and tea culture. (Yonhap)Potters from Korea and overseas gather for a massive exhibition in the folk village at the base of the fortress, and the RASKB tour, the folk village an

April 18, 2017

RASKB offers tour to Mungyeong pottery festival

V-Day Gwangju to support women’s center

V-Day Gwangju will run performances of Eve Ensler’s “The Vagina Monologues” on April 29 and 30 in aid of a local women’s shelter.The event is part of the international V-Day movement, which involves performances of the play to campaign against violence toward women and girls. Guests are invited to come early, as drinks and snacks will be available, as well as a special photo booth.The performances run at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. on April 29 and 3 p.m. on April 30 at Gungdong Art Theater on Art Street i

April 18, 2017

ANZA Ball to raise funds for homeless teens outreach

The Australia New Zealand Association Charity Ball is bringing back last year’s main performers 100% Kylie for its annual outing on April 29. This year’s ball is in aid of Vincenzo’s Outreach Bus, which helps homeless teenagers in Seoul.With 100% Kylie back as MC for the Ball you are sure to receive a warm welcome at the Grand Hyatt on April 29th and our floor show will be truly fabulous, fun and full of surprises.Held at the Grand Hyatt in Seoul, the ball includes a four-course meal prepared by

April 18, 2017

Talk To Me doll program promotes kids’ multicultural awareness

Migrant women’s group Talk To Me has launched its annual program to make and give multicultural dolls to kindergartners.Volunteers make the rag dolls, called “Monica” -- a play on the woman’s name and the Korean word for “far away” -- and foreign residents visit kindergartens to share them with kids and encourage positive views of diversity. Monica dolls (Yonhap)Raja cushions in the shape of elephants have been added to the program. The name means “king” in South and Southeast Asia, and the elep

April 18, 2017

Talk To Me doll program promotes kids’ multicultural awareness

Seoul center runs Changdeokgung tour

The Seoul Global Cultural Center is running a free walking tour of Changdeokgung on Friday.The 15th-century palace is famous for its UNESCO-listed garden, which combines naturalistic landscaping with more formal ponds and pavilions. (Yonhap)The tour, led by an English-speaking guide, will stop at the palace’s main gate, throne hall, royal residences, pavilions and gardens.Beginning 2 p.m., the tour runs for about three to four hours. To attend, register via /seoulculturalcenter.com/events/20170

April 18, 2017

Seoul center to run trade academy

Seoul Global Center is recruiting applicants for its weeklong Trade Academy next month.The course is designed for foreign residents who wish to set up trading businesses and will cover trade and immigration law, contracts, the export process, payments and other aspects of trade businesses. The eight-day courses will run twice, from May 11-18 and May 24-31, with classes from 7-10 p.m. on weekdays and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekends. They will be run in three locations, at the Jongno and Dongdaemun

April 4, 2017

Seoul holds job fair for foreign spouses

The Seoul metropolitan government held its Marriage Migrants Employment Exhibition on Friday at City Hall.About 400 job seekers attended. As well as information on employment, the exhibition provided consulting services on how to answer questions in interviews and even fashion advice for would-be employees. In addition, companies ran booths to offer information on employment opportunities and interview prospective candidates.Mongolian job seekers listen to an introduction to job opportunities at

April 4, 2017

Seoul holds job fair for foreign spouses

HBC Fest seeks live performers

HBC Fest is roaring back for another event in May and is inviting musicians to apply to perform.Local venues make space for musicians to play at the festival, which is free of charge. It will run from May 26-28, with the main events on the evening of May 26 and from midafternoon on May 27. A pre-festival show will be held at Thunderhorse Tavern on May 25 and an acoustic open stage will finish off the festival on the last day.Having started in 2006, it is one of Seoul’s longest running expat cult

April 4, 2017

Salon-style open exhibition to open in Seoul

A salon culture-inspired exhibition in Seoul is inviting artists for an uncurated exhibition free-for-all.It is part of a series of guerilla-style exhibitions by art groups Crazy Multiply and Miss Baik.The exhibition is designed to eliminate barriers to exhibiting art: there are no restrictions based on age, education, experience, or type of art medium. People wishing to exhibit work simply have to turn up on the day with their artwork. Space is provided on a first come, first serve basis. The e

