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IN THIS ISSUE
FEBRUARY 2020
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groovekorea.com
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From the Editor-in-Chief
AH, LOVE IS IN THE AIR. Yes, that’s right. It’s February. Which means Valentine’s Day - whether you’re the type who loathes or loves it. Being decidedly single the last few years, I’m somewhere in between. Valentine’s Day doesn’t bother me for the most part - I’m not the type that gets bitter or cynical when I see the garish red and pink displays going up at every single convenience store. Or hear about my friends’ plans to go out with their significant others. Granted, nor do I get particularly excited about it. But, I am - at heart - a hopeless romantic. I cry sometimes when I hear a particularly moving love song. Or read a sweet romantic story. And I will admit - I do enjoy my fair share of romantic movies. However, February is the month of love, which is why Groove Korea has devoted our cover to none other than romance. Well, specifically romantic movies. So continue on, dear reader. Perhaps if you’re looking for the right movie to watch with friends or a partner - or even alone - then hopefully we’ll help point you in the right direction. And remember, love comes in many forms, whether it’s romantic or platonic.
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IN THIS ISSUE
FEBRUARY 2020
groovekorea.com
COVER STORY
LOVE IS IN THE AIR AND ON THE SILVER SCREEN A look at popular Korean romantic movies
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MUSIC
FOREIGN OBJECT Foreign Objects finds connections through music
FASHION
VINTAGE SEOUL Why going vintage is a more ethical decision than buying fast fashion
COMMUNITY
CAMARATE BRINGS IN "THE BEE" Camarata stages hilarious "Putnam County Spelling Bee"
FILM
A CLOSER LOOK AT "PARASITE" Why all the hype about "Parastite"?
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FOOD & DRINK
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KOREA
EDITORIAL Editor-in-Chief
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MOVIES
WHAT’S ON
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Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn) Margot Robbie
Little Women Saoirse Ronan Emma Watson Florence Pugh Timothee Chalamet
Dolor y gloria, Pain and Glory Penelope Cruz Antonio Banderas
WHAT’S ON
Jojo Rabbit
Sonic the Hedgehog
1917
The Gentlemen
Scarlett Johansson, Roman Griffin Davis Taika Waititi Sam Rockwell
Jim Carrey James Marsden Ben Schwartz Tika Sumpter
George MacKay Dean-Charles Chapman
Matthew McConaughey Hugh Grant, Colin Farrell Charlie Hunnam Henry Golding
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EXHIBITIONS
WHAT’S ON
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Henri de Toulouse-Lautrect Hangaram Art Museum Presents 150 works by Toulouse-Lautrec for the first time in Korea including posters, lithographs, drawings, sketches, illustrations, watercolors, photographs, videos, printed materials and takes audience to Paris in 19th century.
Monet to Cezanne: Impressionist and Post-impressionist,Master works from the Israel Museum, Jerusalem Hangaram Art Museum Presents 150 works by Toulouse-Lautrec for the first time in Korea including posters, lithographs, drawings, sketches, illustrations, watercolors, photographs, videos, printed materials and takes audience to Paris in 19th century.
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영어/스페인어/프랑스어 Achille Castiglioni and Brothers: Master of Italian Design Hangaram Art Museum Until April 26
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FEATURE
BEYOND Our feature personality Danny Kang sure left an impression on us. As a self-made model, actor, influencer, and content creator that wishes to change the current media scene by example. Danny (@thizisdan) describes himself as someone who wants to do everything and be everyone when it comes to work while always staying consistent with whom he is inside. If you do not happen to know about him yet, you might want to have a look at his work because his passion and drive will not leave you indifferent either. We suggest that you dig deep though, as he is a great example of the "do not judge a book by its cover". Yes, he has the looks, but also brains, energy, and emotional intelligence to go with it. A personality yet also a fellow journalist that keeps on pursuing and conquering new goals and passions to prove everybody that if he can do it so can you. "You can always go for what you want and still stay true to you and to what you believe in, I want everybody to try, because we all deserve to be happy"
Words Lorena JimĂŠnez Photo Dianne Pineda-Kim
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COVER STORY
A look at popular Korean romantic movies
Story EMMA KALKA Photos UNSPLASH, GOOGLE
February has arrived and along with it, two major annual events. Of course, I’m talking about Valentine’s Day and the Oscars. Granted, these two things are definitely not related, but as they do fall within a week of each other, what better way to celebrate both than to search out some of the top romantic movies here in Korea. There’s a bit of everything - tearjerkers, comedies - and definitely all the love. So sit back, relax, peruse your options and then enjoy a sappy romantic flick. Nearly all of the following films can be found on Netflix here in Korea, though they don’t all have English subtitles available.
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COVER STORY
Jun Ji Hyun
Cha Tae Hyun Directed by: Kwak Jae-yong Written by: Kim Ho-sik Kwak Jae-yong Produced by: Shin Chul Box office: 32.3 million USD
My Sassy Girl (2001) Obviously the first film on this list of popular Korean romantic movies is going to be “My Sassy Girl” (2001) directed by Kwak Jae-young. It launched the careers of Jun Ji-hun and Cha Tae-hyun, and is still talked about years later. Also, not only was there a sequel starring Cha and Victoria Song in 2016 - “My New Sassy Girl” - but it launched a long string of remakes in countries such as the US, India, Nepal and Japan. It still has a rather strong cult following in Asia. It was the second highest grossing film of the year and at that time, was the highest grossing comedy of all time. The movie is based off a true story that was originally told through a series of blog posts written by Kim Ho-sik. The story follows engineering student Gyeon-woo (Cha) and aspiring screenplay writer The Girl (Jun) - she is never named during three stages of their relationship that spans years. The Girl is loud and brash, often rather mean to Gyeon-woo, and somehow the couple continues to end up in hilariously awkward situations together, all the while falling for each other. However, while a vast majority of the film is funny, the ending will have you reaching for tissues.
2001 Blue Dragon Film Awards
Best New Actor – Cha Tae-hyun Nomination for Best Actress – Jun Ji-hyun
2002 Baeksang Arts Awards
Nomination for Best New Actor – Cha Tae-hyun
2002 Grand Bell Awards
Best Actress – Jun Ji-hyun Best Adapted Screenplay – Kwak Jae-yong Popularity Award – Jun Ji-hyun, Cha Tae-hyun Nomination for Best Actor – Cha Tae-hyun
2002 Golden Cinematography Awards
Best New Actor – Cha Tae-hyun
2003 Hong Kong Film Awards
Best Asian Film
2003 Hochi Film Awards
Best Foreign Language Film
2003 Fant-Asia Film Festival
Most Popular Film
2004 Awards of the Japanese Academy
Nomination for Best Foreign Film
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COVER STORY
Han Suk Kyu
Shim Eun Ha
Directed by: Hur Jin-ho Produced by: Cha Seung-Jae Written by: Oh Seung-uk Shin Dong-hwan Hur Jin-ho
Christmas in August (1998) Just what is it about Korean romance films and making you ugly cry? “Christmas in August” starring Han Suk-kyu and Shim Eun-ah is certainly one that will have you curled up on the sofa, wailing about how life isn’t fair. It’s the debut film of Hur Jinho and gained him a lot of attention with it’s heart-breaking story of love and terminal illness and launched his career as a maker of romantic movies. Jungwon (Han) is the quiet and rather reserved owner of a photo shop who lives with his family. His life is thrown upside down one day when meter maid Da-rim comes in unexpectedly to quickly print off photos proving parking violations. The two are attracted to each other and Da-rim continues to come by often. However, Jungwon is keeping a massive secret from Darim and just about everyone save his family - he is dying and only has a short time to live. While this is certainly not the first or only tragic romance with the terminally ill angle, Hur has been lauded for his subtle and low-key approach - “the film’s emotional resonance stems not from what the characters say, but what they don’t say,” according to movie critic Anthony Leong.
