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246. Train Ride: Another Joy of Traveling Korea
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Author : U.E.C.
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Summer is the season to travel around and enjoy the sun, and what better way to do that than by taking a ride on a train?
KORAIL, the state-run Korea Railroad Corporation, has begun a special travel package for summer vacationers, starting from mid-July to late August. The trains, including Korea's high-speed KTX, will deliver tourists to various resorts, beaches, islands and valleys nationwide.
The tourist packages come in a variety of sizes from a pair of tickets for honeymooners to discounts for families and large groups of friends.
Festured Destination: East Sea (Donghae)
 Jeongseon Bike RideThere are two travel packages for the East Sea, a one- and two-day course. Tourists can enjoy the stunning sunrise of Jeongdongjin from the east coast beach you can step onto from the train platform. Other tourist packages include ¡°Myeulchi-huri¡± (catching anchovy) along with a view from Samcheok. The ¡°Summer Dragon¡± course takes in a salt water sauna and massage pack among other things.
A unique bike ride that runs back and forth from Gujeol-ri Station to Songchen Stream is ready in Jeongseon County. The 90-minute Jeongseon Rail Bike which was established after closing down a local train that once transported coal and wood, runs 10-20 km/h and covers 7.2 km in total. Divided into four- and two- people bikes, families, friends and lovers are encouraged to sit close and pedal together as they stroll around the mountain.
Another popular travel package includes a single day trip all the way up to Chujeon Station deep within Mt.Taebaeksan. It is Korea's highest station at 855 meters. Heading down the coastal side, the train passes the romantic Seungbu Station surrounded only by mountains before finally reaching Jeongdongjin.
Gyeongsangnam-do travel packages include trips to Milyang and Busan, both two-day excursions. Milyang was the setting for the movie ¡°Secret Sunshine,¡± which garnered the Best Actress award at this year's Cannes Film Festival. Visitors can look around Milyang's Ice Valley at Mt. Chunwangsan. Surrounded by piles of rocks this is the place where ice forms naturally around March- April and doesn't melt until fall. Then there's the well-known Haeundae Beach of Busan, the largest port city of Korea with an aquarium, hot springs, Beomeosa Temple and Jagalchi Market.
 The three-day travel package from Seoul to Busan includes Jagalchi Market and Haeundae Beach and further travel to the southernmost regions of Oedo Island with its marine botanical garden, Haegeumgang Lake on Geoje-do and Boriam Temple of Mt. Geumsan. The scenic view will continue till Jeolla-do Province where people can look around Songgwang Temple and the green tea plantation in Boseong.
Those who prefer looking around island only, should try travel packages that take you to Hongdo and Heuksando off the south coast; Ulleungdo and Dokdo in the East Sea; Geomundo and Baekdo at the southwestern end of Korea; Bogildo with three beaches, silver sand and subtropical trees; and Oedaldo, the island of love and mothers. These islands boast some of the best natural habitat of Korea and are filled with rich flora and fauna.
 Finally, check out the rafting trip via train. Taking off from Seoul Station and Cheongnyangni Station on Saemaeul and Mugunghwa-ho trains, it will take you to Donggang Lake in Yeongwol where you can do all the rafting you want.
Keep choosing because you can go to various mountains in Korea by rail, even Mt. Hallasan on Jejudo Island and Mt. Geumgangsan in North Korea are reachable through KORAIL tickets.
¡æ For more information on the rafting and kayaking, click here!
¡æ For more information on the Mt.Geumgangsan tour, click here!
Sea Train Launch
Sometimes, riding on a train regardless of its destination can be a good trip itself. On July 25, this year Korea launched its first ¡°Bada (Sea) Tourist Train¡± after a week-long pilot
run.
 The newly re-modeled train -- a joint project with KORAIL's Gangwon-do branch, Gangneung City and Samcheok City each investing 300 million won -- travels from Gangneung to Samcheok, giving a full view of the sea through enlarged windows.
Comprised of three cars -- the first for lovers, second for families and elderly, and third for private parties -- the room for lovers provides wine and photo rooms suitable for marriage proposals. Movies and music are available through PDP and wireless Internet. All the chairs face the window to make sightseeing easy.
