Groove Korea 2019 June

SINCE SINCE2006 2006

KOREA • Issue 147 • June 2019

groovekorea.com

/groovekorea

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JUNE 2019 COVER STORY

From the Editor-in-Chief

14 ABOUT THE COVER Model: Heezy Yang Studio: Studio Bansah Photographer: Daniel Kim

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IT’S THAT TIME of year again, when rainbow flags and flags of various other colors symbolizing all sexual minority groups fill City Hall Plaza, the area packed to the brim of people from all over the country (and world) celebrating love in all its many wonderful forms. It’s the Seoul Queer Culture Festival.

I never really had the opportunity to take part in Pride in the U.S. Part of it was location - I grew up in a small town in Oklahoma and spent my summers there during summer breaks in college and it was hard to get to bigger cities or states where events were held. Part of it was also because, I admit, it just wasn’t on my radar. I knew openly gay people, but for some reason, I was too caught up in my own world to think about the bigger world around me. It took coming to South Korea for me to truly and fully become exposed to the LGBTQ community and really start to think about what it meant to be an ally. And it was here that I attended Pride for the first time in 2017. Once I got there, I asked myself why on Earth I had waited so long to attend.

I was beyond moved by the outpouring of hope and love despite the fact that the event was literally surrounded on all sides by anti-LGBTQ protesters shouting that we were all going to hell - regardless of whether you were there as an ally or part of the community. It was jarring when I first stepped out of City Hall station. It made me angry and upset and all sorts of things. But that quickly melted away as soon as I stepped foot onto the festival grounds and was surrounded by music, laughter, hugs, fun, and hope.

This year is the 20th Seoul KQCF - a momentous occasion in and of itself. But while the festival has grown immensely since it started all those years ago, there is still a long way to go for LGBTQ rights in Korea - there is still no anti-discrimination law on the books, people face losing their jobs, family and everything if they come out, and more. Gay marriage doesn’t exist legally in the country.

However, what sticks out to me more than that is the hope and optimism of the LGBTQ community. Hope that it will get better. Hope that there is strength in numbers and as the festival grows as well as overall visibility of the LGBTQ community, there will be less hate, less obstacles, and more understanding and open-mindedness.

This year, I am excited to go and take part in both Pink Dot and Seoul KQCF. I am looking forward to watching the parade go down a significant and historic route through Gwanghwamun Plaza. I can’t wait to celebrate not only everything that the LGBTQ community has accomplished so far, but what it can and will do in the future.

It is because of this that we dedicate our June Groove Korea issue to the LGBTQ community.

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JUNE 2019

COVER STORY

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THE UNSTOPPABLE HEEZY YANG Nothing will stop LGBTQ artist Heezy Yang

K-fashion

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YOUNG AND FREE Model Suji Park is at that exciting stage in life where freedom reigns

COMMUNITY

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CONNECTION AT ALL LEVELS A new open field for social media

MUSIC

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K-fashion

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FLOWING FREEDOM Designs leading to the path of self-sovereignty

FOOD & DRINK

SOMETHING SPECIAL Sons of an Illustrious Father returns to Seoul

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URBAN DINING WITH A TASTE OF HOME A place of quiet and comfort amid the busy streets of Hongdae

SEOUL INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL SINCE 1973

Korea’s Premier K-12 International School

Accredited by western association of schools & colleges

Our mission

We develop curious minds, creative spirits, and compassionate hearts...

388-14 Bokjeong-dong, Sujeong-gu, Seongnam, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea 031.750.1327 • admissions@siskorea.org

www.siskorea.org

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KOREA EDITORIAL Editor-in-chief

EMMA KALKA emma@groovekorea.com

Food & Drink

LORENA JIMÉNEZ lorena@groovekorea.com

Fashion

DIANNE PINEDA-KIM dianne@groovekorea.com

Travel

WENDY PALOMO wendy@groovekorea.com

Arts & Entertainment

CATE PARK cate@groovekorea.com

Music

BECKY WHITE beckyw@groovekorea.com

Copyeditor

GIL COOMBE gil@groovekorea.com

PHOTOGRAPHY Creative Director

DANIEL KIM daniel@groovekorea.com

GRAPHIC DESIGN Design Director

@BLUISH28

Advertising

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General Inquiries

info@groovekorea.com

To contribute to Groove Korea, email submissions@groovekorea.com or the appropriate editors.

To have Groove Korea delivered to your home or business, email subscribe@groovekorea.com To promote and event or share your opinions, please email info@groovekorea.com or the appropriate editor.

STRIKE COMMUNICATIONS Publisher

SEAN CHOI sean@groovekorea.com

STAFF WRITERS / COLUMNISTS Amy Benham, Katie Martin, Jill Robbins, Jiaying Lim

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The articles are the sole property of GROOVE KOREA. No reproduction is permitted without the express written consent of GROOVE KOREA. The opinions expressed in the magazine are not necessarily those of the publisher. © All rights reserved Groove Korea 2006

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FESTIVALS 8

PINK DOT May 31

Seoul Queer CULTURE FESTIVAL

Korea Queer Film Festival

June 1 / 4pm Seoul Plaza

June 5-9 Daehan Cinema, Seoul

Seoul Plaza ▶ Sogong-ro ▶ Bank of Korea ▶ Namdaemun-ro ▶ Eulji-ro 1-ga ▶ Jongno 1-ga ▶ Sejong-daero ▶ Gwanghwamun ▶ Sejong-daero ▶ Jongno 1-ga ▶ Eulji-ro 1-ga ▶ City Hall ▶ Seoul Plaza

Opening/Closing Film: 10,000 KRW General Film: 8,000 KRW Queer Midnight: 15,000KRW

Hansan Ramie Fabric Cultural Festival

Ulsan Whale Festival

June 7-10 Hansan-myeon, Seocheon-gun, Chungcheongnam-do

June 7-9 Nam-gu, Ulsan

Promotes the excellence and historical value of UNESCO-recognized Hansan ramie fabric, a traditional Korean natural fiber.

The festival aims to rebrand as an environmental campaign to preserve Jangsaenpo regional culture.

Busan International Magic Festival June 25-30 Suyeonggangbyeon-daero, Haeundae-gu, Busan

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MOVIES 10

X-Men: Dark Phoenix (4/5)

Gloria Bell (4.5/5)

Rocketman (3.4/5)

James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, Sophie Turner, Jennifer Lawrence

Julianne Moore, John Turturro

Taron Egerton, Richard Madden, Bryce Dallas Howard

John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum (4/5) Keanu Reeves, Halle Berry

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MOVIES 12

Men in Black: International (4/5) Chris Hemsworth, Tessa Thompson

Toy Story 4 (4.5/5)

The Current War (4.6/5) Benedict Cumberbatch, Michael Shannon, Nicholas Hoult

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CONCERTS 14

World DJ Festival June 1-2 Seoul Land ODESZA, Abot&Beyond, Amtrac, Will Sparks, BTSM, and more.