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1998 Baeksang Arts Awards
Best Film Best Actress - Shim Eun-ha Best New Director - Hur Jin-ho
1998 Blue Dragon Film Awards
Best Film Best Actress - Shim Eun-ha Best Cinematography - Yoo Young-gil (posthumously) Best New Director - Hur Jin-ho
1998 Director's Cut Awards
Best Director - Hur Jin-ho Best Actor - Han Suk-kyu Best Actress - Shim Eun-ha
1999 Grand Bell Awards
Best Screenplay - Oh Seung-uk, Shin Dong-hwan, and Hur Jin-ho Best New Director - Hur Jin-ho Jury Prize
COVER STORY
Yoo Ji-tae
Lee Young-ae
Directed by: Hur Jin-ho Cinematography: Kim Hyeong-gu Written by: Ryu Jang-ha Lee Suk-yeon Shin Joon-ho Hur Jin-ho
2001 Baeksang Arts Awards[
Best Director - Hur Jin-ho
2001 Busan Film Critics Awards
Best Film Best Actress - Lee Young-ae Best Director - Hur Jin-ho
2001 Tokyo International Film Festival
Best Art Direction - Park Il-hyun
2001 Blue Dragon Film Awards
Best Film
2001 Korean Association of Film Critics Awards
Best Film Best Cinematography - Kim Hyung-koo
One Fine Spring Day (2001) It’s only natural to follow the last film with Hur Jin-ho’s second project - “One Fine Spring Day.” While it wasn’t as successful in the box office as “Christmas in August,” it’s still regarded as a favorite romantic film among Koreans and seemed to have won over local critics at the time it came out. Though its plot is simple, the film is still poignant thanks to the nuanced performances of its two leads - Yoo Ji-tae and Lee Young-Ae - and its breathtaking scenery and cinematography. Not to mention, it’s all too realistic portrayal of how relationships can be. Sang-woo (Yoo) is a sound engineer with a large supportive family who are pushing him to finally get married. He goes to Gangneung on orders from his studio to help local radio producer Eunsoo (Lee) record nature sounds for her show. The two develop an interest in each other as they work on the project together, however the relationship might not be fated in the stars as Sangwoo’s eagerness to be serious clashes with Eun-soo’s hesitancy to commit.
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COVER STORY
Uhm Tae-woong
Han Ga-in
Lee Je-hoon
Bae Suzy
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Architecture 101 (2012) Part of me really wonders if there is any Korean so-called romantic movie in which the couple actually ends up together and no one dies or runs away. If you haven’t already guessed - “Architecture 101” is not one of those movies, but rather focuses on first love and how sometimes over the years we drift apart. It cashed in on the nostalgia trend that ran rampant through Korea with half the movie consisting of flashbacks to the 90s. Written and directed by Lee Yongju, the movie stars Uhm Tae-woong and Han Ga-in as well as Lee Je-hoon and Bae Suzy as their younger counterparts. Seo-yeon (Han/Bae) reconnects with old college flame Seong-min (Uhm/Lee) 15 years after they parted ways in order to have him tear down and then rebuild on the site of her family home on Jeju Island. The film goes back and forth between their past - the two lived in the same neighborhood and met while attending an architecture 101 class in university in the 90s - and their present, contrasting who they once were with who they are now. The film has been praised for its attention to detail, as well as being fresh despite its focus on nostalgia and innocence.
48th Baeksang Arts Awards
Best New Actress - Suzy
6th Mnet 20's Choice Awards
20's Male Movie Star - Lee Je-hoon 20's Female Movie Star - Suzy 20's Booming Actor - Jo Jung-suk
5th Style Icon Awards
First Love Fantasies - Suzy
16th Puchon International Fantastic Film Festival
Fantasia Award - Lee Je Hoon
21st Buil Film Awards
Best Screenplay
32nd Korean Association of Film Critics Awards
Best Music
33rd Blue Dragon Film Awards
Best New Actor - Jo Jung Suk Popularity Award - Suzy
20th Korean Culture and Entertainment Awards
Best New Actor - Jo Jung Suk
4th KOFRA Film Awards
Best New Actor - Jo Jung Suk
COVER STORY
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COVER STORY
Son Ye-jin
Cho Seung-woo
Jo In-sung Directed/Written by: Kwak Jae-yong Box office: US$6.9 million
The Classic (2003) If you like your romantic films with a healthy, heaping side of melodrama, then look no further than “The Classic.” Primarily set in 1968, the mostly period piece is (surprisingly) made by director Kwak Jae-young. Yes, that’s right. The same guy that made the delightfully funny “My Sassy Girl” also is behind this dramatic lovefest that will have you bawling in more than one place. The film starts in 2003 with Ji-hae (Son Ye-jin) cleaning out her mother’s attic while she’s on vacation and coming across an old box of letters. The film then goes back in time and picks up the story of Ji-hae’s mother Joohee (also played by Son) and her two suitors, Joon-ha (Jo Seung-woo) and Tae-soo (Lee Ki-woo). The movie flips from mother to daughter - where we eventually learn that Ji-hae is actually in love with her friend’s boyfriend Sangmin (Jo In-sung) and she channels her mother’s strength through the letters to help figure out her own situation. It’s sweet, heartfelt, though at times heavy on the melodrama. But a good “classic” romantic film to add to your collection.
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39th Baeksang Arts Awards
Best New Actress - Son Ye-jin
40th Grand Bell Awards
Best New Actress - Son Ye-jin
2nd Korean Film Awards
Best Music
24th Blue Dragon Film Awards
Popular Star Award - Son Ye-jin
9th Moscow International Love Movie Awards
Best Couple - Cho Seung-woo and Son Ye-jin
Huabiao Awards
Outstanding Translated Foreign Film
COVER STORY
Son Ye-jin
Jung Woo-Sung Directed by: John H. Lee Written by: John H. Lee Kim Young-ha Produced by: Cha Seung-jae Box office: US$20.9 million
A Moment to Remember (2004) In case you haven’t cried enough with the previous entries on this list, “A Moment to Remember” will most definitely have you in tears. John H. Lee brought this beautiful (yet sad) love story to the screen, starring Son Ye-jin and Jung Woosung. The two bring the story to life with their moving performances. And (unsurprisingly) it’s not the only entry on the list with Son Yejin starring in it. But really, the two have amazing chemistry in this film. Su-jin (Son) has just gotten out of a rough situation involving a married man when she accidentally runs into Chol-su (Jung) at a convenience store. Later on, she discovers that he actually works at her father’s construction company. The two start up a courtship that leads straight into a beautiful love story. That is until Fate throws the couple a curveball and they find themselves challenged in ways they never expected. Think - “The Notebook” but far, far sadder.
15th China Golden Rooster and Hundred Flowers Film Festival
Best Actress in a Foreign Film - Son Ye-jin
42nd Grand Bell Awards
Best Adapted Screenplay
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COVER STORY
Im Soo-jung
Lee Sun-kyun
Ryu Seung-ryong Director: Hur Jin-ho Produced by: Cha Seung-Jae
All About My Wife (2012) Obviously, this list needed something a bit happier and funnier to it, hence the inclusion of “All About My Wife” by director Min Kyu-dong and starring Im Soo-jung, Lee Sun-kyun and Ryu Seoung-ryong. And the film truly is funny and unexpected. You start feeling one way about the characters, but by the end of it start thinking another. And you don’t really know where it’s going until you get to the very end. Doo-hyun (Lee) is a husband desperate to get out of his marriage to the ever nagging Jung-in (Im) but too much of a coward to do it himself. So he turns to his neighbor Sung-ki (Ryu), a notorious Casanova, to seduce his wife and help him get out of his marriage. While funny and including some rather ridiculous scenarios, the movie does actually put the relationship problems at the focus of it. More than that, Im and Ryu in particular really dig into their characters and bring out a depth that you aren’t particularly expecting when everything starts out. And it’s a movie that will leave you feeling warm and fuzzy by the end of it.