The train will pass Jeongdongjin, Mangsang and Chuam and five other stations in close proximity to the sea on a round trip run four times a day during the holiday seasons of summer and winter and three times during the off-season.
For more information on the travel packages:
(1) Sea Train: Tel: 1544-7786, 033-573-5474 (Korean language only)
(2) www.Korail.com : Tel: (02) 1544-7788, 1588-7788
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Article courtesy of Korea.net
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Friday, 3 August 2007, at 12:43 pm
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245. Andong Mask Dance Festival: Make Reservations Now!
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Author : U.E.C.
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 Ticket reservations for the upcoming Andong International Maskdance Festival (Sept. 28~Oct. 7) began on the 27th of this month.
According to the Andong Festival Tourism Foundation, ticket reservations are available until the beginning of the festival period, offering discounts: 40% off regular passes (£Ü5,000), and 50% off student passes (£Ü4,000).
Reservations can be made online through Ticketlink and Interpark, and will also be available at Andong¡¯s financial institutions (Daegu Bank, Nonghyup Bank).
International visitors can make the reservations by email (webmaster@maskdance.com) or by phone (+82-54-840-6398, +82-54-841-6398 / Available languages: English, Japanese).
A festival representative stated, ¡°This year will be the 10th year anniversary for the Andong International Mask Dance Festival. The festival is one of the nation¡¯s best, and we included a reservation system to provide more convenience for tourists who visit this festival.¡±
For reservations, please contact the Andong Festival Tourism Foundation. (Email: webmaster@maskdance.com, Tel: +82-54-840-6398, +82-54-841-6398)
¡æ For more information on the Andong International Maskdance Festival, click here!
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Wednesday, 1 August 2007, at 10:36 am
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244. "Jump" Performance to Make its Debut in New York
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Author : U.E.C.
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 Jump, a Korean non-verbal performance which combines comedy and martial arts, is coming to the center of performing arts: New York.
Yegam Theater Company announced on Tuesday (July 24) that the Jump will be performed at the Union Square Theatre in Manhattan, New York.
Opening with a two-week series of previews starting September 25, Jump will make its official debut on October 7 for an open-ended run. Tickets are on sale for $65.
The Union Square Theatre was built in 1962 with 499 seats, and was also the venue for the musical Bat Boy and the Russian non-verbal clown act Slava's Snowshow.
This is the second Korean show, following Nanta, to come to New York for a long term performance.
The theatre company explained that Jump's introduction to New York is unique in that the show is being exported through a license contract with internationally renowned performance management company Columbia Artists Management Inc. (CAMI).
In addition to performances, other products such as characters, animation, and movies will be developed.
The performance will be run by Slap Happy Productions, a joint venture project of Korea's Yegam Company, America's CAMI, and Japan's Amuse Inc.
Yegam will receive 9 % of ticket sales before break-even point, and afterwards will receive 12 % in royalty fees. In addition, they will collect all proceeds from 40 % of their investment.
They will receive $850 million for production cost assistance, and will gather 50 % of all performance and product sales.
Jump announced that they will invite Canadian comedy director and producer Jim Millan to modify the show for Western audiences, while strengthening the Korean flavor in stage design and costumes.
The Chairman of CAMI commented that Jump has its own unique style like other successful shows that started off-Broadway, such as the Blue Man Group and Stomp, and that he expects Jump to bring in about $231,000 per week once it debuts in New York.
Chairman of Yegam Theater Company Kyung-hoon Kim said that he is planning a long term tour of the show in Las Vegas, the U.S., South America and Central America, and that he promises that Jump will not only be an off-Broadway success, but will also become an internationally recognized show.
Jump made its debut in Korea in 2003. The show was an instant success, and was awarded the ¡°Grand Prize for Drama & Musical¡± by the Korean National Assembly. Following the success in Korea, the show has toured internationally to countries such as England, China, Greece, Spain, Japan, India, Hong Kong, Macao and Laos. The show received the ¡°Comedy Award¡± at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2006, and was featured in the ¡°The Royal Variety Performance¡± on BBC TV in 2006.
¡æ For more information on the "JUMP" Performance, click here!
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Article courtesy of Korea.net
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Thursday, 26 July 2007, at 1:15 pm
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243. Seoul, 2-Story City Tour Bus
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Author : U.E.C.
