The Seoul Central District Court ruled on Thursday that the photo Korean Air used for its TV commercial did not infringe on American photographer Michael Kenna’s copyright of the well-known photograph “Pine Trees.” The court admitted similarities but dismissed Kenna’s copyright claim. “Kenna’s photo and the carrier’s commercial photo look similar to each other because both depict the same pine tree island and its reflection on the water, featuring the same natural elements of water, sky and tree

Performance March 28, 2014

Imperial Palace Seoul has appointed veteran Korean hotelier Kim Jung-suk as its new general manager, the hotel said on Friday. Prior to joining the hotel, Kim held various managerial positions at The Westin Chosun in guestrooms, food and beverages, marketing and promotions. He has also served in marketing, communication and planning positions at major international companies such as Coca Cola and AIG. “We hope Kim will deliver a new energy to the Imperial Palace hotel chain, which is expanding a

People March 28, 2014

A week of fashion showcases for the 2014 fall and winter season began with menswear collections on Friday and Saturday at Seoul Fashion Week. This year, designers and crowds of fashionistas gathered at the newly opened futuristic Dongdaemun Design Plaza and Park. Menswear designers mixed fashion with art, attempting to find better fabric and colors to represent their identities. Designer Kimseoryong of the eponymous brand based his collection upon his journey to define the identity for his colle

Arts & Design March 23, 2014

This year will see a rush of hit musicals in Korea following the footsteps of successful foreign-licensed shows such as “Wicked,” “Three Musketeers” and “Elisabeth.”Starting with “Le Roi Soleil” next month, popular musicals such as “Marie Antoinette” and film-turned-musicals “Priscilla” and “Once” are lined up for Korean fans.  “Le Roi Soleil,” scheduled for Blue Square in April and May, will feature Shin Sung-rok, from the recently ended smash hit TV drama “My Love from the Star” as Louis XIV.

Performance March 21, 2014

The long-anticipated Dongdaemun Design Plaza and Park opens Friday with showcases of modern design works and a rare collection of traditional Korean art. To celebrate the opening, the DDP is holding five design and art exhibitions featuring works by high-profile modern designers, including the architect of the building, Zaha Hadid, as well as the prized collection of traditional Korean art of the Kansong Art Museum.“The exhibitions explore the role of design today. It’s the most important discus

Arts & Design March 20, 2014

Among many features that define the cityscape of Seoul, one thing makes the capital distinct. That’s the gray skyline along row after row of near identical concrete apartments.The sea of concrete high rises stemmed from a public housing project initiated in the 1970s to accommodate the mounting urban population efficiently. It has now become the type of residence most preferred by a majority of Seoul citizens.An exhibition at Seoul Museum of History takes the audience on a journey through the hi

Performance March 19, 2014

Some scenes from the sequel to Hollywood blockbuster “The Avengers” will be filmed in and around Seoul from March 30-April 9.U.S.-based Marvel Studios signed a memorandum of understanding with the related Korean authorities on Tuesday regarding filming dates and six locations ― five in Seoul and one in its outskirts ― for “The Avengers: Age of Ultron.” The five locations in Seoul are Cheongdam Grand Bridge, a northern road in Digital Media City in Sangam-dong, Gangnam Boulevard, Mapo Grand Bridg

Film March 18, 2014

Photographer J. Ahn, who has chronicled the changing scenery along the Cheonggyecheon Stream with her camera, is exhibiting her work at the Sejong Art Center’s Museum of Art starting Wednesday.Though she has photographed cities such as New York, Paris and Havana, Ahn said, she has always been fascinated by the back alleys of the belatedly redeveloped section of downtown Seoul. “The back alleys of Cheonggycheon had many beautiful and profound colors. A single color isn’t enough to depict them. I’

Performance March 17, 2014

W Seoul Walkerhill has appointed Indian veteran hotelier Vikram Mujumdar as its new general manager, the hotel said on Monday. Prior to joining the W Hotel in Seoul, Mujumdar held managerial positions at Starwood Hotels and Resorts in Phuket and Bangkok for four years. Mujumdar has spent two decades in hotel management since starting as a front office worker. He first joined Marriott International, and then moved to Starwood Hotels and Resorts, where he was in charge of revenue management for th

People March 17, 2014

Booking tickets for K-Pop concerts is now easier for foreign fans thanks to a new reservation website for Korean pop and cultural performances. The new website, created by the Korea Tourism Organization jointly with Interpark, one of Korea’s largest online shopping malls, enables visitors to browse current and upcoming concerts and performances, as well as choose seats and buy tickets by credit card.  Concerts available for booking on the website (www.kperformance.org) range from K-Pop and music

March 14, 2014

Tension and anxiety are sometimes crucial factors that drive modern individuals to deal with the increasingly competitive world. But they also leave them and society at large in great distress. An exhibition in Seoul shows artistic interpretations of such distress or “aches” that prevail in Korean society. Titled “Momsal,” or body ache in Korean, the exhibition examines modern society and how individuals respond to social phenomena in relation to the body. Curated by the museum’s five young inte

Performance March 13, 2014

Three Korean women artists who spent most of their lives outside Korea have presented artistic records of their identities at a group exhibition at Seoul Museum of Art. Titled “Nobody,” the exhibition showcases installations and photographs through which the artists express their quest to define their identities as Koreans living abroad. Through some works, artists do not only explore their personal identities, but also deal with historical issues such as “comfort women.” Having moved to the U.S

Performance March 12, 2014

There have been flashy, glamorous collaborative projects between K-pop stars and artists, but few have dealt with the fans who cheer on the stars. Artist Jung Yeon-doo examines a fan craze for Korean pop idols in his latest work “Crayon Pop Special.” The group of fans in whom Jung took interest, however, was not teenage girls, but men in their late 30s and 40s. Cheers in low male voices echo across the exhibition hall. The bass sounds come from Jung’s 30-minute video showing about 50 older male

Performance March 11, 2014