Leeum presents 80 artworks looking back on Korea’s history from 1876 to presentKorea’s restless modern history will unfold at Leeum, Samsung Museum of Art in Hannam-dong, central Seoul, in the form of paintings, photographs, installations and media works. The exhibition “Korean Rhapsody: A Montage of History and Memory,” which opens on Thursday, displays 80 historical documents and artworks that r

Performance March 15, 2011

Commemorative performance ‘Hakchon Repertoire’ turns fans nostalgicVeteran actor Kim Yun-seok, who mesmerized cinephiles with his impressive role as a fraudulent gambler in the movie “Tazza,” was at the entrance of Hakchon Blue Theater in Daehangno, central Seoul, on Friday evening, checking names and handing out tickets. A PR official standing next to him handed a ticket and wanted to confirm if

Performance March 14, 2011

A stream of light slides down an orange line until it meets a green cube and disperses, reflecting off a yellowish shine. On artist Choi Eun-hyea’s canvas, rigid cubes are softly highlighted and turned into something gentle and pastel-toned, almost mushy. Choi is showcasing drawings, paintings and installations that ponder the relationship between space, time and light at her first-ever solo show.

Performance March 11, 2011

Co-production looks at the lives of Koreans living in Japan in the 1960sThe play “Yakiniku Dragon” is what you could call a masterpiece. Watching it is like reading a really good book in one sitting. Not only is the story itself genuine and well-organized but every detail of the play, including the witty lines and props, is very delicately knitted together so that the audience’s attention never wa

Performance March 10, 2011

Flower cafés emerge as new hope amid slump of flower sales and fierce competition in café industryInstead of the expected scent of coffee and waffles, the fresh fragrances of spring flowers greet visitors at the door of Blute, a flower café in Hannam-dong, central Seoul. On a Saturday afternoon, surrounded by bundles of flowers and plants, a barista made hot Americanos while a nearby florist skill

Culture March 9, 2011

To the joy of the many French movie fans in Korea, Cine France announced Tuesday the lineup for the March-April season, which is currently running at Dongsoong Art Center in Dongsung-dong, central Seoul.Organized by the French Embassy in Korea, the French Cultural Center and Jinjin Pictures, Cine France is a film screening event started in 2006 to introduce French movies to the Korean public. A sc

Film March 8, 2011

South Korean movies have been dominating the country’s cinemas since the start of this year. The Korean Film Council announced on Monday that 8.48 million people watched Korean films at cinemas in February, accounting for 63 percent of all moviegoers. About 4.98 million watched foreign flicks. There were 520,000 more people in Korean movie audiences this January compared to the same month last yea

Film March 8, 2011

Hong Mi-sun, Michael Kenna, Min Byung-hun showcase photos of natureThough many dream of taking time off work for several months or even years to travel the world, not many have the courage to do so. But for some lucky photographers, global travel even makes them a living. Three established photographers are holding solo exhibitions in Seoul to show beautiful photos of nature they took during their

Performance March 7, 2011

PKM Trinity Gallery offers top artists’ conceptual contemporary artworks from 1960s to presentMartin Creed crumpled up a piece of white paper into a ball. People call it art. Tracey Emin scribbled one single sentence, “Only God Knows I’m Good,” using snow white neon. People also call that art. Since when did art become something so difficult to understand and not something simply beautiful to enjo

Performance March 3, 2011

Foreigners flock to Chongdong Theater’s dance and musicAs the clear yet sorrowful tune of a “haegeum,” a traditional Korean musical instrument, resonated throughout Chongdong Theater in Jeong-dong, central Seoul, on Tuesday evening, the audience grew quiet and all eyes were set on stage. A soft light focused on a corner of the stage where an orchestra was set. The orchestra consisted not of violin

Performance March 2, 2011

Foreign fans of K-pop group JYJ said on Tuesday that they submitted a petition on Monday to the Seoul Central District Court and the Fair Trade Commission for the recognition and protection of the boy-band’s legal and human rights.The petition urges prompt action by the South Korean government and justice system to “concretely block the illegal interferences and anti-trust activities of SM Enterta

Performance March 1, 2011

When Chinese plum trees bloom into clouds of puffy white and red blossoms, we know spring is just around the corner. The flowers are likened to “seonbi,” or a firm and right-minded scholar, in Korea because their soft and fragrant petals peep out despite the chilly weather. This herald of spring is one of the “sagunja,” or four gracious plants, which also include orchids, chrysanthemums and bamboo

Performance Feb. 28, 2011

Hermes Foundation and Comme des Garçons show high-tech contemporary art in SeoulA black spaceship-like object seems to have landed on the third floor of Artsonje Center in Sogyeok-dong, central Seoul. Inside its dark room, about 10 cushioned seats are installed, encircling a large screen. Named “H Box,” the 6.5 meter wide and 5 meter tall structure is a mini, portable screening room for video artw

Performance Feb. 27, 2011

Exhibition“Delpire & Cie”: Though the name might not immediately ring any bells, unlike with other Magnum members, Robert Delpire is a powerful figure without whom photographic history cannot be properly discussed. The 82-year-old photographer, publisher and director of exhibitions, films and campaigns has a lot of clout over not only his fellow photographers but also in other cultural realms. The

Performance Feb. 25, 2011

Original French version is Korea National Ballet’s first-ever sellout showThe sight of her tearstained face wrenched onlookers’ hearts, as she held up her hands in a plea to save her beloved’s life. Playing Giselle, Korea National Ballet’s principal dancer Kim Ji-young, not only impressed the press rehearsal audience with her acclaimed technique, but also wooed her viewers with an emotionally inte

Performance Feb. 24, 2011