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Beginning July 25, a 2-story Seoul city tour bus is to operate between Gwanghwamun and COEX. The 2-story bus offers convenience features such as seating for persons in wheelchairs, a resting area, conference area, and laptop computers for its passengers to utilize. In addition, the bus comes installed with headphones that offer tour descriptions in English, Chinese, Japanese, and of course, Korean.
The bus offers a Convention Course that runs back and forth from Gwanghwamun and COEX, and a Night Scenery Course that gives its passengers a chance to witness the beautiful Hangang River at night.
Tickets can be purchased on the spot during the weekdays without making reservations (at the Gwanghwamun departure area and in the 2-story bus), and reservations can be made for tours running during the weekends and vacation times (July 28~August 19) at the Seoul city hompage (http://www.visitseoul.net / Korean, English, Chinese, Japanese). If tour bus reservations are full, tickets will not be available for in-person purchasing either.
[2-Story City Tour Bus Information]
Departure Location£ºIn front of the Gwanghwamun Donghwa Duty-Free Shop (Subway Line 5 Gwanghwamun Station Exit #6)
Convention Course
- Operating Times: 9:30 10:30 11:30 12:30 13:30 14:30 15:30 16:30 17:30 18:30
- Course (41.3km): Gwanghwamun¡Cheonggyecheon¡Samilgyo¡Hannam Bridge¡COEX (Departure Point)¡Seoul Forest¡Namsan Road¡Gyeongbukgung Palace~Cheongwadae~Gwanghwamun
* The Convention Course bus makes a 15~20min stop at COEX. Those wanting to ride the bus all the way around to Gwanghwamun will need to purchase a roundtrip ticket, and those who would like to stop at COEX may purchase a one-way ticket.
Night Scenery Course
- Operating Times: 19:30 20:30
- Course(40.9km): Gwanghwamun¡Mapo¡Yeouido¡Hannam Bridge¡Namsan Road¡Cheonggye Square
Tour Rates ( click here )
- Children 6 & under wanting to sit in a separate seat will be charged the student rate.
- Roundtrip ticket purchases for 10 or more people will be eligible for a 10% discount.
* Telephone: +82-2-777-6090 (Korean, English, Chinese, Japanese)
When Japanese and Chinese translators are unavailable, please contact the Korea Travel Phone
at +82-2-1330.
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Wednesday, 25 July 2007, at 1:17 pm
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242. The 4th Annual UN Korean Food Festival
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Author : U.E.C.
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Starting on July 16th, the 4th Annual UN Korean Food Festival is being held at the UN headquarters in New York. The festival¡¯s main purpose is to share diplomatic talks with each country and to introduce Korean food and Korean culture to the general American public. This festival will last until the 27th of July, which is organized by the Korean UN team and sponsored by the Korean Tourism Organization and by the Korea Broadcast Advertising Corporation.
 'Invitation to an Ancient Palace' is the theme of this year¡¯s festival. The head chief of the Institute of Traditional Korean Foods, Yun Suk-Ja, has been selected to introduce healthy Korean delicacies that foreigners prefer such as abalone porridge, watermelon porridge, roasted beef short ribs, coffee rice cake, Maximowiczia chinensis honeyed juice mixed with fruits, and more.
Head Chief Yun has been preparing a different menu for each day of the festival period, and is planning to present more than 200 different Korean food cuisines. The most popular dishes amongst the participating diplomats were salads made using tofu and different types of nuts (fruits, walnuts, chestnuts, pine nuts, etc.), soybean buckwheat noodles, and Samgyeseon (steamed chicken delicacy served cold).
In addition, more than 40 different varieties of Korean food were exhibited at the entrance of the delegation¡¯s dining room, including a white-colored radish Kimchi, pan-fried sea cucumber, and Gujeolpan (Assorted 9 dishes of royal court platter). Information highlighting Korea¡¯s food, culture, and tourist atrractions were also available at the entrance for participants to read.
** For further information, contact KTO New York Office.
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Monday, 23 July 2007, at 11:26 am
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241. Duty Free Sales at Incheon Airport until Aug. 15th
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Author : U.E.C.