New Hope Club June 15 Hyundai Card Understage in Hannam-dong, Seoul

Nothing But Thieves June 22 YES24 Live Hall

EK Language Services Translation and Editing services

영어/스페인어/프랑스어

June 29-30 Nanji Han River Park

English, French, and Spanish native speakers on 24/7 basis

Illesium, Markus Schulz, Pegboard Nerds, and more

Affordable price

5TARDIUM by Mercedes-Benz

한글

Professional and Guaranteed Quality translations 24-Hour Turnaround 10+ years of experience

ekservices247@gmail.com

Partners with Hyundai Motors, Groove Korea, KIWI Chamber of Commerce, British Chamber of Commerce, Embassy of Finland, GS Shopping and more

COVER STORY

20 years

of pride Seoul Queer Culture Festival takes pride into the future Story EMMA KALKA Photos SEOUL QUEER CULTURE FESTIVAL

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COVER STORY

A

s spring gives way to summer, LGBTQA+ people around the world are gearing up for possibly the biggest celebrations of love around the world - Pride. While they may all take place at different times, June has long been universally known as Pride Month.

South Korea is no different, and despite facing a number of obstacles over the years, 2019 will mark the 20th Seoul Queer Culture Festival, set to take place at Seoul City Hall Plaza the first weekend in June. This year’s event is significant on so many levels outside of the fact that it is the 20th anniversary, and organizers intend to show just how meaningful it is.

However, for so many, just the fact that it exists and takes place every year is significant enough. What started as a small festival with just 10 organizers and 50 participants all those years ago, now draws thousands of supporters, both members of the LGBTQA+ community as well as allies. Koreans and foreigners. â–ś

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COVER STORY

From Humble Beginnings For head organizer Kang Myeongjin, who started working with the SQCF on the second parade back in 2001, the memory that sticks out to him the most is from those early days when the organizers had to do everything by hand and where something as simple as finding a place to plug in a speaker was a major obstacle.

He said in the beginning they didn’t even have floats or cars for the parade and they had to borrow speakers.

“Just getting power was difficult,” he recalled. “There was no power on the open street, but I remember there was a fast food restaurant with one plug outside. So we went inside and asked for permission to use it. Having power, back then that was such a huge achievement and that’s why it sticks out in my mind.”

Back then, the festival was mostly held in Itaewon, Daehangno or Hongdae - places where youth and LGBTQ culture were already centered. Kang said for the first event, they hadn’t even intended to have a parade, but it came about in the planning process. He said that in the beginning, it wasn’t about having a parade, but more about fighting for the right to enjoy cultural content from the LGBTQ community such as films and art.

When he joined, the second event was already growing - from just a parade and film festival, it expanded to include lectures and conferences. Not to mention participation grew from about 50 the first year to 200 the second.

They had to team up with other cultural festivals happening at the same time in order to afford to put SQCF on.

But it wasn’t that way for long. The event grew exponentially and soon the organizers were having difficulty finding areas to host it that were big enough, which led to the festival moving to Cheonggyecheon and the Jongro area around 2007 or 2008, when roughly 1,500 attended.

By 2010, 3,000 people came out for SQCF and by 2012, even

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In order to keep this going, we felt - let’s go to Gwanghwamun Kang Myeong-jin, SQCF head organizer

Cheonggyecheon had gotten too small, so they moved to Hongdae where there was a large, open space often used by buskers. Kang said they had a lot of support from local shop, cafe and restaurant owners, and they saw it as a double benefit. The SQCF could have their festival and the business owners could make money from the thousands of visitors that came.

But it wasn’t to last long there 7,000 people came out making the area too small and they needed to find another place.

“Surprisingly, I still don’t know how or why all these people came out,” Kang admitted with a smile. “It doubled from the previous year.”

The following year took the festival to the Sinchon area near Yonsei University.

However, 2014 was also the first year that it saw a large amount of backlash.

“That was the first time we had a lot of hate groups appear and they did anything they could to block the event,” Kang said. Mostly consisting of church groups, they would lay in the street and used trucks and other vehicles to block the parade. The entire festival stalled for about four hours.

Participants grew exhausted and many ended up leaving, Kang said. But even with the obstacle, it didn’t deter them. He said that if the anti groups had planned to stop the festival, then the SQCF organizers couldn’t give up and let them win, so they kept on with the festival as best they could. The celebrations continued within the main festival area even though there was a smaller amount of people.

But then something amazing happened.

As night came, the hate groups began leaving and around 9 p.m. had completely gone. The organizers got a bit of help from the local police districts and picked up the parade where they had left off, unintentionally turning it into a night parade for a time. Kang said that word spread through social media, and soon enough, a large number of people who had left as well as new people showed up and the number of participants soared as the event continued marching on.

COVER STORY

“The anti groups being there, that made the effect of the festival even more valuable,” Kang said. “It also encouraged more people to participate more actively.”

However, these groups continued to make things difficult. For the following year, Kang said they were planning to host the event in Daehangno, but were unable to get permission in part because they were blocked by the anti-LGBTQ groups.

They spent all night discussing what to do and that’s when someone suggested they move to Seoul City Hall Plaza.

Getting the permit took coordinated effort. They have to apply for one to host a public gathering at least 30 days before the event. Word also got out to the groups that they were planning to get a permit for

that area. So, Kang said they camped out in front of two police stations for several days - “just hanging out and eating jjajjangmyun,” as he puts it and were finally successful in their efforts. He said that it was very peaceful and meaningful.

“It was a movement to show that we were not going to back down,” he said. “And then finally we got the help that we needed.”

Since 2015, SQCF has taken place in Seoul City Hall, with numbers continuing to grow. Support from the city and police also grew - where once they faced multiple questions about what a “queer” event was, now they show up and are greeted

with a friendly “Oh, it’s you guys again.”

However, the number of anti-LGBTQ protesters grew as well. As the city government has to treat all permit applications equally, they granted them to the anti groups, who then surrounded the festival on all sides, doing whatever they could to block the parade route. While the festival went on as smoothly as it could, Kang said they needed to find a better way to get around the interference, because just changing the parade route wasn’t working.

And that’s how they came up with a big idea for the 20th edition of SQCF that would make a lasting impact. ▶

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COVER STORY

This Year & Beyond After four years, Kang said they found themselves once again camping outside police stations, but this year for something much bigger than a simple parade route change.

