Goryeo celadon from museums in Korea and Japan brought together for a special exhibitionGoryeo celadon has become a byword for the sophistication of the art of Goryeo Kingdom (918-1392).Its subtle, delicate and somewhat inexplicable bluish color adorned with inlay patterns fascinated not only the neighboring Chinese and Japanese of the time but also people living a millennium later. An exhibition of Goryeo celadon, which opened Tuesday at the National Museum of Korea, is the first large scale Go

Oct. 16, 2012

Canadian entertainer hopes to take the Korean scene by stormThis is the first in a series featuring foreign entertainers rising in popularity in the Korean entertainment world. ― Ed.Jesse Day has always had two goals since he came to Korea from Canada in October 2009: to become a recognizable face, and to build a successful career in Korean entertainment.“One of the main reasons I’m really into doing entertainment stuff is because the people that I look up to, that inspire me, that make me super

Oct. 14, 2012

From mountains to ancient cities, Korea becomes heaven for picnickersWhen autumn comes, picnickers get excited: It’s time to enjoy the changing foliage. When mountains and fields in the country are filled with red and yellow leaves, Koreans pack their lunches and rush to nearby mountains or valleys to enjoy hiking, chatting, singing and socializing. Major roads to these tourist areas are jammed, toilets have long queues and beverage sales soar, thanks to people who want to enjoy the autumn color

Oct. 12, 2012

Lady Gaga made headlines recently by posting photographs of herself in a bra and underwear and confessing to suffering from eating disorders since she was 15. The move followed news reports scrutinizing the pop star‘s recent weight gain.Fans have heeded Gaga’s call for a “body revolution” by posting photographs of themselves that reveal bodies that are disabled, sick, healing, tattooed, fat and skinny.While the virtues of the pop star‘s campaign are subject to debate, similar calls for embracing

Oct. 12, 2012

Gloria Opera Company is bringing a Spanish touch to its production of “The Barber of Seville” at the Seoul Art Center Opera House from Oct. 18 through 21.Flamenco dancers will create an exotic atmosphere alongside singers from Palazzo La Scala in the leading roles, including soprano Patrizia Cigna as Rosina and Alessandro Luciano as Count Almaviva.Rossini’s comic opera, which mixes sarcasm and satire alongside slapstick comedy, tells the story of young Count Almaviva and his attempt to win the h

Oct. 11, 2012

Food, drinks and live entertainment bring the world to the melting pot of SeoulThe world will be at your fingertips at this year’s Itaewon Global Village Festival ― three days jam-packed with various cultural activities, performances and cuisine from around the globe. The festival will be held Friday through Sunday with stages and street booths scattered throughout the Itaewon area. Each day of the festival will showcase a wide range of global cultures, featuring events such as international foo

Oct. 10, 2012

Ten scholars in the field of Korean studies were awarded medals for their roles and services toward the promotion of Hangeul at a ceremony at the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts in Seoul. The “Hangeul, Sharing the World” event was held Tuesday in celebration of the 566th Hangeul Day.The recipients included experts from around the globe, including from Russia, Uzbekistan, Turkey, Japan, China and the United States, and were selected by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism in recognit

Oct. 9, 2012

Insa-dong, ironically a touristy area specializing in traditional products, strives to preserve shop signs in KoreanFor 82-year-old Kim, going out for a cup of coffee with her friends takes a lot of effort. “All the shop signs are written in English and I can’t read them,” she said. She grumbled that many of her friends try a different approach when they search for places to sit down and chat over beverages. “We first look through the window to see if anyone is drinking something. If they do, we

Oct. 8, 2012

From Psy to cult cartoons, subculture in full bloomThis man is no Prince Charming. He’s a rather chubby man with a sneaky grin and whose shirt buttons seem about to pop. He is attired in a full suit with dress shoes and stands next to a fancy car. His shades are too small to cover his eyes and he doesn’t mold all of his hair with pomade. He boasts that he can win any girl he likes and that he prefers women who understand class. But in reality, all he can do is hit on any girl while looking at th

Oct. 5, 2012

B-class culture has already established its own status in the West. Perhaps one of the best terms depicting the spirit is “kitsch,” a term derived from the German phrase “verk itschen (make it cheap).” Though the initial focus was strictly on the tight-budget aspect, it slowly came to be used to express mocking or refusing the major conventional high-class arts. The 1997 film “Austin Powers” was a phenomenal hit with the geeky, dorky and troublesome man in horn-rimmed glasses emerging as a “mojo

Oct. 5, 2012

Beauty salons, makeup classes draw foreign residents and travelers who want to try Korean celebrity styleDriven by the popularity of Korean pop music around the world, Korean beauty and style are becoming sought after by young women around the world. They buy Korean cosmetics and follow makeup routines on YouTube to emulate the sophisticated looks of Korean actresses or charismatic style of K-pop singers. An easy way for them to learn Korean beauty secrets is to follow makeup gurus on YouTube wh

Oct. 5, 2012

Walking or running in a full suit of samurai armor is not the easiest thing in the world. Swimming in it is even harder, but that‘s exactly what some in Japan are doing. For fun. “It’s heavy, and it‘s hot in here... Fan me hard,” Mutsuo Koga, a 27-year-old doctor, told fellow disciples of traditional Japanese swimming at a recent meet. “I’m worried about whether I‘ll be able to get myself back out of the water. It’s been three years since I last swam,” said Koga as he readied to take the

Oct. 5, 2012