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Summer¡¯s here, bringing the heat as well as great sales! Duty free shops at Incheon International Airport are currently running summer sales until August 15th. There are 4 locations in the airport—the Korea Tourism Organization¡¯s Duty Free Korea, Lotte Duty Free Shop, AK Duty Free Shop, and DFS Duty Free Shop that will help you pass the time.
During this event period, airline passengers can receive a discount of up to 70% off. For customers who shop at Incheon¡¯s KTO Duty Free Korea, they can receive a discount of 5% to 50% off. Also, at the Lotte Duty Free Shop, customers can receive a discount between 10%-40% off. Customers shopping at AK Duty Free Shop can receive 30% to 70% and at DFS Duty Free Shop, they can receive a discount between 30% to 50% off. These are all located inside Incheon Airport.
There are a variety of events as well going on. This is an event for customers who purchased something at these duty free shops, and can win a prize by touch screen. A variety of prizes will be given away-the first prize winner will receive a golden star, the 2nd prize winner will receive a PMP and the 3rd prize winner will receive a Nintendo DS.
¡æ Korea Tourism Organization¡žDUTY FREE KOREA¡¹Coupons
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Thursday, 19 July 2007, at 10:51 am
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240. The Hangang River Outdoor Swimming Pools to Open
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Author : U.E.C.
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The Han River Outdoor Swimming Pool, Just a Hop, Skip and a Jump Away by Subway:
Easy Subway Access on a Hot Sweltering Day
In the city of Seoul, there are 6 places along the Hangang City Park that offer outdoor swimming pools. For less than 5,000won, you can enjoy a day of swimming at the Han River outdoor swimming pool and at the same time, each swimming pool can hold a capacity of up to 3,000 people. These outdoor pools also have illuminated towers installed to light up the pools at night for use of the facilities in the evening as well.
¢ºTtukseom Swimming Pool: This place is equipped with a playground, a wall fountain, an artificial rock-climbing wall, and a variety of other accessible facilities, suitable area for a family outing.
Take Subway Line 7 to Ttukseom Resort Station and go out of either Exit 2 or 3. Takes only 2 mins. on foot.
¢ºMangwon Swimming Pool: The thing that stands out the most is the neighboring scenery around this area. While you are enjoying a swim you can appreciate the blue waters of the Han River. In the vicinity is a campground called ¡®Nanji Camp Ground¡¯ where families can go camping.
The easiest way to get there is to take either Subway Line 2 or 6 and from Hapjeong Station take a taxi. (Costs around 3,000won).
¢ºYeouido Swimming Pool: This is the largest swimming pool of all the Han River¡¯s outdoor swimming pools. Beomseom Island and the Ecological Park are adjacent to each other, making it easy for visitors to take a course and visit both places.
Take Subway Line 5 to Yeouinaru Station and exit from no. 2.
¢ºJamwon Swimming Pool: Compared to the other swimming pools, these facilities are quite well-maintained and the neighboring parks make it a nice place for couples to visit.
Take Subway Line 3 to Sinsa Station and exit from no. 5 or you can go to Apgujeong Station and exit from no. 1. Only takes a 10 min. walk (By taxi, it cost approximately 2,500won.)
¢ºJamsil Outdoor Swimming Pool: Since this area¡¯s been remodeled, the facilities have greatly improved and among the nearby apartment complexes, it is rather leisurely.
Take Subway Line 2 to Sincheon Station and go out of exit 7 and walk for about 10 minutes. (If you use a taxi, it will cost approximately 2,500 won).
¢ºGwangnaru Swimming Pool: Nearby there is an ecosystem preservation district, which gives you the feeling that you are out in the middle of green rice-fields.
Take Subway Line 5 to Cheonho Station and exit from no. 1 or from Subway line 8 Amsa Station, go out of exit 8 and walk for 10 mins. (by taxi, it cost approximately 2,500won).
[Swimming Pool Information]
- Operation Dates: June 30, 2007 ~ the end of August
- Operating Hours: 9:00am ~ 8:00pm
- Admission Fees: Ages 4~12: 3,000 won / Ages 13~18: 4,000 won / Ages 19 and older: 5,000won
- Tourist Information Contact: +82-2-1330 (Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese)
[Related Articles]
- Water Sports on the Hangang River
- Windsurfing on the Hangang River
- River Cruises Offer Chance to See City from New Angle
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Thursday, 19 July 2007, at 10:48 am
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239. Time Again to Get Down, Dirty & Healthy in Boryeong
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Author : U.E.C.