“They were blocking everything. We were surrounded by these anti groups.

This year, what we thought was, we need to approach the police stations again in order to change this set-up. Because it’s still interference,” he said.

This time, they went to three police stations instead of two. And there was a bigger meaning behind the demonstration.

“Changing the parade routes doesn’t help. It’s just a short-term solution because these anti groups will always exist and always try to block the event.

So this year, we thought, this is not a solution,” he said.

“In order to keep this going, we felt let’s go to Gwanghwamun.

The 4.5-kilometer parade route will go through significant areas of downtown Seoul - Gwanghwamun Plaza, Euljiro, Jongro. Areas where large demonstrations such as the democracy protests and, most recently, the candlelight protests have taken place.

The parade will also double up, allowing for participants to greet each other as they pass by.

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“This is where all the big movements happened. For us, being able to do the parade within that significant area is very important,” Kang said.

Another edition to this year is Pink Dot. The event is originally from Singapore, where strict government regulations make it difficult for LGBTQ groups to gather. Set in a little park where they could have the freedom to come together, the event is held at night where the LGBTQ community can celebrate.

Outside of pink holding significance in the community, it also holds significance for the country - the Singaporean flag is white and red, so when you mix them together you get pink. From a bird’s eye view, the event appears to be a pink dot in the city landscape.

Kang said they wanted to make this year’s SQCF special, so reached out to the organizers of Pink Dot in Singapore for help. With their cooperation, Pink Dot will take place the night before the main festival in Seoul City Hall Plaza. And yes, participants are encouraged to wear pink.

He said that they will also have lectures and conferences that will take a retrospective look on past Seoul Korea Queer Culture Festivals - how it started, how the movement progressed, how it’s changed views and also how it’s changed people in Korea. From that, they will

discuss where to go from here - how the future could be and what they need to think about going forward.

“Up until now, we’ve been busy and it was about fighting for the social right - equal rights to have such cultural events,” he said. He continued that after the 20th SCQF, they will know more about what they’ve achieved and how they can proceed over the next 20 or even 100 years.

And they have achieved a lot. Not only does the organizing team that now has 50 people - mostly volunteers - plan SQCF, they support and participate in queer festivals all around the country and even Asia. Kang said that there are a lot of similarities between Asian countries, but there are also things that are different. So they often reach out to other countries to share experiences and learn from each other. Granted, this makes for a busy, full year-round schedule. But it’s one that he and the others on the team gladly take on.

A Place of Community More than just fighting for the right to have such an event, SQCF holds a lasting impact with the participants - both visitors and the organizations that host booths. This year, there are a number of companies, queer organizations, community organizations, foreign

COVER STORY

embassies and more that will participate.

It is seen as a place to build connections and community, a personal goal of American Cassie, who is in charge of organizing the booth for Facebook group Queer and Trans English-speakers in Korea. This is the fourth year the group has had a booth at the festival.

“The theme I wanted to focus on is connection. Connecting different parts of the community to each other. Connecting new people to the community,” she said. “I want people to be able to come there and say, ‘Oh, there’s a Facebook group? This is a place where I can go and not feel so out of place.’”

A personal motivation for her is to make sure that others don’t have the same experience she did the first time she attended. While she says that it wasn’t all bad, she came with a group of straight friends and while she was moved to tears by her first glimpse of a community she had only slightly seen, she felt like she was in a glass bubble.

“Because even if you’re there, if you don’t know anybody, you’re not really there, if that makes sense,” she said. “I don’t want that to happen to anyone else. I want to reach out to people.”

The booth will be bilingual with all signs and content in English and Korean, a way to help bridge the two parts of the LGBTQ community in Korea. Local artists are invited to work in shifts selling their work in an effort to allow as many as possible to take part. There will also be a photo booth and they plan to have post-it note boards up so that people can answer an important question - How do you make connections within the community in Korea?

“I want to know how people do that. How do they make connections so that we can give advice to other people who are looking for ways to make connections,” she said.

“And it’s a really hard question to answer. I have personal answers, but I want to hear more people’s personal answers so that we can actually give good advice.”

She added that while she isn’t sure what the reasons are behind it, she does feel a disconnect between the Korean and foreign sides of the LGBTQ community and she isn’t the only one. However, she doesn’t believe that it’s due to any sort of malice or bad feelings on either side. “To be perfectly

honest, I don’t know what it is. So I’m curious to find out,” she said.

This is Cassie’s first time working in an organizational capacity with the group, though she has long used it as a resource. She stepped up when one of the group’s main organizers asked for help as he was too busy to do it all himself. She had wanted to get more involved in the community for a long time, but wasn’t sure how as she isn’t a performer.

It reminds us that no matter who we love, we are normal human beings that deserve what everyone else does.

Jax “I’m really just not. I’m not going to do drag. I’m not going to get on stage. There’s a lot of things I’m not going to do,” she joked. “But I love organizing things. I love getting involved in that way.”

Taking on the booth was a way for her to use her strengths to give back to the community in a meaningful way, she continued, despite the fact that she confessed that she has some imposter syndrome going on. She had a moment where she thought to herself, “Who the hell do you think you are? What qualifies you to be running a booth in Pride in Korea?” But just as suddenly she thought to herself, “No. I’m queer and I’m in Korea. And I’m part of this Facebook group. That’s enough qualification, I think.”

She added that really, that’s all it takes. The base requirement for getting involved in anything is just showing up.

She added that she finds the new changes such as the parade route for this year “amazing”.

“I think that it’s historically important in that, this is where people protest. In Korea, this is where

people go to protest and the fact that we get to do that as well, I think that’s really significant,” she said. “And I think we’re passing over a big speed bump.”

It’s a significance echoed by others who have been to Seoul Pride.

Jax, who will be attending their sixth Seoul Queer Culture Festival this year, said that they are ecstatic about the new route.

“The new route means more visibility in new places. I hope that the amount of support from our allies continues to grow in number,” they said. Jax continued that the festival in general means a lot because it is a time for the community to stand together and prove that love is love and they are stronger together.

“It reminds us that no matter who we love, we are normal human beings that deserve what everyone else does.”

For American Nick Holmes, Korea is the first place where he attended Pride, and it’s where he really came into who he is as a queer person. He said that he was in awe the first time he attended - he’s been to four and this year will be his fifth - and it was a lot of fun.

“But what really got me was marching in the parade. Being a part of that march left me feeling inspired and a part of something greater,” he said. On a more whimsical note, he added that he’s also enjoyed being a glitter fairy the past few events - covering himself, and countless others who want it, in copious amounts of glitter.