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33rd Blue Dragon Film Awards
Best Actress - Im Soo-jung Best Supporting Actor - Ryu Seung-ryong
Women in Film Korea Awards
Best Actress - Im Soo-jung
4th KOFRA Film Awards
Best Supporting Actor - Ryu Seung-ryong
COVER STORY
Lee Si-young
Oh Jung-se
Directed by: Lee Won-Suk Written by: Lee Won-Suk Noh Hye-Young Ha Su-jin Box office: US$2,956,304
How To Use Guys With Secret Tips (2012) A rom-com that uses satire and black comedy to not only entertain, but put the spotlight on gender inequality? Yes, please! Writer-director Lee Won-suk said that this was initially supposed to be a black comedy but he had to make some concessions during the production to make it more commercially acceptable. But still, it is an energetic jaunt full of brightness and laughs. And a few lessons along the way. Bona (Lee Si-yeong) is a struggling plain Jane attempting to work her way up the ladder as an AD for a director of commercial. Her ex-boyfriend Seungjae (Oh Jeong-sae) has made it as a pop culture icon and she seems destined to continue slaving away in a man’s world until one day she comes across Dr. Swarisky (Park Yeong-gyu) who sells her an instructional video (hint it’s the title of the movie) which ends up changing her life as she follows the tips. It is a crazy fun ride as it goes from Bona’s work disasters to love disasters, to finally finding some success, though it ends up not being all that it seems.
15th Far East Film Festival - Udine, Italy
Audience Award Golden Mulberry Award - Director Lee Won Suk
Fantasia Festival
Best Asian Feature - Bronze Award
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COVER STORY
Emma’s Personal Favorite Romantic Movies (Or Something Like That) Of course this article wouldn’t be complete without including some of my personal favorites when it comes to movies about love. Fair warning, none of the movies are Korean. And not all of them are romantic or rom-coms, per say (okay, so some of them DEFINITELY don’t fit that category) but they do include love in some form or another. You don’t always have to be “in love” and get the guy/girl/person at the end to experience love. And in my opinion, the best and longest lasting relationships have always been those I’ve had with my friends, so I’ve always enjoyed a good friends movie. These are listed in no particular order, because honestly, making a list of 10 was hard enough without having to rank them. And my list is constantly changing as it is.
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COVER STORY
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COMMUNITY
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COMMUNITY
Spelling has never un been this ffun Camarata stages impossibly funny “25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee”
Story EMMA KALKA Photos AMY KATZENMAYER
W
hile eager to see Camarata’s “25th Putnam County Spelling Bee” I will be honest - I wasn’t 100 percent sure what to expect. As many know, with community theater, it’s often a mixed bag. And with theater or any sort of live performance in general, you’re never completely sure how things will go. But I can definitely say that this production went far above and beyond any expectations I might have walked in with. In fact, I felt as though I were sitting in a much bigger theater, watching seasoned pros on-stage. And that the ticket price should have been far more expensive than it was. “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” was full of surprises. From the stellar casting, to the music, to just the show itself, which brings volunteers from the audience up on stage to fill out the rest of the spellers. Of course, if I had seen the show before I probably would have known what I was getting into, but really, part of the fun was walking in with absolutely no idea what was going to happen. For example, when I volunteered to be an audience speller, I wasn’t expecting to actually be involved in the show more than just spelling random words thrown at me. I somehow ended up sitting in the
first row - front and center - meaning any sort of reaction I had was in full view of the audience. Also, while there were instructions on the back of my number, I had no idea when I was supposed to get off stage (read - misspell my word). This caused a slight bit of panic. As did when I was pulled from my seat and made to do a sort of merry-go-round dance around some of the actors during “Pandemonium” (an aptly named number). The other audience volunteers fully embraced their parts, reacting off the cuff with their “fun facts” (I was too entertained and surprised to offer anything other than a laugh), which added to the hilarity. And it turned out I had nothing to worry about in terms of getting off stage - I’m pretty sure they intentionally gave me a difficult word I had never heard of my second time up which fixed that problem. Though the volunteer after me had to do two words one right after the other to get her off stage. Part of me wishes I had seen the show more than once just so I could see the other audience volunteers, which added a whole new level to the production. But hey, I got my moment to add to the hilarity, albeit in an unexpected and embarrassing way. ▶
It was in one word - insane. In all the right ways
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COMMUNITY
But I can definitely say that this production went far above and beyond any expectations I might have walked in with. In fact, I felt as though I were sitting in a much bigger theater, watching seasoned pros on-stage. And that the ticket price should have been far more expensive than it was.
Ran into a table and said “Oh shit” at exactly the wrong moment. But hey, people laughed, so there you go. It was - in one word - insane. In all the right ways. The show itself is hilarious with a witty book and great music. The actors then elevated it. Chris Sponagle was delightfully funny and sweet as Leaf Coneybear; Tarryn Hood made the obnoxiously cute Logainne “Schwartzy” Schwartzandgrubenierre thoroughly entertaining; Daniel Nicolucci had me rolling in laughter with every single “It’s BarFEY”; Jasmin Burton shined as Olive
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Ostrovsky; Jiwon Yun nailed Marcus Min’s solo; and there is so much to be said about Cassandra Westcott as Chip Tolentino, but really, she embraced Chip’s unfortunate erection in all its glory while later on embracing the role of Jesus. And the production wouldn’t have been complete with the “adults” - Frans Schoeman as Vice Principal Douglas Panch, Scott Stout as Mitch Mahoney and Carlyn Jones as Rona Lisa Peretti. Everything was delivered with impeccable timing and straight faces, which just made it all the better.
It’s obvious that a lot of love, effort and fun went into this production both on-stage and backstage. While the audience only sees what happens in front of them, it takes a crew to make a show happen, and the crew of “Putnam” certainly did their jobs well - including stage director Jamie Wheatley, music director Danielle Lyle, stage manager Kate Besleme and assistant music director Jamie Wilkin. And really, all I can say at this point is, I’m eager to see what Camarata does next.
FILM : REVIEW
Much Ado About
PARASITE (What’s the big deal?)
Closer look at the award-winning film
Story KEVIN LAMBERT Photos GOOGLE
M
uch of the world has been buzzing about a certain wellregarded Korean film that won the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival in 2019. This film would win a plethora of awards: Blue Dragon in Korea, Golden Globes, SAG Awards, New York and Los Angeles Critics Choice Awards, just to name a few. It’s nominated for a Best Picture Oscar, which is not uncommon, but the last foreign language film to win was, well, never. (“The Artist” was silent with lines in English.) The film, written and directed by the auteur Bong Joon Ho, is described as a tale of two families: one rich; one poor. The families enter into a symbiotic relationship, and a third family is found to have been interloping all the while. It’s all very metaphorical, and complex, but also simple; it starts off as a bleak comedy and a fairy tale.