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Just in time for the summer holiday season, a large-scale festival with an unusual theme kicks off on the west coast this Saturday (July 14).
The annual Boryeong Mud Festival is back again at Korea's popular Daecheon Beach for a nine-day run till July 22.
Chosen Best Local Festival by the Culture and Tourism Ministry for two years in a row, it offers a variety of fun programs with themes sunk in the area's renowned mud, a prized resource for cosmetics and health care.
 Already celebrating its 10th year, the festival attracts thousands of people from all over the world looking for that rare opportunity to have fun getting dirty and healthy at the same time in Boryeong's famous mud.
Boryeong is about an hour and a half outside of Seoul. It is known for long sandy beaches but also an abundance of nutrient-rich mud harvested from its vast tidal flats. Korea's Yellow Sea coastline is home to some of the largest tide fluctuations in the world -- over six meters difference between low and high tides.
The region's mud contains minerals known to aid skin care. It is believed to cleanse the skin by removing toxic wastes and slow aging in the process. Some believe it even surpasses Israel's legendary Dead Sea mud in its health and cosmetic properties.
Here, the mud is on tap and never runs dry. It is dug up from tidal flats near Boryeong, trucked to the beach and dumped at ¡°Mud Experience Land¡± for the festival.
Visitors can enjoy mud bathing and self-massages, have their bodies painted in mud, check out the mud beauty contest, take pictures for the mud photo contest, wrestle in the mud with friends and strangers alike or slap together a beautiful mud creation for the mud sculpture contest.
There is also mud sliding, tidal flat skiing and even a 10-K mud flat marathon.
When things get too muddy, you can rinse off at free public showers, retrieve your clean clothes from storage lockers provided and then enjoy the fireworks, laser shows and concerts during the evening.
 Of all Korea's local festivals, the mud festival is the most popular among the expat community. Nearly 45,000 foreigners traveled to Boryeong for the festival in 2006. In all 1.72 million people attended last year.
Festival organizers have always sought to make the celebrations as foreigner-friendly as possible. Foreign visitors receive complimentary mud-based cosmetic products and free clothing storage.
They are able to join most programs for free and when speaking or listening is required volunteer interpreters for many languages are standing by to assist.
In addition, a free shuttle bus is there to take foreign tourists to the region's other tourist sites such as Muchangpo Beach and the stone pagoda at Seongjusa (Temple), which dates back to the Silla Dynasty (57 B.C.¡A.D. 935).
You can get to the festival by taking a train from Seoul or Yeongdeongpo stations to Boryeong Station and taking a short 15-minute bus ride to the beach. Buses also depart from Seoul's Nambu Bus Terminal to Daecheon nine times a day.
If you would like more information, you can visit www mudfestival.or.kr or call 011-438-4865 (English available).
¡æ For more information on the 2007 Boryeong Mud Festival, click here!
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Article courtesy of Korea.net
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Wednesday, 18 July 2007, at 10:58 am
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238. Puchon Fantastic Film Festival Kicks Off
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Author : U.E.C.
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 The 11th Puchon International Fantastic Film Festival will kick off with a grand opening ceremony Thursday evening (July 12). This year's festival will run from July 12 -21 and feature 215 films from 33 countries under the motto "Love, Fantasy and Adventure.¡±
Director Hwang Qu-dok's "For Eternal Hearts" a fantasy-laden piece about relationships set against Korea's democratization will grace the opening. The festival's closer is "Kala¡± by Director Joko Anwar from Indonesia.
The festival will be divided into seven sections -- Puchon Choice, World Fantastic Cinema, Fantastic Short Films, Forbidden Zone, Family Fanta, Special Exhibition, Retrospective Exhibition and a new corner this year, Ani Fanta.
This year's Puchon Choice section will cover an even wider variety of culture with films from Asia, America and Europe. The selected ten films from nine countries will compete for best picture, best director, best actor, best actress, a special jury prize and an audience award.
There will also be music performances on the street together with seminars and photo zones for families.