For another American Chelle Jones, the most poignant memory for them in the four times that they’ve been to SQCF was standing in the rain under an umbrella with their friend, telling people about Korea’s first LGBTQ Youth Crisis Support Center and raising funds for queer youth in Korea.

“It was amazing to see so many young people meeting each other and making friends,” they said.

More than that, the new route is incredibly exciting and they are grateful to the well-organized volunteers who sat in line for days to register the permits.

“I’m proud of festival organizers who started small and built this amazing festival,” they said. ▶

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COVER STORY

The Unst oppable

Heezy Yang

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LGBTQ activist uses art and drag to be heard Story EMMA KALKA Photos DANIEL KIM

COVER STORY

M

any people who live in the Haebangcheon-Kyungridan area have likely heard the name Heezy Yang. Or perhaps his drag name - Hurricane Kimchi. Or seen him around the area - he’s got a bright, infectious personality that you can’t help but like instantly.

For years, Heezy has been a mainstay in the local LGBTQ community, either performing at, organizing, or helping with various events. But more than that, he works tirelessly to make various events happen, as well as speaking up and protesting for LGBTQ rights.

And the world is taking notice.

Last summer, he was featured in an interview about the Seoul Korean Queer Culture Festival with the BBC in drag.

Since then, he’s organized countless drag events, including his own annual event, the Seoul Drag Parade. He was featured in Forbes Asia’s 2018 30 Under 30. This summer, he will take part in the Queer Asia Conference and have his LGBTQ artwork exhibited in a British museum.

Just one look at his social media and you may wonder just how he has the energy to do everything that he does - he jokingly attributes it to the fact that he’s still in his 20s and he’s going downhill the older he gets - but one can’t help but feel inspired.

He then added that a lot of his motivation comes from the fact that he’s fame-driven - something he isn’t ashamed to admit.

“I’m not ashamed of it because it doesn’t meant that I’m going to make whatever art that people like just to get famous. I want to make good art. I want to talk about my stories. And also fight for the right things with my art,” he said.

And it all started in his early 20s when he started making more friends in the LGBTQ community. He’s always been into art, he says, but he didn’t know what direction to go with it. Then he met friends who worked with various LGBTQ organizations and was inspired by their work to do more.

“I wanted to support them and be part of what they do. But in my own way,” he said.

“So I started using my art for activism.

I would make posters for protests and make illustrations with political meaning. I guess that was the beginning.”

Before this, he admits that drawing and art was just a hobby. As with most Korean students, growing up he thought that he had to pursue a stable career - it’s what his mom had hoped for him. He grew up with a single mom who is divorced from an artist - a film critic to be specific - and she wanted him to be a good student who would go on to have a stable, secure job.

But when Heezy started university at a decent business school in Seoul, he finally had the freedom to expand and try new things. Learn what he was interested in, study the things he wanted to study. And he never stopped drawing.

“I was feeling more free and I would explore other things - part-time jobs and studying other things… and just killing time and making art and just doing stupid things - partying and all that,” he said. “Doing that, I was more and more sure that studying and graduating business school was not something that I wanted to do.”

After taking a couple years off from university, he made a big decision. He decided to drop out and pursue art, something he admitted created a lot of anxiety since he still wasn’t sure what he wanted to do with his art.

“It was as if, if I quit school and then the world is going to end and I’m going to die,” he said with a mostly straight face.

“Basically that’s what people think is going to happen in Korea. So the anxiety was really bad.”

But thankfully it wasn’t long after he quit that he started getting involved in the LGBTQ community, specifically in activism and using his art in his activism, which helped ground him. Even though he wasn’t an established artist making a lot of money, he said that at least he knew where he was going - sort of.

It did create some friction with his mother, he said, but thankfully she has come around and now supports his artistic career and activism. ▶

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COVER STORY

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COVER STORY

It was after this that Hurricane Kimchi - Heezy’s drag persona - was born. He started doing drag in 2014 for fun, but said that looking back, the reason he started it was because he had a sense of relief in the self-expression he had in drag.

“Because I’m an artist and I can artistically deliver messages through drag. And also, I can show off both my feminine and masculine sides,” he said.

“At the beginning, I didn’t know why, but now that I look back, because of that, I got interested in drag.”

He now uses drag as another form of activism, protesting in drag with signs and artwork that he also creates. He said that when he’s out in public in drag or on a stage, he doesn’t get worried or shy though he’s at the core an introvert.

When he chooses to be seen, he says he is “very much an exhibitionist.” He gets into the moment and whatever happens, he’ll deal with it as a civilized person and someone who is brave, stubborn and has strong opinions.

And through this, he got the idea to start the Seoul Drag Parade. The second annual event was recently held in May this year, growing from a oneday to a three-day event that included a photo exhibit of drag art and a queer film festival. Everything except the after party was free and he specifically held it during the day so that younger people could attend.

“I wanted to bring drag into the sunlight. Not only something you can see at nightclubs, but in the daylight, so that even teenagers and young people can participate,” he said with a smile. “Also another goal was not just focusing on the entertainment and night culture of drag.

I wanted to say that drag is something you can use for self-discovery and selfexpression.”

While he isn’t sure if next year’s event will be a full three-day event, he does intend to continue holding it every year and include more than just a parade through HBC and Itaewon.

Heezy says that althought the LGBTQ community has become larger and more visible in Korea - giving average Koreans more opportunities to educate themselves and become more used to it - there is still a long way to go.

Namely, the government passing an antidiscrimination law, which has continually been blocked in the past. He says that there are still far more Koreans living in the closet rather than out like himself due to fear they could lose their jobs, their families, and everything.

But he has hope for the future and plans to continue using his art to speak out. More than just the antidiscrimination law, he hopes that LGBTQ is someday added to sex ed in Korean public schools. At the moment, there are very few opportunities both in and out of school for LGBTQ youth to learn about the community, culture, and other information.

He also wants more queer-related events in general.

“If you go to New York or London, you can seen drag shows or queer events at bars and events every day. But here it’s more like once a week,” he said. “So, I want queer people to have something they can go to every day. That would be really nice.”

After taking a couple years off from university, he made a big decision. He decided to drop out and pursue art, something he admitted created a lot of

anxiety since he still wasn’t sure what he wanted to do with his art.

“It was as if, if I quit school and then the world is going to end and I’m going to die,” he said with a mostly straight face. “Basically that’s what people think is going to happen in Korea. So the anxiety was really bad.”

But thankfully it wasn’t long after he quit that he started getting involved in the LGBTQ community, specifically in activism and using his art in his activism, which helped ground him. Even though he wasn’t an established artist making a lot of money, he said that at least he knew where he was going - sort of.

It did create some friction with his mother, he said, but thankfully she has come around and now supports his artistic career and activism.