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FILM : REVIEW FILM
So, here comes the spoiler warnings: I have no intention of dancing around the plot or ending for those who haven’t seen the film. You’ve been warned. I’ve had a number of conversations about the film and nearly all of the reviews are glowing. Rotten Tomatoes gives it a 99 percent for critics and a 93 percent audience score (if you’re into that kind of thing). The film is satirical, funny, and points to the class struggle that saddles the world. Something about the acclaim however, feels off. Many Koreans shrug at “Parasite” and are otherwise nonplussed. Is the satire effectively landing on the audience it was originally intended for? Approaching this film, I sat down for a chat with an old friend, Michael Aronson, after seeing a post he made on Facebook. Michael’s YouTube video on the Seoul Subway has over 1.4 million views. It was even played on the subway. Pretty neat. (Michael's YT: p00lman)
The thread started: I saw Parasite. This movie has no third act. Why is anyone talking about a movie with no third act, which fails to pay off its subplots and all of its themes. It's so lazy it's almost impressive. Fair enough. I’m not going to copy paste his whole critique but it’s pretty solid: The film is about nothing. The poor family isn’t trying to take over the rich family, and they have no stated goals for improving their own status. There’s no stated goal and nothing for the family to achieve. An idea that seems to run parallel to RTE reviewer, Paddy Kehoe, “A film is hardly effective satire if it doesn't point up a route, however obliquely, towards radical change." So, we chatted. Here’s how it went.
The film is satirical, funny, and points to the class struggle that saddles the world. Something about the acclaim however, feels off.
Kevin: What’s your general take on this film? Michael: It has a very promising premise. ▶
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FILM : REVIEW
K: So, what makes “Parasite” so relevant right now? Is it because of K-pop? BTS? M: I feel like western media talks about “Parasite” like they talk about Gangnam Style, like they never took it seriously for the satirical message - it’s just a fun video. “Parasite” is a fun movie, but all the superficial elements are about class - a Cinderella story where they’re pretending. They’re undercover in this foreign world. The film explores class like a cosplay. K: An inverted Rapunzel. Instead of being trapped in a tower they're trapped in a basement. I don’t know how that pans out, but it ties into the fairy tale thing. M: [As for being relevant] I feel that the first act was strong because the characters are aware of the disparities they face, but they’re also clever enough to overcome their lot in life and there’s something appealing in that. They don’t have upward mobility, but plotwise, they pull themselves up from nothing, and you judge them by how well they’re keeping up appearances, how well they lie, or what stories they concoct. They reinvent themselves. K: Let’s get to this third act: you said, the third act is so lazy it’s almost impressive. Let’s talk about that. M: I don’t know why other people aren’t more critical of the third act. Like when Kiwoo takes it upon himself to murder the former housekeeper and her husband in the basement with the rock...
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I feel that the first act was strong because the characters are aware of the disparities they face, but they’re also clever enough to overcome their lot in life and there’s something appealing in that
K: It’s supposed to be Chekhov's gun, something like that. M: Ki-woo is the main character because it’s his plan, his initiative, and he moves the plot by getting them the jobs. In that vein, it’s logical for him to come up with a solution on his own, I mean, murder is hasty, but at least it’s a good use of that rock - that Chehkov’s rock. K: I didn’t see that in Ki-woo. For him to go downstairs and want to kill the old man that’s not really set up.
M: When Ki-woo goes into the basement he drops the rock, and the crazy housekeeper’s husband picks it up, and it appears he murders [Ki-woo], but he doesn’t? So, he gets out of the basement and he’s bloody from smacking his head against the light switch in desperation, because the rich savant kid knows Morse code. K: The Morse code thing: It does seem out of place? M: There are a lot of potential subplots for the kid (Da-song), to have. Because his sister (Da-hye) claims he’s faking his art savantness and we don’t know why. He’s got the super smell thing where he can seem to know Mr and Mrs Kim use the same detergent. But the kid has no agency in the film. K: Which is also sad because Da-song has some nasty PTSD - if there’s anyone who really suffers in the film it’s this kid... M: Maybe it’s intended to be a punchline? It happens right before Ki-jung is murdered? It’s just a messy scene to me. K: Why is it called “Parasite”? Who’s the parasite? M: I don’t think they ever use that term in the script, in the dialogue ... when I asked
FILM : REVIEW FILM
my brother to watch it, he asked, ”Is it a body horror movie?” (Michael replies) “It’s not even a horror - it’s just a metaphor.” It doesn’t describe any of the situations in the movie accurately or what a parasitic relationship is: the parasite drains nutrients away from the host, such that it harms the host, and that’s not happening in any of the scenarios. They’re all doing legitimate work for the rich family. They got the jobs in an illegitimate fashion, but the work they’re doing is real work - despite the deception. K: Right. From what we’re told, these people earned those jobs and they had the qualifications… M: Ki-woo, faked his [degree]. He was enrolled in uni when he wasn’t; but the rich mother doesn’t even look at the diploma. He recommends Ki-jung, based on a false story; she was supposed to be the rich kid’s art teacher. And when she first visits, the kid produces art on his own, so she does the job appropriately. K: By the rich mother’s own metric, this person is qualified to teach art. Ki-jung won her over by discussing the painting... M: And the father’s driving skills were tested - and he passed. The rich guy is holding a cup of liquid and it doesn’t spill
at all, and the mom is a housekeeper and does all the things she’s supposed to do. K: But the rich family sucks ‘cause they’re aloof? M: The rich CEO gets a little mad at Ki-taek when he questions the CEO’s love for his wife. So, the CEO flexes his upper class stature, whatever the imbalance of power may be, but I thought it’s legitimate thing to get angry at.
K: He says, “you work for me - do this.” It’s unfair, but not some huge ethical blunder. We’ve seen bigger conflicts in an episode of Friends. Not worth stabbing someone over. M: Perhaps the story is more about eating the rich. K: Maybe that’s a better title. M: Right. “Eat The Rich” - if this film was a home invasion horror it still works.
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MUSIC
FOREIGN OBJECT 34
Finding Connections Through Music Story ROYA CARTLEGE Photos MATT MAKOWSKI
MUSIC
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he expat rock band Foreign Object is making their way through the Korean underground music scene. The band consists of five members currently, who all hail from different parts of the US. Their music genre is undeniably rock, somewhat hardcore; slightly grind, with a whole lot of 90’s nostalgia. The band’s sound and presence are quite passionate and eclectic. From their name, to their lyrics and demeanor; Foreign Object is giving their audience something unique and truly entertaining. Here is Groove Magazine’s interview with their lead singer Matt.. How did your band get together and how long have you been performing in Seoul? I began the search shortly after arriving in Korea, after getting settled into the new lifestyle about June 2018. I literally started by asking people on the streets if I saw them carrying instruments or playing. I even met some cool other bands and musicians that way. I’ve played with some [of the people I’ve met this way] and still keep in touch. Facebook was a good help
and that is how I met Jean. Richard, the bassist, I met through mutual friends. I started to jam with Jean with me on guitar or bass until we could find other people, but we decided it was time to write a song, so the beginning of “Hearts and Embers” started in September 2018. I was trying to start a Hardcore band. The song was a lot heavier when I first wrote it. After getting the song rolling, I tried harder with my pursuit and put an ad on Craigslist, not expecting a bit. Then we got Chris, our still main guitarist, and we had our first gig shortly after in December. For the show, we had to write a couple of songs really quickly that were listenable and also prepare some covers for a full set to work. After the show, sadly, our drummer had to depart back to France. When we all got back from Christmas break, we picked back up again with another drummer who has been with us for the rest of the writing and playing since March 2019. I met Paul jamming with another start-up band that wanted me as their bassist. That kind of fell apart and instead, I enticed Paul to come to try out with us. ▶
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MUSIC
How did you get involved with the music scene in Korea was it difficult? Do you find it any different from scenes working in the US? You get involved like you would anything else--just by inserting yourself into situations. Music has always been a part of my life, so it was natural to be drawn to it right away. I was going to shows basically the first few months I was in Korea. I didn’t really explore the culture or do touristy things. I actually find it a lot easier in Korea to get involved in the music scene. The US is a big country, but the local scenes always feel exclusive almost everywhere. Here, it’s a big party and everyone is really nice and welcoming with an all-inclusive demeanor.