April 4, 2017

Camarata to remember Sewol with requiem

Camarata Music Company will perform Durufle’s Requiem for its upcoming concert, choosing the modern remembrance piece in recognition of the victims of the Sewol ferry disaster. Conductor Ryan Goessl said he chose the piece as the concert coincided with the anniversary of the sinking, explaining that it layered expressive Gregorian-style chant and solos against an intricately delicate orchestral score.The Camarata Chorale and Orchestra (CMC)The piece will be performed along with Schubert’s Mass i

April 4, 2017

Seoul Police seeks to reassure undocumented residents

Seoul Police have moved to reassure foreign nationals who are in Korea illegally that they can report crimes without being reported to immigration. In a letter from Seoul Metropolitan Police Commissioner Kim Jung-hoon released by the Filipino Embassy, the city police chief said he was concerned by a lack of awareness about the system, which began in 2013.(Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency)“We are especially focusing on the issues of undocumented immigrants whose human rights are violated by being

April 4, 2017

Seoul Police seeks to reassure undocumented residents

Migrant groups mark anti-discrimination day

Foreign workers and residents groups marked International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination with a rally in central Seoul on Sunday.Gathering in front of the Bosingak Bell near Jongak Station, participants held up placards with slogans such as “End racial discrimination and hatred.” Some said “Stop Trump” in reference to the US president’s anti-migrant rhetoric and policies. Foreign residents attend a rally to mark the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination

March 21, 2017

Migrant groups mark anti-discrimination day

V-Day Seoul to stage monologues in aid of rape crisis center

The V-Day Seoul 2017 Project will present a bilingual Korean and English reading of “The Vagina Monologues” on Saturday and Sunday in aid of the Korean Sexual Violence Relief Center.The reading is part of V-Day, an international collaboration to end violence against women and girls, which also has Korean events in Busan and Gwangju.The award-winning 1996 play by V-Day founder and playwright Eve Ensler is based on interviews she conducted with more than 200 women. It has since been performed arou

March 21, 2017

V-Day Seoul to stage monologues in aid of rape crisis center

Gwangju center to hold protest song concert

Gwangju International Center will be holding a concert of protest songs Saturday.Soprano Park Su-yeon and baritone Kim Dae-su will be accompanied by pianist Chun Hyeon-joo in performing a mixture of protest songs from Korea and overseas.The concert starts at 7 p.m. at GIC Hall. Families are welcome, but children under 7 will not be admitted.The center is also looking for volunteers for its cultural programs for children and teenagers. The programs involve introducing foreign cultures to children

March 21, 2017

Seoul Shakespeare Company to stage ‘Winter’s Tale’

Seoul Shakespeare Company will perform the tragicomedy “The Winter’s Tale” next month.A story ultimately of reconciliation and forgiveness, the play follows a chain of events that start with a fit of jealousy between two kings.The company notes in its introduction to the play that the production builds upon and contrasts with last year’s staging of “Much Ado About Nothing,” saying director Michael Downey “brings us two contrasting mythicized worlds of a stark, melancholic and tragic Sicilia and

March 21, 2017

V-Day fundraiser to be held Sunday

The organizers of V-Day Seoul will be holding an early-bird fundraiser ahead of its main show, at the Hidden Cellar in Haebangchon on Sunday.The event will have live performances from acoustic musicians, alongside fundraising events such as raffles and drink specials. Prizes include many offerings from local businesses, including vouchers for local bakeries, art classes and free yoga sessions. All proceeds will go toward the Korea Sexual Violence Relief Center, which provides counseling and shel

March 18, 2017

IAK St. Patrick’s Day fest invites Seoulites to ‘be Irish for a day’

The Irish Association of Korea will be filling the amphitheater in Seoul’s D-Cube City plaza with Celtic sounds to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day on March 18.It’s an opportunity for Seoulites to hear some traditional Irish instruments and watch some dancing, and is a family friendly way of celebrating the day before evening celebrations in bars and pubs. Performances at the event include traditional Irish music from Jigs and Reels and Ceoiltoiri Seoul, folk from Boss Hagwon and Scott Hildebrand, an

March 7, 2017

IAK St. Patrick’s Day fest invites Seoulites to ‘be Irish for a day’