It was after this that Hurricane Kimchi - Heezy’s drag persona - was born. He started doing drag in 2014 for fun, but said that looking back, the reason he started it was because he had a sense of relief in the self-expression he had in drag.

“Because I’m an artist and I can artistically deliver messages through drag. And also, I can show off both my feminine and masculine sides,” he said.

“At the beginning, I didn’t know why, but now that I look back, because of that, I got interested in drag.”

He now uses drag as another form of activism, protesting in drag with signs and artwork that he also creates. ▶

I want to make good art.

I want to talk about my stories. And also fight for the right things with my art.

Heezy Yang

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COVER STORY

He said that when he’s out in public in drag or on a stage, he doesn’t get worried or shy though he’s at the core an introvert. When he chooses to be seen, he says he is “very much an exhibitionist.” He gets into the moment and whatever happens, he’ll deal with it as a civilized person - and someone who is brave, stubborn and has strong opinions.

And through this, he got the idea to start the Seoul Drag Parade. The second annual event was recently held in May this year, growing from a one-day to a three-day event that included a photo exhibit of drag art and a queer film festival. Everything except the after party was free and he specifically held it during the day so that younger people could attend.

“I wanted to bring drag into the sunlight.

Not only something you can see at nightclubs, but in the daylight, so that even teenagers and young people can participate,” he said with a smile. “Also another goal was not just focusing on the entertainment and night culture of drag.

I wanted to say that drag is something you can use for self-discovery and selfexpression.”

While he isn’t sure if next year’s event will be a full three-day event, he does intend to continue holding it every year and include

more than just a parade through HBC and Itaewon.

Heezy says that althought the LGBTQ community has become larger and more visible in Korea - giving average Koreans more opportunities to educate themselves and become more used to it - there is still a long way to go. Namely, the government passing an anti-discrimination law, which has continually been blocked in the past. He says that there are still far more Koreans living in the closet rather than out like himself due to fear they could lose their jobs, their families, and everything.

But he has hope for the future and plans to continue using his art to speak out.

More than just the anti-discrimination law, he hopes that LGBTQ is someday added to sex ed in Korean public schools. At the moment, there are very few opportunities both in and out of school for LGBTQ youth to learn about the community, culture, and other information.

He also wants more queer-related events in general.

“If you go to New York or London, you can seen drag shows or queer events at bars and events every day. But here it’s more like once a week,” he said. “So, I want queer people to have something they can go to every day. That would be really nice.” ▶

Also another goal was not just focusing on the entertainment and night culture of drag.

I wanted to say that drag is something you can use for self-discovery and self-expression Heezy Yang

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Modern Famil y Two moms and two daughters taking on conservative society Story WENDY PALOMO Photos MIE CORNOEDUS

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ie and Ingvild came out of their daughters’ room, satisfied they’ve tucked them to bed. It was just 7:30 in the evening, when most families in Seoul have barely just had everyone return home. “It’s a European thing, you know. We let our children sleep early,” Mie sheepishly explained.

Mie and Ingvild are parents to Elea and Runa, smart and talented girls who have seamlessly transitioned from their life in Indonesia to South Korea. Both girls have friends always surrounding them at school and in the playground. They have immersed themselves comfortably into their new milieu, confidently embracing their new school and new friends. “I am lucky I have two moms,” wrote Elea in one of her papers posted alongside other students’ work outside her classroom.

Over a bottle of wine, Mie and Ingvild started reminiscing about how they became a couple back in Indonesia.

Mie settled in first in 1995, establishing a social enterprise dealing with sustainable tourism, employing locals, mostly women. Oftentimes comical, her demeanor is a big contrast to her passion for the arts, the environment, and women empowerment. Ingvild was a graduate student from the University of Oslo when she came to Jogyakarata for research work in 2000. They met

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and it wasn’t a hard decision to go back and settle in Indonesia. The rest could have been a regular story of two women living together, defying the norms not just of society but of their respective families. In this day and age, who hasn’t heard of two women in a relationship?

Until they decided to have babies.

Between the two, Mie’s yearning for a baby was stronger. Ingvild, whose family found it hard to even imagine her as a mother, was content not to have any.

As Mie admits, it may have taken years of persistence on her part, but they eventually decided to become parents.

Biological parents, even… at least for one of them.

With more glasses of wine consumed

and laughter over this couple’s funny anecdotes, Groove got a good glimpse of how they made biological parenting possible. Although it was Mie who longed for a baby, age was on Ingvild’s side. Thus, Ingvild became a biological mom to Elea, their firstborn. The couple happily changed nappies and enjoyed parenting and motherhood. The biological dad is a good friend of the couple who was happy to share his genes without causing any complications.

But when he was approached to be a biological dad for the second time, the couple laughed at the memory of his reaction. He had to go in hiding and contemplate this additional proposal.

But, as it turns out, Mie and Ingvild did

COVER STORY

The couple hopes that their daughters gain as much insight as they can while they are young, so they can carve their own path when the right time comes.”

have their second baby with the same biological father two years after their firstborn was born.

Their modern family is complete. Legally married to each other in their respective countries, Belgium and Norway, the children both hold dual citizenship while living in Indonesia.

At a time when the couple contemplated raising their family in another place, Ingvild had the opportunity to work in South Korea with an open-minded and accepting organization.

Visa issues Although legally married and supported by the organization Ingvild is employed by, Mie is not recognized by Korean

immigration as a legal spouse, thus, she is not afforded the visa intended for a spouse. Instead, immigration granted her a Visiting Family Visa. But the couple are quick to add, this is not a clear law under Korean immigration.

They know of another lesbian couple whose non-working spouse was recognized by immigration as a legal spouse. This is a scenario that may open up more discussion and may take some time to clearly regulate.

Suffice to say, Mie continues to run her business in Indonesia from their home here in Seoul. The proximity of the two countries make it possible for her to divide her time and be present when and where it is necessary.

Family Life Indonesia is a conservative country.

So is South Korea. What allows this modern family to thrive?

The couple shared how they honestly, openly, and warmly dealt with their neighbors, employees, and friends back in Indonesia. In return, they were respected as a couple and their daughters welcomed with warmth and love. They are a family, just like everyone else’s. Elea and Runa have been exposed to different beliefs and lifestyles because the couple hopes for them to gain as much insight as they can while they are young, so they can carve their own path when the right time comes.

Their family life here in Seoul is creating more memories for them to look back on. Perhaps, an anecdote they will share with humor when they move on to another country will be their ajumma neighbor who innocuously refers to them as sisters. They laugh and respect that.

They don’t impose what they are on her.