Music has always been a part of my life, so it was natural to be drawn to the music scene here in Korea right away
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What is the meaning of your band’s name? Imuljil is the Korean name, and it literally means ‘Foreign Object’. To Koreans, when we say that word they kind of cringe as if they are getting an unpleasant visual of an actual object protruding from the body or being lodged into some orifice. That alone is funny in itself, but the name is just simply what it says. We are all foreigners in Korea in this band and it felt right to have that name. It can be hard to fit into a new place, especially when communicating, but everyone can communicate through music and in turn, makes it feel good to be heard and seen when you often feel invisible. What first got you into music? Personally, the first CD that really inspired me to pick up a guitar was Adrenaline by Deftones, Root, engine #9, etc. It was a gift from my aunt that she had bought on a whim for my birthday because she thought the cover looked “cool”. The cover is a picture of a douche. She thought it was a seashell, but so did I for a long time. Who writes your songs? What are the main themes or topics for most of your songs? Do you think these topics will change over time? So far I have been the main songwriter, but the other guys can change their parts if they don’t like them or if they can be improved. The drummer picks up on songs quite easily and he just takes direction and suggestions from any of us quite easily.
How do you feel your music is perceived here in Seoul? What is the majority of the feedback you have received? I personally feel like the lyrics mostly don’t matter since a majority of people don’t understand or pay attention to all the words much alone understand the themes and symbolism behind anything meaningful. As long as they are having fun - and it seems as though they are having a lot of it! We are well received in the Rock, Indie, and Punk scenes, Though we don’t consider ourselves punk there are some flavors of it sprinkled here and there. For most of the audience reception, it has been incredible. A lot of people really seem to be welcoming to our strange mannerisms and gimmicks. We’ve tried to dress up or wear something together like a theme or just for fun. The best feedback is unspoken when people are singing your lyrics with you! That is a great feeling. What genre of music do you consider your work to be? Who are your major influences? We fit mostly in the Rock and Indie scenes. We can hit a bit harder, play a bit faster and scream a bit louder for the punk crowd, though. Most of our music is digestible rock and roll with a bit of our own flavor. We all have a lot of influences on our own, but try not to let those influences show in our writing too much. We would like our sound to be identifiable to us, however. We have been told we sound like a mix of Queens of the Stone Age, Motion City Soundtrack, Spill Canvas and even Rise Against! We’ve had some more generous comparisons, but we know we aren’t on that level yet! How do you balance your music with other obligations especially with the “빨리 빨리” lifestyle here in Korea? Most of us just work the nine-to-five, but we all know we basically practice at least once a week and do a gig when we all agree to do a show. We often remind ourselves that this is just for fun and try to be as accommodating as possible because we know it can’t always be easy to juggle everything. ▶
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Which songs do you perform most frequently? Do you ever play any covers? Do you have a set playlist? We’re still a young band; it feels like we just learned to walk and we are beginning to jog now, so our songs are kind of limited to the same setlist, but we have some new songs coming very soon that will allow us to begin rotating them. We do play covers, ranging from obscure indie rock as The Oh Sees, Obits, to more popular covers like Electric Six and Fugazi. What’s the most interesting experience you’ve had at a performance or working together here in Seoul? There is always at least one or two weird people at a show. They can make or break the mood. There was a time when my leg was licked while we were wearing dresses for a show and the guy was screaming he loved me the entire time and demanding obscene things--at one point I stepped down for an instrumental portion of the set and suddenly I hear some stranger on the PA. He had helped himself up to the stage and got on the mic. That being
said, there are always interesting things happening! The best part is meeting the people after the show and knowing they enjoyed it! What is your favorite song to perform? A certain bandmate is not going to like me saying this, but I absolutely love performing to Butter and Hotcakes. It has the most contrast and gives me the freedom to do what I want on stage at almost every degree--from calm to manic, and even sweet. Of course, Hearts and Embers have my most love, though, which just got some studio treatment. What’s next for you and your band? We plan to release a couple of songs for gathering an EP together and expanding our venue locations for performance. Merch is coming out soon also! I want to continue playing with other local bands and acts. We love finding those who complement each other well in the scene. It would be amazing to play outside of Korea but we’re not sure with our obligations exactly how to get that to
Search ForeignObject_Official on Instagram and Foreign Object (이물질) on Facebook to stay updated for their upcoming shows.
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It can be hard to fit into a new place, especially when communicating, but everyone can communicate through music and in turn, makes it feel good to be heard and seen when you often feel invisible.
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K-FASHION
seoul
vintage
A new trend is here: old season is in Story and Photos DIANNE PINEDA-KIM • Model LORENA JIMÉNEZ
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K-FASHION
A
report that textile waste occupies nearly 5 percent of all landfill space, with 32.55 billion lbs. found in the public waste stream in the US. That means that 70 lbs. is generated by one person alone. The space that garments occupy on land is not the only issue—chemicals and toxic dyes are contaminating the ground and water. This bleak situation is even more
Photos in this spread UNSPLASH, PEXELS
simple scroll through Instagram or any other social media channel and you’ll most likely see the top posts showing people wearing the latest trends in fashion, with hashtags #ootd (outfit of the day), #fashiongoals, and #dailylook getting the most engagement. All around the world, a vast majority of people are interested in fashion—but this, however, comes with a big price. More people following trends means more consumption of clothes. This is the main dilemma of fast fashion, a garment economy that churns out clothes at a rapid pace. “Fast fashion focuses on speed and low costs in order to deliver frequent new collections inspired by catwalk looks or celebrity styles. But it is particularly bad for the environment, as pressure to reduce cost and the time it takes to get a product from design to shop floor means that environmental corners are more likely to be cut,” Patsy Perry, a senior lecturer in Fashion Marketing and sustainable fashion advocate, writes on the “Independent.”
apparent in Korea, a country that is at the forefront of style and beauty trends that surrounding countries around Asia and the rest of the world try to emulate. With the popularity of Korean pop culture that sparked the Hallyu wave, the spread of music, dramas, food, among many other things from South Korea, the world looks to the country for inspiration. And fashion is arguably on top of this list. This is because Koreans are known for their contemporary styles and unique way of dressing that is considered the norm here. In Seoul, you’ll see urbanites walking in the streets wearing fashionable items on the daily. Whether young or old, it is a fact that Koreans like to dress up—and stylishly well. “The Korea Times” reported that according to a recent survey done by the Korea Women's Environmental Network, 70 percent of 500 male and female respondents in Korea said that they don't wear more than half the clothes they bought one year ago again. “Consumers are simply buying way more than they actually need and cheap prices are fanning thoughtless consumption. The turnaround of trends is happening at a crazy speed,” Lee Bo Eun, director of the environmental group, told the newspaper. ▶
AN ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEM It is important to question the producers and sellers: What happens to the clothes that are not sold? While for fashion-savvy consumers: What happens to outfits when they’re no longer en vogue? The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates in their 2014
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K-FASHION THE MONSTERS IN OUR CLOSET What this industry doesn’t tell us is the “unpretty” side of fashion. First, under the wings of this fashion machinery are workers that are forced into unethical labor practices, with many retailers turning to countries like China, Bangladesh, Cambodia, and other countries for cheap labor. Second, and perhaps more important, is that its impact on the environment is irreversible and experts say that massive efforts need to be done now if we want to see a liveable environment in the near future. According to a report by Forbes, “The fashion industry’s CO2 emissions are projected to increase by more than 60 percent to nearly 2.8 billion tons per year by 2030. Main cotton producing countries like China and India are already facing water shortages, and with water consumption projected to go up 50 percent by 2030, these cotton-growing nations face the dilemma of choosing between cotton production and securing clean drinking water.” Speaking of drinking water, not a lot of people know that polyester, a popular material used in garments, shed minute microfibers that are washed away into the oceans, increasing the levels of plastic. Consequently, this poses a threat to aquatic life.