The price is 5,000 won per movie and 10,000 won for a combined viewing of the opening, ending and Cine Rock Night. Early morning and group discounts can be had at 4,000 won per film.
The festival is in Bucheon between Seoul and Incheon on Subway Line No. 1. Tickets for the festival are available online (http://ticket.pifan.com), and for further information, call (032) 345-6313~4.
¡æ For more information on the Puchon Fantastic Film Festival, click here!
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Article courtesy of Korea.net
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Monday, 16 July 2007, at 10:18 am
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237. 2007 July Event Calendar
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Author : U.E.C.
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• Performances
Matthew Bourne¡¯s Swan Lake
 LG Arts Center
July 4 — 22
One of the most innovative and brilliant choreographers of our time, Matthew Bourne is coming to Korea again with his breathtakingly sexy version of ¡°Swan Lake¡± with an all-male cast of swans. Matthew Bourne¡¯s version of ¡°Swan Lake,¡± which transforms Tchaikovsky¡¯s beloved classical ballet repertoire into a thrilling, audacious and witty performance for a modern audience, has become a legendary achievement on the international stage by becoming the longest-running ballet on London¡¯s West End and New York¡¯s Broadway. The show also received more than 30 international awards including Olivier Awards and Tony Awards.
Admission Tickets are: R seats: 100,000, S seats: 80,000, A seats: 60,000, B seats: 40,000 won. For more information, call (02) 2005-0114 or e-mail: arts2005@lgart.com. LG Arts Center is accessible from Yeoksam Station, line 2, exit 7.
PICNIC: Extreme Dance Comedy
 Chungmu Art Hall
May 26 — July 22
When watching Korean B-Boys dance, one can¡¯t help but gasp at their unbelievable, stunning moves. Unlike some other genres of dance, the moves are continuously changing and evolving, and the limits of the body¡¯s movement with the adaptation of gymnastics, martial arts and yoga, then combined with the DJ¡¯s music, one¡¯s imagination really can take off.
If B-Boys are the ultimate, then a trip to ¡°PICNIC¡± is a must. ¡°PICNIC¡± is Extreme Dance Comedy, with a particular type of comedy recognized by audiences who¡¯ve seen ¡°Jump¡± and ¡°Human Comedy.¡± Bracing and refreshingly funny, the show combines comedy with the B-Boy¡¯s unimaginably free dance moves, transporting audiences from mere enjoyment to the elated world of Extreme Dance. A new chapter in the era of B-Boys dance opens on stage with ¡°PICNIC.¡±
Admission is: R seats: 40,000 won and S seats: 30,000 won. For more information, call (02) 747-0366 or visit www.thepicnic.co.kr. Chungmu Art Hall is only a 150m walk from Sindang Station, line 2, exit 1.
¡æ For more information, click here!
A Midsummer Night¡¯s Dream
 Arko Arts Theater
June 15 — July 8
¡°A Midsummer Night¡¯s Dream¡± by the Yohangza Theater Company conveys a kind of universality, transcending cultural differences between the East and the West. Inspired by Shakespeare¡¯s play, Yohangza¡¯s production features director Yang Jung-Ung¡¯s original script, incorporating themes and characters from Korean culture and folklore, foremost and perhaps most enjoyable being the figure of the dokkebi, similar to sprites and goblins in Western fairy tales.
The cast and crew have traveled to 11 countries including England, Japan, China, Colombia, Australia, Germany and Poland to perform the play hundreds of times. The performance has been a big hit not only internationally but also in Korea. English subtitles are provided.
Admission is: R seats: 30,000 won, S seats: 20,000 won and A seats: 15,000 won. For more information, call (02) 3673-1392 or visit www.yohangza.com. Arko Arts Theater is located at Hyehwa Station, line 4, exit 2.
¡æ For more information, click here!
Digital Performance Syntasia
Goyang Aram Nuri Arts Complex
June 23 — July 15
¡°Syntasia¡± represents a combination of artistic imagination and digital sciences on stage.
This show is co-produced by the Goyang Aram Nuri Arts Complex and the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST). ¡°Syntasia¡± encourages the active participation of audience members and provides a performance that is likely never to be experienced before.
