In search of beauty on Jeju

Following is part of a series exploring unique museums, collections and the passionate collectors behind them. ― Ed.Many people associate the Joseon era (1392-1910) with the color white. People often wore white outfits and enjoyed white on everything, garnering the moniker, “Baegeuiminjok (People in white clothes).” And the culture is often associated with words such as “humble” or “simple.”At the Bonte Museum on Jeju Island, however, people will be able to learn more about the colorfulness of J

Jan. 22, 2013

From Handel to a rubber duck, Sydney Fest aims to please

SYDNEY (AFP) ― When Georg Friedrich Handel composed Semele in the 1740s, he could never have imagined it would be performed by opera singers in outrageous catwalk couture, including towering boots and sequinned kilts.But for Sydney Festival director Lieven Bertels, the combination of beautiful baroque music and billowing Vivienne Westwood gowns in the production of “Semele Walk” was a no-brainer for the Australian cultural fair.“When I saw “Semele Walk” when it was first performed at the Herrenh

Jan. 21, 2013

Jeju as top winter destination

The bone-piercing cold has gripped the nation, with the mercury dropping well below minus 14 degrees Celsius. But there is a place where you can seek shelter from one of the harshest winters in recent memory. The southern island of Jeju has always been one of Korean’s favorite holiday destinations and in winter, it may well become the optimal choice for those who cannot stand the bitter cold. Travel with warmthWhile Seoul and the central part of the Korean Peninsula have been suffering through u

Jan. 18, 2013

Music professor brings applied music closer to the public

For young people who are ready to “fly” with music, studying applied music will provide a new wave of energy, according to Chae Hee-ho, dean of the applied music department at Kwangshin University.At the department launched in March last year, Chae has focused on communication and appreciation through music by looking for “the connecting point between the player and the audience.”“We are teaching rules and freedom, capability and emotions all together to get closer to the public,” he said. The a

Jan. 17, 2013

CICI awards Psy for enhancing Korea’s image

Rapper Psy was recognized for enriching the image of the nation and opening up a new horizon for the future of K-pop around the world, at the Corea Image Communication Institute’s 10th anniversary awards banquet on Tuesday. The CICI, an organization that strives to advance the global image of Korea, awarded the K-pop star with the Korea Image Stepping Stone Award for the role he played in putting Korean music on the map with his viral smash hit “Gangnam Style.”  Psy, who is the first Asian singe

Jan. 16, 2013

Goguryeo stele found in northern China

A stone monument from the ancient Korean kingdom of Goguryeo has recently been discovered in Jian, northeastern China, in what could be “a major archaeological landmark,” a South Korean historian said, quoting a Chinese state newspaper.Goguryeo controlled the northern half of the Korean Peninsula and northeastern China for more than 700 years until A.D. 668.  “The Chinese Cultural Relics News published by China’s State Administration carried the news of the discovery of a Goguryeo monument in an

Jan. 16, 2013

Heritage foundation promotes ‘K-Heritage’

Korea is now reaching out beyond its borders to help other countries restore their cultural and historical heritage and promote Korean heritage to the world.The Korea Cultural Heritage Foundation on Tuesday said that it would launch a restoration project of Vat Phou Temple in the Champasak area of southern Laos in February. The temple, believed to have been built in the 10th century, is considered the starting point of the road to the ancient Khmer monastery of Angkor Wat, a UNESCO World Heritag

Jan. 16, 2013

Helene Grimaud’s resonance to woo Korean audience

Pianist Helene Grimaud’s piano recital to be held on Jan. 29 at the Seoul Arts Center Concert Hall is among the must-see shows for classical music fans this year. The deep-green eyed pianist famous for her thundering finger work will return to move the Korean audience again with her virtuosity and deep impressionism. She will be performing Mozart’s Piano Sonata No. 8 in A Minor; Berg’s Piano Sonata Op. 1; Liszt’s Piano Sonata in B Minor S178; and Bartok’s Romanian Folk Dances BB 68, which are al

Jan. 15, 2013

Olympic cauldron a contender for design prize

LONDON (AP) ― Britain’s tallest building, the 2012 Olympic cauldron and a non-stick ketchup bottle are among contenders for a major design award.London’s Design Museum Monday announced nominees for the Designs of the Year prizes in seven categories including architecture, fashion, transport and digital media.Architecture candidates include The Shard, a 310-meter tall London office building designed by Renzo Piano.Digital contenders include the inexpensive Raspberry Pi computer and “Zombies, Run!

Jan. 15, 2013

The paintings of the people

Following is part of a series exploring unique museums, collections and the passionate collectors behind them. ― Ed.Oftentimes when the general public thinks about paintings, it is the talented and visionary artists behind each work that come to mind. On the other hand, with folk art, the distinction is less about aesthetic expressions and more about its decorative purposes. However, with Korean traditional folk painting, known as “minhwa,” there are deep historical roots that encompass their me

Jan. 15, 2013

Photographer’s records keep tradition alive

Music producer and photographer Kim Young-il has been keeping track of sounds and images of Korean tradition. The 52-year-old has been capturing portraits of performers of “gugak,” traditional Korean music, as well as releasing gugak albums through the sole gugak label in Korea.Now, he is bringing two pillars of his career to the New Year’s exhibition at Atelier Hermes, a gallery sponsored by the Foundation d’enterprise Hermes. The exhibition, titled “Precious People,” features portraits of Kore

Jan. 13, 2013

Experts identify new Mozart portrait

VIENNA (AP) ― A round-faced young man with a thick head of hair depicted in a tiny 18th-century portrait that had the experts puzzled for centuries now has a name ― Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.Researchers at Salzburg’s Mozarteum museum announced Friday that they have definitely identified the person in the picture as the musical genius.And it’s not any likeness either. They say that of 14 known portraits, it is one of only a few showing him gazing directly at the viewer and without his signature whi

Jan. 13, 2013

Brooklyn native wins Miss America crown

A 23-year-old contestant from Brooklyn, New York, has won the title of Miss America.Mallory Hagan won the Las Vegas beauty pageant Saturday night after tap dancing to James Brown's "Get Up Off of That Thing" and answering a question about whether armed guards belong in grade schools by saying we should not fight violence with violence.Hagan defeated Miss South Carolina Ali Rogers, who took second, and Miss Oklahoma Alicia Clifton, who finished third.Hagan wins a $50,000 college scholarship and g

Jan. 13, 2013