Buying from commercial fast fashion brands means that we are supporting this vicious cycle for the mere purpose of looking stylish and trendy. But there seems to be a spark of hope despite the problems that unethical fashion has, quite literally, piled up. With easy access to information, consumers are now looking for a more sustainable way to shop. A study revealed by Vogue shows that in 2018, 64 percent of women were willing to buy pre-owned pieces compared with 45 percent in 2016— and it is thought that by 2028, 13 percent of the clothes in women’s wardrobes are likely to be secondhand. There is no doubt that a new trend is here: old season is in. One way to help promote sustainability is through “conscious fashion,” buying pre-loved clothing, recycling garments, and lessening or avoiding unnecessary
Photos in this page UNSPLASH, PEXELS
Now more than ever is the right time to stop feeding the monsters in our closet
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fast fashion purchases. Several brands are now heeding this call for ecofashion, sparking a movement through practices that eliminate waste and toxic chemicals in the production of clothing. You can seek out these brands or support institutions that not only advocate causes for the environment but also encourage consumers to be smarter with their purchases.. MAKING A CHANGE On a more personal note, as a lover of fashion, I often find myself with a mountain of clothes that are still in good quality but I no longer wear. A few years ago, I started changing my buying habits (mostly impulse shopping) and turned to secondhand stores. Not only do I find unique items that most mainstream shops do not have, but I am also helping to extend the average life of clothes. While extended use does not make the garment a totally sustainable one, this saves the clothes from being tossed in landfills and lessen textile waste. In 2018, I, alongside my friend and business partner, started our first international Autumn flea market in Jeonju to create a space for expats and Koreans to buy and sell used goods. Thankfully, the project picked up and we’ve just had a successful second run last November 2019 and we hope to continue this not only in the region but also in other places in Korea for more years to come. So how do we start making a change? We know these declarations already, but we often fail to apply them in our daily lives. Buy less. Support local. Re-use clothes. Lessen waste. Now more than ever is the right time to stop feeding the monsters in our closet. In Seoul, there are a lot of secondhand stores and vintage shops that provide a lot of options for shoppers. ▶
K-FASHION
BACK TO THE VINTAGE From the impeccably styled clothes hanging outside to the slightly dark interiors and hip-hop music, this underground store looks effortlessly cool. Its vast collection of retro wear and repurposed clothes make an important lesson in fashion: clothes can have a second life. What is particularly unique about this place is that the owner himself redesigns pairs of jeans by adding colorful and printed patches on them, making them interesting statement pieces. You can also get inspiration from the stylish staff who wear their own take on vintage dressing.
Model LORENA JIMÉNEZ
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K-FASHION
“Through vintage stores, not only do I find unique items that most mainstream shops do not have, but I am also helping to extend the average life of clothes.”
YEONNAM VINTAGE @yeonnam_vintage
This underground shop on the youthful street of Yeonnam-dong is a treasure trove of streetwear for men, but most, if not all of the styles can be unisex as well. Sportswear brands such as Nike, Stussy, Adidas, and the like are available. For vintage T-shirt collectors, this place has one-of-a-kind statement tees and a ton of options for denimwear. It’s a cool place for anyone looking for urban street styles.
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K-FASHION
COCO VINTAGE @cocovintage_official
This vintage clothing store in Hongdae may look like an upscale place because of its neatly arranged racks, beautiful interiors, and wide space, but it is home to more affordable designer brands. Young Korean customers like this place because it is filled with namesake brands from their archive collections that are still popular today, such as Chanel, Versace, Burberry, Louis Vuitton, among many others. What’s great about this store is that they have an amazing curation of authentic designer bags and apparel that are in good condition and don’t even look like they’re secondhand.
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K-FASHION
CLOSET SHARE www.closetshare.com
If buying vintage is not really your thing, there’s an app that lets you earn money when you lend out clothes in your closet. In November 2018, the Closet Company launched “Closet Share,” a mobile application for fashion sharing. Juhee Seong, the CEO of The Closet Company, said that, “Closet Share is an exclusively domestic clothes sharing service that allows one to earn money by sharing one’s closet. We provide a fashion sharing experience that anyone can enjoy easily through updated services, including enhanced search functions and curation based on AI.” Users who apply both for sharing and renting clothes are offered shipping, cleaning and care services of Closet Share items by mobile request.
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K-FASHION
JOB OPENING! Groove Korea is currently looking for candidates to fill the position of
CLIENT COMMUNICATIONS JOB DESCRIPTION • A full-time position • Online marketing management for Medical Services • Foreign client liaison • Translate Korean/English QUALIFICATIONS • F visa holder preferred • Fluent in both Korean and English (TOPIK grade 5+ preferred) • Excellent communication skills • Under age 36 • Marketing experience preferred WORKING REGION Seoul COMPENSATION • 2,200,000 ~ 2,600,000KRW monthly (pre-tax) • Health Insurance covered • In accordance with the Labor Standards Act of the Korean Labor Law
APPLY NOW!
Please send resumes to hr@groovekorea.com
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FOOD & DRINK
Before
Blooming
The season before becoming a flower Story & Photos BECKY WHITE
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FOOD & DRINK
C The whole place is full of light from the expansive windows and the white, minimal interior emphasizes a sense of space and brightness. Black and gold accents give a touch of class
afes come and go in my neighborhood. Being a popular spot for the young and chic, it seems here businesses tire of serving the endless, well-dressed couples and decide to shutter their doors to make way for the next ambitious cafe that hopes to make it. At least, so it looks to me. But I am yet just another young and (hopefully) chic customer. With the mindset of finding the next cafe that will offer a bit of solace for thinking, I headed over to the third floor, glass-windowed, sunny and minimal cafe Before Blooming. â–ś
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FOOD & DRINK
An immense feeling of satisfaction comes when you know you’ve got lots to do and the perfect place to do it all
I sat in the sweetly empty cafe, quiet but for Louis Armstrong singing in his gravelly tones over the speakers. An immense feeling of satisfaction comes when you know you’ve got lots to do and the perfect place to do it all. I was quite smug for finding my secret corner, three floors above Yeontral Park with a perfect window view and the whole place to myself. No sooner had I settled in, assuming reign over my cafe domain, a crowd came streaming through the doors. My jaw actually dropped open at the sight of fifty or so people pushing their way into the limited space, all smiles and laughter. All dressed in a professional manner, it seemed like an entire business convention had happened to come by and decided with one mind to swarm the place. You can’t have everything, I muttered to myself. This crowd stayed for a good while and finally all left in one sweeping exit, similar
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to how they had entered. In their wake I remained, seated rigidly at my table where I had been crammed in between groups of people for the last few hours. The cafe was finally quiet once more. This is not related at all to my topic at hand. I simply wanted to share that Before Blooming, unassuming as it is, is actually a very popular spot in the area. There is even a waiting list, which I have never seen for a cafe before, and though they have a good amount of seating it apparently maxes out enough to have waiting customers. The whole place is full of light from the expansive windows and the white, minimal interior emphasizes a sense of space and brightness. Black and gold accents give a touch of class. Their menu is straightforward. They serve a few desserts (called ‘tiramisu’ but… well, if you’ve read my “Two Sizes Korea” article from the holiday issue you’ll know how I feel about
most other tiramisu in Korea) and have a very pretty strawberry-ade that practically glitters as it fizzes. Have I said enough about this cafe to entice you to come? I do recommend a lot of spaces; this one happily joins that list. When I first learned the cafe’s name, this quote from Walt Disney was actually what came to my mind. “The flower that blooms in adversity is the rarest and most beautiful of all.” The cafe’s name is Before Blooming, and it felt just so fitting to how I have been as of late. People are accustomed to seeing me run everywhere at every moment doing everything. Since the Christmas holidays, I’ve found myself significantly less productive. My jobs are few and far between, so I use the majority of my day for thinking, writing, making music and going
FOOD & DRINK
“The flower that blooms in adversity is the rarest and most beautiful of all”
to the gym. I’ll cook nearly all of my meals at home and still find hours to spare for calling friends or planning for that vague, looming mysterious future. No, despite what my social media might look like, I do not have it all together. It encourages me to think that rather than being a dead flower, my time having come and gone in a brief flash, I just simply haven’t bloomed yet. My potential is still in the ground, being watered and soaking in sunshine until one day I’ll finally push through the cracked earth and grow into something truly beautiful. I am just before blooming. Perhaps you are also lost in the difficulties of daily life and mundanity. It is easy to feel insignificant when the world rushes around you, screaming ‘be successful! be useful! be beautiful!’ and all you are is a tiny seedling, too small to be anything but that. But the tiniest seed becomes a mighty oak in time, and the flower that blooms in adversity, well… you know the rest. I hope that this gorgeous little cafe that planted itself in this ever shifting neighborhood is here to stay for good. I hope that I’ll be able to enjoy it fully to myself one day. I hope more than all that I’ll learn to appreciate this unique time, this time before blooming.