Admission tickets are from 60,000 to 40,000 won. For more information, call (031) 1577-7766 or visit www.artgy.or.kr. Goyang Aram Nuri Arts Complex is not too far from Jeongbalsan Station, line 3. Look for the exit leading to Goyang Aram Nuri Arts Complex.
CATS
 National Theater of Korea
July 6-Sep 2
The magical CATS will give a great joy to the audience with its astonishing explosion of dance and marvelous voices of an outstanding cast, all on a stage amongst the most fantastic and innovative musical stages ever. CATS is based on ¡°Old Possum¡¯s Book of Practical Cats¡± (1939) by T.S. Eliot, a 1948 Novel Literary Prize laureate, and one of the most remarkable poets throughout the world. Webber was inspired by Eliot¡¯s book and went onto develop the musical CATS. One of the splendid musical numbers praised by critics, the main song ¡°Memory¡± has been recorded by an over 150 artists ranging from Barbra Streisand and Johnny Mathis to Liberace. The set of CATS is a junkyard, where are a number of cats get together to tell their stories and pick the cat most deserving of the journey to the 'Heavy side Layer.¡¯ Even though the characters in CATS consist entirely of cats, they metaphorically express the lives of humans.
On the other hand, dynamic and powerful dancing and music make this performance enjoyable to all audiences without distinction of age or sex. Since the original production opened at the New London Theatre in the West End on May 11, 1981, CATS has been performing for 21 years. It opened on Broadway at the Winter Garden Theatre on October 7, 1982, and continued to live up to its motto of playing ¡°Now and Forever¡± until September 10, 2000. On October 1, 1991, CATS became the longest continuously touring show in American theatre¡¯s history. In four US CATS tours it has thus far played a combined total of sixteen years and two months. As a result, CATS has been said to be the longest running musical in Broadway and West End theatrical history.
Tickets cost from 40,000 won to 140,000 won.
For more information, call (02) 501-7888 or visit www.musicalcats.co.kr National Theater of Korea is accessible from exit 2 of Dongguk University Subway station, line 3.
Temple Stay Program in Jeondeungsa
 Jeondeungsa Temple, Ganghwa Island, Incheon-si
July 2 — Aug 6
Jeondeungsa Tempe of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism has prepared a temple stay program for the summer season. From July 2 to Aug. 6, the temple will hold four-day.
three-night retreats every Monday through Thursday to give participants a chance to experience Korean Buddhist culture. Specialists will also give classes on points of traditional culture, including calligraphy, bell-ringing, tea ceremony, Korean roof painting and paper arts. The day begins with the recitation of the Homage to the Buddha at daybreak, and will include other Buddhist ceremonies such as the offering of food to the Buddha, Zen, dharma talks and communal work. Traditional culture classes will take place during the daylight hours. The classes and temple stays are as follows:
July 9—12 Paper Arts Class: 200,000 won
July 16~19: Calligraphy and Bell Ringing Class: 200,000 won
July 23~26 Korean Roof Painting Class: 200,000 won
July 30~Aug 2: Traditional Etiquette, Tea Ceremony and Roof Painting Class: (for middle and high school students) 150,000 won
Aug 6~9 Ecology Class: 150,000 won
Aug 13~16 Natural Dyes Class: 200,000 won
Ganghwa-do is a 1 hour, 30 minute bus ride from Seoul's Sinchon Bus Terminal. From Ganghwa-eup, it's another short bus ride to the temple.
¡æ For more information, click here!
• Exhibitions
Vienna Kunst Museum
 Museum of Contemporary Art, Deoksugung
June 26 — Sept 30
The Vienna Kunst Museum, along with the Louvre and the El Prado Museum in Madrid, constitute the holy trinity of European art repositories. Some of the more significant artworks in the Museum¡¯s possession include 17th century Baroque paintings, with many works formerly commissioned by the Hapsburgs, the reigning family of the Austrian Empire for six centuries. More than 60 works by Rembrandt, Rubens and Velazquez, among others, are currently on display.
For more information, call (02) 2022-0600 or visit www.moca.go.kr/deoksugung.jsp. The museum is accessible from City Hall Station, which connects to lines 1 and 2.