They live and let live. ▶

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Self-D iscover y

of an Art ist in Seoul Sexuality and artistry thriving in the rapidly changing underground scene of Seoul Story WENDY PALOMO Photos courtesy of LIGRYE

“D

on’t judge the book by its cover”, this cannot be truer than in the case of Ligrye, a tall and lanky fellow who’s almost always seen wearing black. One look, and you’ll know he parties all night. But there’s more to him than that. One couldn’t have guessed he graduated with three university degrees: Psychology, Economics and Industrial Sociology. After graduation, he had a short stint working for Philip Morris in his home country South Africa. But as fate would have it, he packed his bags, at the age of 23, and began his adventures in South Korea.

He was greatly influenced by a good friend who had good things to say about working in Korea. This was in 2012. He was employed as a teacher and was assigned to a small town, just out of Seoul.

It was an exciting time for the young man to discover new places, new people, and his new self.

In his first year here in Korea, he got himself a camera. Behind the lens, he saw beauty in different contours and soul in various forms. From this innocent discovery of a love of photography, he started to collect soulful photos of Korean men, thus BOYS OF SEOUL was born.

His subjects are photographed to show different sides of masculinity, strength, and beauty. Groove asked if his subjects were gay; Ligrye took the opportunity to explain that his androgynous subjects do not stereotype themselves as a certain gender. The photographs show the strength and characters of the subjects, whether they are gay or not. The collection has made its way to Cape Town, Bangkok and just recently, Kuala Lumpur.

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Had he always known that he was gay? “I have always been a creative,” he replied. Without looking to associate creativity with gender, he tried to expound on how he has always been interested in the arts and music while growing up. Korea provided a venue for him to further explore his creativity and unabashedly succumb to his sexuality. It was then that he started to thrive.

Music continuously connects him to the night life of Seoul. He DJs regularly at Cakeshop, Contra and Soap. Aside from Seoul’s dynamic nightlife, he gets to perform outside the country and is even set to tour in the coming months while enjoying the perks of being based here in Seoul, which gives him the opportunity to establish himself

COVER STORY

Behind the lens, he saw beauty in different contours and soul in various forms.

Cheers to his unceasing journey of self-discovery and persistence for perfection in his art.

as a promoter. He talks about the events he has organized with pride, one of the recent events being bringing over Juliana Huxtable to Seoul in the first week of April.

Juliana was born intersex and is a strong figure in the world of DJing.

What’s in store for this creative talent?

He is a photographer, a DJ and a promoter.

Photography engages his creativity. DJing takes him beyond Seoul and still perks him up because the job is inherently full of life. Being a promoter exposes him to an exciting crowd where he belongs, and he wants to entertain that same crowd. Given all the things he is doing now, he thinks the signs are all there: he aims to open an events company.

Why not? Cheers to his unceasing journey of self-discovery and persistence in the perfection of his art.

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COMMUNITY

Connection at all levels A new open field for social media Story LORENA JIMÉNEZ Photos COURTESY OF DUUPLE

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It seems that different platforms often become a digital battlefield in which all our insecurities And frustrations come to the surface 32

ately, the negative perception of social media seems to have grown, with different platforms often becoming a digital battlefield in which all our insecurities and frustrations come to the surface in the form of comparisons, competitiveness, and the search for approval.

The sight of someone pondering how to increase the number of likes on their last social media post is not a foreign feeling for most people, given that almost all of us have probably gone down this rabbit hole more than once. Sure, social media remains fun and positive if you know how to use it, but what if I were to tell you that there is a new social media app that hopes to introduce a new set of fresh rules to the game, an app where social media stays social but is also able to coexist with more real connections and even social welfare itself.

Duuple is a fairly recent social media app that seems to be already causing quite a stir. It was very recently launched in Asia, through a party hosted here in Seoul on April 26th in which the team expressed

their desire to further connect the West to the East.

On this event partnering with many recognizable local brands and companies, such as East Meets West, Seoul Cosmetic Surgery, Be Mused Korea, KWorld News, SUIT MAKE, Banobagi Plastic Surgery Clinic, Wish Formula, Serendi Beauty and Keep Cool Cosmetics, along with influencers such as Claudipia, Hallie Bradley, Serina Hwang, or Mingyu, the app was introduced for the first time so attendees could learn a little bit more about what this new social media platform is all about.

Duuple, which boast the slogan “The app where everybody wins,� wants to connect brands, products, influencers, consumers and even social welfare causes through the app, in which users interact through challenges.

Each person can create their own challenge and challenge their friends, followers or anybody that wishes to participate. It is a smart way to not only to inspire and spark that competitive side,

COMMUNITY

An app where social media stays social but is also able to coexist with more real connections and even social welfare itself

but also an easy way to share product reviews, giveaways, and engagement among users. Of course, the nature of the challenge relies on the challenger but up until now, I have only seen challenges that focus on enhancing creativity, confidence and self-love. And going even one step further, probably my favorite aspect is the possibility of making those challenges something extra special through which you can give back to society, helping out a cause close to your heart.

It is true that it is an app that has great potential for influencers because they can create marketing campaigns for influencers and brands based on what is trending in Korea and internationally, but what is even more exciting and refreshing for me is the fact that it is overall an

app where we can all become the main characters of our own story.

It is an app in which there is extra room for positivity to be shared, enhanced and rewarded and in which we do not have to hide our real personality, interests and concern for social issues in a simple comment or share, but where we can actively direct our efforts to support a specific cause. Duuple walks the walk as well, having donated a portion of the proceeds from the launch to support the Korean Unwed Mothers Families Association (KUMFA).

If you are ready for a change in the social media game, if you like challenges, or if you want to have a snoop to see what it is all about, you can download Duuple from your app store. Happy challenges!

Of course, the nature of the challenge relies on the challenger but up until now, I have only seen challenges focused on enhancing creativity, positivity and self-love 33

K-FASHION

FLOWING Designs leading the path of self-sovereignty

FREEDOM Story LORENA JIMÉNEZ • Photos LEMETEQUE

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“F

ashion is all about appearance, fashion sets for people unachievable standards, fashion is shallow, and it does not bring anything positive to the society…”: these are all familiar statements that I tend to hear more often than not.

Many people seem to identify fashion as something negative, just another way to create separation and to generate an income, but as an insider working in this field I beg to differ; there is another variable to add to this equation.

Fashion is not just about selling clothes or creating trends - if you pay close attention, you might be able to appreciate another shade to the game: the art, the inspiration, the love and passion of creators

and designers in this field, but over all the desire and the space for a creative outlet for expression. This expression is not only for the freedom of the creators but it is often for the freedom of others.