Before Blooming Hongdae exit 3 / Donggyo-dong, 148-9 3F | M-Sun 12:00pm to 22:00pm Holidays and every third Monday of the month they are closed | Plastic free - decidedly yes! They still offer plastic straws. You need to ask them to NOT give you one otherwise it automatically is served with your drink. @blooming._.llll
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TRAVEL
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TRAVEL
Experience the Alps of Asia at Alpensia Resorts
Enjoying the Alps of Asia Story & Photos WENDY PALOMO
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TRAVEL
Wave pool inside Ocean 700
A
ll roads led to Pyeongchang in February of 2018. It was the Winter Olympics, after all. The world has heard of Pyeongchang and everybody wanted to be part of the Olympics, as a volunteer or a spectator. Although some were hesitant to head there, the determination and grit exhibited by the organizers to show the world that Pyeongchang can host an impressive Olympics dispelled these doubts and hesitation. But before the world knew of Pyeongchang, Alpensia Resort was already catering to local and foreign tourists while gearing itself to accommodate the thousands that came from all over to witness the Winter Olympics. Alpensia was created to make reality the fantasy of having the Alps in Asia, thus the name “Alpensia”. It combines Alpen (the German word for the Alps), Asia and Fantasia. The magnificent view that Alpensia offers, especially when it becomes a winter wonderland, brings to life the vision it was created to offer. Accommodation The resort has three hotels for your winter pleasure: the Holiday Inn Resorts, the Holiday Inn & Suites and the Intercontinental Hotel. Both the Holiday Inn Resorts and the Intercontinental Hotel have your typical hotel set-up. You can have regular rooms or a suite, whichever is to your liking and budget. The Holiday Inn & Suites offers condominium-type accommodation that has a kitchen, dining area and living room area. Some units have terraces and the premium ones have terraces overlooking the slopes. The Intercontinental Hotel is located farther away from the two Holiday Inn hotels. Though separated, it is still a good leisurely walk within the resort. It has its own luxurious facilities and is the only hotel in the complex that has a gym. There is a small putting green in front of the hotel grounds where kids (adults too, why not?) can practice their golf swing. A hidden gem rests behind the hotel. There’s a small lake and right in the middle is a small island called Solseom (솔섬). A gazebo adds to the charm of the small island and it is connected by an arched bridge that
forms a picturesque view with the hotel as its backdrop. Things to do in Alpensia The resort operates year round and offers an equally beautiful landscape that naturally changes as each season unfolds. So, what are the leisure activities you can engage in? Skiing The resort has three ski slopes. It is not as challenging as neighboring ski resorts, but it is the best place for beginners to learn. Every winter, the resort is equipped with qualified ski instructors to make lessons during vacation fun and inspiring so they can immediately go on to higher slopes for a more exciting stay. The Lunar New Year is always filled with people wanting to hit the slopes. For those who want to have the slopes to themselves, the resort is open for nighttime skiing until 10 pm. Ocean 700 The Ocean 700 water park is open all year round. In the summer, the outdoor swimming pool is open amidst a beautiful green landscape that turns white and become ski slopes in winter. The indoor area is open all seasons and offers different levels of enjoyment for all ages. This is a fullday activity for families although there’s an option for half-day tickets. Easily, this makes for one full day in the resort, even during winter. Ocean 700’s location is very convenient.
Intercontinental Hotel
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It is located nearest to the Holiday Inn Resorts but is also just a few minutes walking distance from the Holiday Inn Resorts & Suites. Hiking to the Ski Jump Tower There is a monorail that conveniently takes guests up to the Ski Jump Tower, the Olympic facility that Alpensia is most wellknown for. But you need not go all the way to the monorail facility if you are up for hiking. There’s a hiking trail from the resort which takes you up to the tower. Up in the Ski Jump Tower, you can see the pristine surroundings of the resort on one side and the silent beauty of the Taebak Mountains on the other side. It is not a hard climb but could be a little challenging when the mountain is covered with snow. But what awaits at the top is worth every step your snow-covered boots take.
Ski learners in the bunny hill
TRAVEL
The resort operates the whole year round and offers an equally beautiful landscape that naturally changes as each season unfolds
View of Taebak Mountain
Alpensia was created to make reality the fantasy of having the "Alps" in Asia
Night time of the slopes
How to get to Alpensia There are direct shuttle buses from Seoul, specifically Myeongdong, that take you right into Alpensia. These privately-operated buses are the most convenient way to travel and take only around 2.5 hours. You can also opt to take public buses from Nambu Bus Terminal that will bring you to Hoenggye Bus Terminal in Daegwallyeong and then take a local bus or taxi towards the resort. In late 2017, the Gangneung KTX bullet train started operating from Seoul Station to Jinbu Station. From Jinbu Station, resort guests can use the free shuttle that will take them directly to the resort.
