KF music festival to encompass world music

From Irish ethnic tunes to Jamaican ska, world music will fill the air of the Hanbit Park outdoor stage in central Seoul June 1-2 as part of “KF Festival 2013 ― The Music of the World.” The festival, hosted by the Korea Foundation, aims to bridge Korea and the world and will focus on showcasing all kinds of music and performances on the stage. The Banana Choir, composed of children from an Indian slum, will open the event on Saturday evening. Their performance is part of a fund-raising project t

May 27, 2013

Fragments of biblical treasure are up for sale

JERUSALEM (AP) ― Parts of the Dead Sea Scrolls are up for sale ― in tiny pieces. Nearly 70 years after the discovery of the world’s oldest biblical manuscripts, the Palestinian family who originally sold them to scholars and institutions is now quietly marketing the leftovers ― fragments the family says it has kept in a Swiss safe deposit box all these years.Most of these scraps are barely postage-stamp-sized, and some are blank. But in the last few years, evangelical Christian collectors and in

May 26, 2013

Eight Korean traditional dance masters to perform together

Dance fans will have a rare opportunity to see masters of eight different forms of Korean traditional dance performing on the same nights at the same venue this week. “Palmujeon,” organized by the Korea Cultural Heritage Foundation, will feature eight female dance masters, each with her own unique style specializing in different genres of traditional dance. The 2011 dance event hosted by the foundation, “Nammuyeoljeon,” featured only male dancers. During the two-hour event slated for May 30-31,

May 26, 2013

Home is where the art is

The Gamcheon area of Busan used to be somewhere people would usually avoid. Seen as a ghetto, the place held little charm. But in 2009 things started to change. Artists and activists gathered at this little-known place, painted the walls and installed art here, there and everywhere. Annual projects such as “MiroMiro Alley” and “Sanbok Road Renaissance” turned the rough grey walls pink, blue, yellow and other pastel shades, while stairways and outdated facilities were given a facelift. At street

May 24, 2013

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Theater“A Tale of Two Cities”: “A Tale of Two Cities,” a musical based on the novel of the same title by Charles Dickens, is being restaged in Seoul after its first Seoul run last year. The piece is set against the conflicts between the rebels and aristocracy during the French revolution and its parallel world in 18th Century London. It tells the story of Sydney Carton, a shrewd young English lawyer who develops a strong, unrequited love for Lucie Manette, a young loving French woman who grew up

May 24, 2013

Istanbul-Gyeongju expo to fuel hallyu in Turkey

A comprehensive cultural event highlighting Korean pop, cuisine, fashion, martial arts and more will kick off in Istanbul in August. Aimed at forging closer ties between Korea and Turkey, the Istanbul-Gyeongju World Culture Expo 2013, which will be held Aug. 31-Sept. 22 at various spots in Istanbul, is designed to help open up a 21st-century “cultural Silk Road.”A total of 50 countries including 15 European and 18 Asian ones will participate in the promotion of their cultures. “We wanted the wor

May 23, 2013

Multiculturalism is real: filmmaker

Korean people should not approach multiculturalism as an ideology or theoretically, but accept it naturally as society has already become multicultural, according to Yook Sang-hyo, director of the 2010 movie “Banga Banga,” which comically depicts life for foreign migrant workers and social discrimination in Korea. “We should not be distracted by some cultural and social logic of multiculturalism. It’s real. Korean society has become multicultural. It’s time to accept it naturally,” said Yook dur

May 22, 2013

Media image of foreigners a mixed bag

As Korean society becomes culturally diversified, multiculturalism has emerged as a popular topic in the mass media. Starting with 2007’s SBS TV drama “Golden Bride,” which featured a Vietnamese woman married to a Korean man, more TV dramas, movies and entertainment shows followed featuring different facets of multiculturalism in Korea. Multiculturalism was a major theme in recent box-office hits such as “Wandeuki” (English title “Punch”) in 2011 and “Banga Banga” (“He’s on Duty”) in 2010, as we

May 22, 2013

Opera to bring 1,100-year-old tale to life in today’s Apgujeong

According to hyangga, or folk songs from the Silla Kingdom (B.C. 57-A.D. 935), Cheo Yong was a man who came from nowhere and married a Silla woman. One day, when he returned home at night, he found “four legs” in his bed, obvious proof of his wife’s infidelity. But instead of becoming infuriated, he sang a song and stepped back. The wife’s lover, described as the god of misfortune, later apologized and promised never to return, praising Cheo Yong’s generosity. In 1987, dramatist Kim Eui-kyoung a

May 22, 2013

Bach to be celebrated at DITTO Festival in June

It is always good to see young artists pouring out their passion on stage. If they are extremely talented, the pleasure doubles. The fifth “DITTO Festival,” featuring young and talented musicians performing the most intimate form of classical music, chamber music, will be held June 9-30 at the Seoul Arts Center and LG Arts Center. This year, the legendary German composer J.S. Bach will be highlighted at the hands of the main members of the Ditto Ensemble ― violist Richard Yongjae O’Neill, violin

May 21, 2013

Hansik globalization project ‘utter failure’

The National Assembly Budget Office on Sunday admitted that the “Globalization of Hansik” program had failed and needed major revision, dealing a blow to the pet project of former first lady Kim Yoon-ok, who dreamed that “all people around the globe would enjoy Korean cuisine.”The project launched by the Lee Myung-bak administration in 2009 included a bold plan to open a top tier restaurant in Manhattan and the publication of cookbooks in several languages.  However, NABO said that though some 2

May 19, 2013

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Pop music“Seoul Jazz Festival 2013”: The annual Seoul Jazz Festival is a two-day concert event featuring many jazz and jazz-inspired acts from all across the world. This year’s festival will feature more than 25 local and international headliners the Ramsey Lewis Electric Band with special guest Philip Bailey, Mika, Damien Rice, Kings of Convenience, the Parov Stellar Band, the Roy Hargrove Quintet and many more. Bands from the local jazz scene include Chung Won-young, La Ventana with 10cm, and

May 16, 2013

Berlin’s Barbie Dreamhouse a pink feminist nightmare

BERLIN (AFP) ― The opening this month of the first life-sized Barbie Dreamhouse in Europe may be the fantasy of many a little girl, but Berlin feminists are mobilising against what they call a sexist icon.With her ironed-straight blond tresses, doe-like baby blue eyes, blinding smile and super-human measurements, the mistress of the giant Barbie mansion has become a lightning rod ahead of the May 16 inauguration.Just a few steps from Alexanderplatz, the main shopping district of east Berlin, the

May 15, 2013

‘Korean language school could be useful for culture promotion’

Hallyu, or the spread of Korean pop culture, has resulted in people around the world wanting to know more about Korea, its language and culture. However, there is a dearth of relevant programs to meet their needs, a government survey showed Wednesday. International institutions, such as the King Sejong Institute, can contribute to becoming a bridge and stepping stone for the promotion of Korean language and Korean culture, experts suggested at a global forum held on Tuesday, a day before the 616

May 15, 2013

Seoul Media Art Biennale names Park Chan-kyong artistic director

The Seoul International Media Art Biennale, the biggest celebration and showcase of media art in Korea, aims to strengthen its identity as a leading international media art event while bringing fresh change to the upcoming event next year with the appointment of artist, art critic and movie director Park Chan-kyong as new artistic director for the 8th media art biennale in 2014. Park, also well-known as the younger brother of filmmaker Park Chan-wook, is the first artist to be appointed to lead

May 14, 2013