It is not unusual to see designers criticise or support social issues and even life philosophies through their personal form of self-expression. This quest for liberation was particularly strong in one of the designers and brands that we had the pleasure to watch during this past fashion week edition.

Lemeteque, a brand that, under designer Park Sung Il, wishes to create clothes that might “not be for everyone, but [are] for those who aspire to achieve freedom.” ▶

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K-FASHION

The sky’s the limit Designer Park started to develop an interest in fashion and design as a child, and now he designs in the hopes of creating and achieving “youth and freedom.” Once a young kid that enjoyed dressing differently and making himself a character by searching and combining different pieces and ornaments, he ended up naturally falling into fashion.

“Out of that interest I majored in fashion design in university and now I aim to encourage youth and freedom with my designs because, as Mary Quant once said, I also believe young generations are making the fashion.”

This designer strongly believes that fashion can embody and enhance the power of youth, but he also concludes that youth “does not have to be limited to being young.”

As he considers youth to also be about questioning yourself and facing challenges, something that is quite common while people are young but which is ultimately a life-long path.

It is a path that we should probably all continue walking for as long as we live because, if we do not challenge ourselves, we will never be free. And as designer Park explained: “Challenge is at the end of the day just another word for freedom.”

Liberty at your fingertips “Faith in oneself, material freedom, perhaps an unredeemed life, even a slightly nonresponsible life. I think I am free to do things with my own beliefs and thoughts maybe more than others, because I believe that pursuing freedom has a special meaning in life.”

With these words, designer Park Sung Il explains how he does not wish to follow or create trends, nor does he have a punctilious image that he wants people to associate with his creations; he just wishes for the people that wear Lemeteque or come across the brand to stay true to themselves. “I just want you to be yourself when you look at yourself in the mirror. I want you to see yourself as you are, not through someone else´s eyes.”

A strong wish to challenge the norm on the quest for self acceptance is something that he embodies in his collection, starting with the designs, to the patterns and the energy and even the walk of the chosen models on the runway. It is reinforced also

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“I also believe young generations are making the fashion, but youth does not have to be limited to being young”.

by his favored material, silk, with which he aspires to combine the “original story of silk” with his “free spirited ideals.”

Silk can represent opulence and luxury but also tell a powerful story, one of change, renaissance, and liberty, just like a caterpillar that created his own cocoon and can finally fly away as a butterfly owning his freedom.

Silk, with its beautiful movement that flows almost as if it were water, was without a doubt a fitting choice of material for a brand like Lemeteque, which wishes to embody change and liberation.

“I just want you to be yourself when you look at yourself in the mirror.

I want you to see yourself as you are, not through someone else’s eyes

Silk made social This season, Park Sung Il wanted to convey yet another message through the use of silk, this time shedding light on recent cultural issues that had been raised in Korea. Silk helps to represent “the rich brothers in the neighbourhood.”

“People who suddenly become wealthy tend to be referred to as ‘old people’ in Korea, because generally people who become wealthy quite suddenly are perceived as people who do not have a personal character. Lately, new rich and young entertainers have become a big issue here. I was saddened by the implications, since they participated in bad experiences including ‘sex entertainment’ and ‘drugs.’ In other words, it seems like a clear message was being sent: this is what Young and Rich people are about. And I wanted to portray that persona, the we are “Young and Rich” and we have a temperamental character.”

When asked about his inspiration and the reason why his concept looks so different from most Korean designers, Park replied that he wishes to focus on the concept of the brand, not only on fashion. Though he does not tend to follow mainstream fashion, he always pays attention to social issues.

“It is not a trend of fashion. Korea is a sensitive country and I wanted to show enough of the issues that have been going on in society this season. Which right now, for me, is the spiritual problem that a big part of the younger generation is missing.

That is why I chose to close the show with the outfit of a monk, wearing all black.

A final message in which I wanted to express that just being gorgeous is not important.” ▶

K-FASHION

“I wanted to portray issues that have been going on in society. Right now, for me, it is the spiritual problem that a big part of the younger generation is missing.

And with my message I wanted to express that just being gorgeous is not important.”

@lemeteque.headquart

We are all strangers on the street For designer Park Sung Il Lemeteque is now a playground, a starting point where he and Lemeteque´s team can improve together. “My ultimate goal is to work as a fashion designer in Paris.

The idea of a young Asian designer´s thoughts, struggling as a stranger in the Parisian fashion scene, that to me is a “lemeteque” itself.

The name of the brand was inspired

by French singer Georges Mastaki’s song “Le métèque,” a song that speaks about

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that feeling of not belonging, the feeling of almost strangeness as it narrates the life of being an outcast, a “métèque” (a strong french word that describe immigrants of a certain origin).

“Lemeteque for me means a stranger. I am not original. I just express everything I have seen and felt in the category of fashion. Everything I see and feel could be something different from others, but it could also be similar to what someone else sees and feels.”

Park describes himself as just another person who expresses the viewpoint of someone that looks at society. A person to which dreams and aspirations remain as challenges. A designer happy to spend time and be with family, friends, and good people but also someone that, like his childhood self, wishes to become a different character as a designer.

“As a person, I am a someone who is very familiar with society, but as a designer I want to be a stranger.”

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K-FASHION : PROFILE

A Time for Play This designer’s vision of Korean culture is a montage of vivid colors, fun prints, and the unbridled joy of life

Story DIANNE PINEDA-KIM • Photos MANON THORE

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PROFILE

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or its 2019 Spring/Summer collection, Korean designer brand SETSETSET sent models down the runway holding fresh cabbages and green onion leeks peeking from trendy net bags, while others wore neon rubber gloves as though they were about to wash the dishes as soon as they stepped off the stage.

In a previous collection shown during Vancouver Fashion Week, the models sashayed in bright colors, mismatched prints, and outfits with interesting cuts.

While in its latest Fall/Winter show in Seoul for Generation Next—a showcase of young designers with only five years of experience—the brand once again showed its propensity for the unexpected.

This time, the new collection featured models in colorful double bun hairstyles, jewel-toned tights, and a full spectrum of floral palettes and loud patterns as they struck cutesy poses at the beginning of their walk.

Designer Yoonkyung Jang thrives on this quirkiness, playfulness, and element of surprise, which are also reflective of her personality. But while Jang’s designs are conspicuously lighthearted and fun, she weaves Korean culture into every print and concept behind each piece of clothing, with her desire to convey a powerful message to anyone who wears her clothes and to those who see them.

Rooted in culture Naming a brand with both three syllables and three words is quite a clever strategy for easy recall, but the meaning behind it runs deep. Not only does it refer to clothes as in a “set,” it also pertains to the Korean

singsong clapping game “쎄쎄쎄,” with the intonation “sesese.” It has been a popular form of child’s play for Korean kids for generations. “How can I express Korean culture interestingly?” Jang explains.