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LISTINGS
FAMILY AND KIDS Eton House Prep (02) 749-8011 • 68-3 Hannam-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul A unique British-style Prep School for children of all nationalities from 2-13 years of age. A broad, challenging and innovative curriculum preparing pupils for senior school and life beyond. www.etonhouseprep.com AMUSEMENT PARKS Everland Resort (031) 320-5000 • 310 Jeondae-ri, Pogokeup, Cheoin-gu, Yongin-si, Gyeonggi-do Lotte World (02) 411-2000 0 • 240 Olympic-ro, Songpa-gu, Seoul Pororo Park (D-Cube city) 1661-6340 • 360-51 Sindorim-dong, Guro-gu, Seoul Children’s Grand Park (zoo) (02) 450-9311 • 216 Neungdong-ro, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul Seoul Zoo (02) 500-7338 • 159-1 Makgyedong, Gwacheon-si, Gyeonggi-do BOOKSTORES What the Book? (02) 797-2342 • 176-2, Itaewon 1-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul • whatthebook.com Located in Itaewon, this English bookstore has new books, used books and children’s books. Kim & Johnson 1566-0549 • B2 fl-1317-20 Seochodong, Seocho-gu, Seoul
HEALTH ORIENTAL MEDICINE Lee Moon Won Korean Medicine Clinic 02) 511-1079 • 3rd fl., Lee&You bldg. 69-5 Chungdam-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul Specializes in hair loss and scalp problems and offers comprehensive treatments and services including aesthetic and hair care products. COSMETIC SURGERY MIZAIN plastic surgery Seoul National University College of Medicine graduate doctors offer the best quality medical services • (02) 515 6199 • Dosan-daero 423 (Cheongdam-dong 91-11), Gangnam-gu, Seoul www.mizainps.com MVP plastic surgery Welcoming environment for foreigners and friendly staff guarantees a pleasant visit for cosmetic surgery related consultations. (02) 3442 6669 •Nonhyeon-ro 819, Gangnam-gu, Seoul JK plastic surgery center Experience the best medical system in Korea. Its superb system allows the minimum efforts for your medical experiences. (02) 777 0337 • 584-2 Sinsa-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul FITNESS Exxl Fitness Gangnam Finance Center, 737 Yeoksamdong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul www.exxl.co.kr
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UROLOGY & OB Sewum Urology (02) 3482-8575 • 10th fl., Dongil bldg., 429 Gangnam-daero, Seochogu, Seoul Tower Urology (02) 2277-6699 • 5th fl. 119 Jongno 3-ga, Jongno-gu, Seoul DENTAL CLINIC Boston Dental Clinic General dentistry / Periodontics / Orthodontics (02) 3482-0028 • 92-12 5F, Banpo 4-dong (Seorae French Village), Seocho-gu, Seoul OPHTHALMOLOGY Dream Eye Center The best eye clinic for LASIK and LASEK. 3,000+ foreign patients over 20+ years of experience with 0 complaints. If you’re considering getting this, make sure to choose the best. • 1588 9881 • 14 fl., Mijin Plaza, 825 Yeoksam-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul ANIMAL HOSPITALS Itaewon Animal Hospital (02) 797-6677 • 210 Noksapyeong-daero, Yongsan-gu, Seoul
MUSEUM AND GALLERIES National Museum of Korea (02) 2077-9000 • 168-6 Yongsandong 6-ga, Yongsan-gu, Seoul The NMK offers educational programs on Korean history and culture in English and Korean. National Palace Museum of Korea (02) 3701-7500 • 12 Hyoja-ro, Jongnogu, Seou This museum has a program called Experiencing Royal Culture designed for English teachers to help learn about Joseon royal culture. Seodaemun Museum of Natural History (02) 330-8899 • 141-52 Yeonhui-dong, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul Don’t know where to take your kids on weekends? This museum exhibits a snapshot of the world and animals. National Museum of Contemporary Art, Korea (02) 2188-6000 • 313 Gwangmyeongro, Gwacheon-si, Gyeonggi-do Leeum Samsung Museum of Art (02) 2014-6901• 747-18 Hannam-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul • 10:30 am-6 pm Closed on Mondays, New Year’s Day, Lunar New Year and Chuseok holidays. Gallery Hyundai (02) 734-6111~3 • 22 Sagan-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul The first specialized art gallery in Korea and accommodates contemporary art. • 10 am-6 pm Closed on Mondays, New Year’s Day, Lunar New Year and Chuseok holidays. Plateau (02) 1577-7595 • 50 Taepyung-ro 2-ga, Jung-gu, Seoul • 10 am-6 p. m. Closed on Mondays. National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Seoul (MMCA SEOUL) (02) 3701-9500 • 30 Samcheong-ro, Sogyeok-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul Daegu Art Museum (053) 790-3000 • 374 Samdeok-dong, Suseong-gu, Daegu Art space for local culture presenting Daegu’s contemporary fine arts and internationally renowned artists.
LISTINGS EMBASSIES American Embassy (02) 397-4114 • 188 Sejong-daero, Jongno-gu, Seoul Canadian Embassy (02) 3783-6000 • (613) 996-8885 (Emergency Operations Center) Jeongdong-gil (Jeong-dong) 21, Jung-gu, Seoul British Embassy (02) 3210-5500 • Sejong-daero 19-gil 24, Jung-gu, Seoul Australian Embassy (02) 2003-0100 • 19th fl, Kyobo bldg., 1 Jongno 1-ga, Jongno-gu, Seoul Philippine Embassy (02) 796-7387~9 • 5-1 Itaewon-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul Spanish Embassy (02) 794-3581 • 726-52 Hannam-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul French Embassy (02) 3149-4300 • 30 Hap-dong, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul
HOTELS & RESORTS Banyan Tree Club & Spa Seoul (02) 2250-8080 • San 5-5, Jangchung-dong 2-ga Jung gu,Seoul
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Novotel Ambassador Gangnam (02) 567-1101 • 603 Yeoksam 1-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul Grand Hilton Seoul (02) 3216-5656 • 353 Yeonhui-ro, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul Somerset Palace Seoul (02) 6730-8888 • 85 Susongdong, Jongno-gu, Seoul Park Hyatt Seoul (02) 2016-1244 • 606 Teheran-ro, Gangnam-gu, Seoul Lotte Hotel Busan (051) 810-1000 • 772 Gayadaero, Busanjin-gu, Busan Park Hyatt Busan (051) 990-1244 • 51, Marine City 1-ro, Haeundae-gu, Busan 612824, Korea
EMERGENCY MEDICAL CENTERS
Seoul National University Hospital 1339 • 28-2 Yeongeon-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul Seoul Samsung Hospital 1599-3114 • 50 Irwon-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul Asan Medical Center 1688-7575 • 88 Olympic-ro 43-gil, Songpagu, Seoul Keimyung University Dongsan Medical Center (053) 250-7167 (7177 / 7187) • 56 Dalseong-ro, Jung-gu, Daegu
AIRLINES Korean Air 1588-2001
FAMILY AND KIDS Yongsan Intl. School (02) 797-5104 • San 10-213 Hannam-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul Seoul Intl. School (031) 750-1200 • 388-14 Bokjeongdong, Sujeong-gu, Seongnam, Gyeonggi-do Branksome Hall Asia (02) 6456-8405 • Daejung-eup, Seogipo-si, Jeju Island Daegu Intl. School (053) 980-2100 • 1555 Bongmudong, Dong-gu, Daegu
Dulwich College Seoul
Asiana Airlines 1588-8000 Lufthansa (02) 2019-0180 Garuda Indonesia (02) 773-2092 • garuda-indonesia.co.kr
University Dongsan Medical Center (053) 250-7167 (7177 / 7187) 56 Dalseong-ro, Jung-gu, Daegu
Jeju Air 1599-1500
Gangnam St-Mary’s Hospital 1588-1511 • 222 Banpo-daero, Seocho-gu, Seoul
British Airways (02) 774-5511
Yonsei Severance Hospital (Sinchon) (02) 2227-7777 • 50 Yonsei-ro, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul
Delta Airlines (02) 754-1921
T’way Air 1688-8686 Jin Air 1600-6200 Cathay Pacific Airways (02) 311-2700v Emirates Airlines (02) 2022-8400
Dulwich College Seoul offers an exemplary British-style international education (including IGCSE and IBDP) for over 600 expatriate students aged 3 to 18 from over 40 different countries. 6 Sinbanpo-ro 15-gil, Seocho-gu, Seoul, Korea http://seoul.dulwich.org/ admissions@dulwich-seoul.kr 02-3015-8500