Musée d¡¯Orsay Exhibition
 Hangaram Art Museum
April 20 — Sept2
Choice selections from the Paris museum, noted for its extensive collection of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist masterpieces, can be found right here in Seoul. The exhibit covers the paintings of Monet, featuring the masterpieces of Van Gogh, as well as early precursors of the French Impressionist movement. A total of 44 paintings are divided into five distinct themes. For more information, call (02) 2113-3447. Take a shuttle (bus no. 12), which is
available at exit 5 of Nambu Terminal Station, line 3.
¡æ For more information, click here!
• Festivals
Seoul Auto Salon
 COEX
July 5 — 8
If you're into cars, this is one event you'll definitely want to attend. Held in order to develop the local auto tuning industry, some 100 foreign and domestic companies will be showing off their products including auto accessories and gadgets of all shapes and sizes. The salon will feature the International Tuning Conference/Seminar as well as the Car Audio Festival and Car Tuning Festival. To add to the scenery, the event will also feature a Racing Girl Contest that is popular with amateur photographers.
Entry fee is 8,000 won. For more information, call (02) 6000-1514. To reach COEX Mall, go out of exit 6 of Samseong Station, line 2.
¡æ For more information, click!
Puchon International Fantastic Film Festival (PiFan)
 Bucheon-si, Gyeonggi-do
July 12 — 21
The city of Bucheon, Gyeonggido will be the site of the 11th Puchon International Fantastic Film Festival (PiFan). This annual festival presents groundbreaking films and experimental screening programs, which includes an all-night screening as well as a Cine Rock Night, a combination of a cinema and a concert. Cult movie fans will not want to miss films that range from horror to sci-fi thrillers. A special Made in Korea category also includes a series of short Korean films and a Korean Cinema Retrospective that looks back on the works of major Korean directors.
For more information, visit www.pifan.com or call 032-345-6313~4. The festival will be held at the Boksagol Cultural Center, which is accessible via free shuttle buses departing from Songnae Station, line 1.
¡æ For more information, click!
Incheon Pentaport Rock Festival
 Song-do, Incheon
July 27 — 29
Incheon¡¯s summer rock festival manages to draw some of the biggest names in rock, both from Korea and abroad. This year's multi-day festival will feature foreign talent such as British electronic music duo Chemical Brothers, Irish rock/blues group The Answer, Japanese rockers L'Arc~en~Ciel, British rock group Muse and US hard rock group Testament. Be sure to check out the event¡¯s homepage for a complete line-up of one of Korea's greatest rock events. It¡¯s also a good opportunity to check out other tourist sites around Incheon, including Chinatown.
Tickets are from 88,000 won to 165,000 won. For more information, call 032-440-4016 or visit www.pentaportrock.com. Incheon is a 1 hour and 30 minute subway ride from downtown Seoul via line 1.
¡æ For more information, click!
Yeongwol Dong-Gang Festival
 Yeongwol-gun, Gangwon-do
July 21 — 29
The Dongang River that runs along the remote area of Yeongwol-gun is one of Korea's most beautiful waterways. It is a place where nature and mankind exist in exquisite harmony, and is a perfect venue for a mid-summer festival. If you like the water, there are plenty of leisure sport activities available, including rafting and paragliding. The festival will also feature good food, music and dance, games and much more.
For more information, call (033) 370-2542. Yeongwol can be reached by train from Seoul's Cheongnyangni Station. Travel time takes about three hours.
Busan Sea Festival
 Haeundae Beach, Busan
Aug 1 — 10
Busan is Korea's largest port, so perhaps it's only natural that it is also home to Korea's largest sea festival. The Busan Sea Festival is actually an amalgamation of several sea-related festivals, including the Busan International Rock Festival, Busan International Beach Dance Festival, Korean Sea Literature Festival and Busan Beach Game Festival. The area around Haeundae Beach, Korea's largest beach and one of its more popular summer destinations has become one big party. If the raucous atmosphere gets too much for you, you can head to nearby Dongbaekseom Island, which offers many quiet and scenic seaside strolls. It is also the home of Nurimaru APEC House, the venue of the 2005 APEC summit.
For more information, call (051) 888-3394. Thanks to KTX, the high-speed train, you can get to Busan in only 2 hours and 40 minutes.
¡æ For more information, click!
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