“I want to express it in a way that makes it unique and stand out. I want to make the scope for expressing this culture much wider.”

For such a young brand with a young designer, SETSETSET carries contemporary clothing that is steeped in old stories, memories, and idiosyncrasies of Korea.

Jang’s debut at Seoul Fashion Week in 2016 was as Korean as it could be.

“I wanted to make a strong impression, so I did a fashion show with the concept of kimchi,” she shares. She reinforced the idea even further by gifting the show attendees with kimchi and suyuk (boiled pork belly wrap). She adds, “There were lots of things I wish I could’ve done, but it’s definitely one of my most fun memories as a designer.”

In the three years since her label’s inception, Jang continues to share her vision and love of Korean culture with her signature vivid shades and storied pieces.

Her recent collection revolved around the hibiscus flower or mugunghwa, the national flower of Korea. ▶

Yoonkyung Jang 41

K-FASHION : PROFILE

Again, the theme of play is evident. The designer describes her inspiration as, “a metaphor for the Korean game Mugunghwa Ggotchi Piossumnida” (a game similar to Red Light, Green Light). She also emphasizes that mugunghwa is an important image of Korean culture, “a symbol of purity and patriotism, as the word hibiscus appears in the national anthem.”

There are small yet significant details in her designs that aim to start a conversation about the enchanting beauty of the flower and how it was creatively translated into modern clothing. “The placket details symbolize the five petals of the hibiscus and one of the pieces have a wide hood in the shape of the flower. I hope people can get the sense of purity and elegance that the flower evokes through my collection,” Jang explains.

Ethical fashion Not only does SETSETSET advocate a love for Korean culture, it also has a heart for the environment. According to the designer, the team that makes up the label has an eco-conscious approach to fashion, and subscribes to a philosophy of “비건 패션” or literally “vegan fashion.” This means that they don’t use fur or animal products and that they always keep sustainability in mind when it comes to the production of their clothes. “I want to make the kind of clothes that live harmoniously with our ecosystem through ethical fashion,” the designer says.

With every color, pattern or detail, the designer continues to move forward by looking back—through clothing that dances within the intersection of history and modernity, light and heaviness, the beautiful and the practical. This sense of playfulness and duality will always be at the core of SETSETSET’s design philosophy: to always remember and see things with fresh new eyes.

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PROFILE

a t ime for play

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K-FASHION

&

Young

Free

Model Suji Park is at that exciting stage in life where she can do anything she wants Story and Styling DIANNE PINEDA-KIM Photos DANIEL KIM Make-up NATHALIE CALDERON Hair HAIR AND JOY SALON, HONGDAE Clothing SETSETSET

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K-FASHION

Story DIANNE PINEDA-KIM • Photos DANIEL KIM

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“I FEEL LIKE I WAS LACKING IN MANY things as a new model during that time, but many people helped me and i learned a lot in the philippines because i had a lot of good chances and experiences there.”

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pon descending into the wide and open grounds of the Oil Tank Culture Park, which on a weekday afternoon was quite empty, there was an eerie silence that enveloped this once hazardous fuel receptacle in Seoul. But despite its dull, sandy gray floors, dried up trees, and imposing walls stained by set-in black oil from the past, every corner of the place served as the perfect background, with its melancholic vibe giving it an almost romantic, artistic touch. In stark contrast to the moody place, however, comes Suji Park, a young, 18-year-old model whose quiet beauty and radiant innocence are more than enough to brighten the blank space. ▶

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K-FASHION

A model in the making To a trained eye, it’s quite easy to discover Suji’s personality through her little quirks and gestures as she posed in front of the camera. She lets out an infectious laugh whenever she’s shy or nervous, or purse her lips when she’s quite unsure. While waiting for the shoot to start, she’s cheerful and playful, exuding the carefree spirit of youth where nothing else seemed to matter. But once in front of the camera, she transforms into a different person, with a soft, yet intense stare that belies her young age.

“At first, I could not even imagine being a model, so I had a hard time shooting and auditioning for the first time,” she explains, telling her story of how she fell into the glitzy world of fashion by accident. “In 2017, I went to the filming site of my model friend, and when the photographer and a model agent saw me, they recommended that I give modeling a try. My parents were against it in the beginning, but now they’re very supportive of me.”

Quite true to most people who stumble upon an unexpected field they never thought they would ever tread on and eventually grow to love it and be good at it, Suji found herself engrossed in modeling. Pretty soon, it became her passion. “I remember watching videos of fashion shows and reading magazines all day, walking at home alone and imagining I was on a runway,” she shares. ▶

“I want to go on a bigger stage.”

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A great start She made her start in the fashion scene when she stayed in the Philippines, after following her father who had a business there and studying at an international school for two years. For someone with no experience and looking for the chance to make a name for herself, she was at the right place at the right time. She made her debut at Bench Fashion Week, with the eponymous brand that has been well-established in the Philippines for more than 30 years, and arguably the only runway in the country that features all the famous TV and movie celebrities in one show. “It was a huge stage for my debut,” she muses. “I feel like I was lacking in many things as a new model during that time, but many people helped me and I learned a lot in the Philippines because I had a lot of good chances and experiences there.”

When she got back to Korea, opportunities came knocking. In previous and recent Seoul Fashion Weeks, she walked for the famous brand Greedilous, in front of a full house and with other well-known models and Korean personalities.

She has also modeled for various brands and fashion editorials only a few models could ever dream of doing. She admits that she’s currently exploring other career options and wants “to find other things she wants to do while working as a model.” But for her, one thing’s for sure: “I want to go on a bigger stage.”

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Trained at TONI & GUY and VIDAL SASSOON Academy in UK Color, Perm, Magic Straight, Treatment and more English Spoken For more info, call Johnny Tel 02.363.4253 Mobile 010.5586.0243 3rd fl. 168-3 Donggyo-dong, Mapo-gu Qunohair Gangnam / Apgujeong Branch Tel 02.549.0335 10-6, Dosan-daero 45-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul www.qunohair.com

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MUSIC

SOMETHING SPECIAL Sons of an Illustrious Father returns to Seoul Story EMMA KALKA Photos LIVENATION

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soon as the three members of Sons of an Illustrious Father took to the stage at Yes24 Live Hall on May 4, you could feel that you were in for something special.

They didn’t talk much, seamlessly moving from one song to the next on their setlist. But they didn’t really need to. Their music spoke more than enough and if the reaction from the crowd was anything to go by - it was more than enough for them as well.

I will confess - part of the draw for me was the fact that actor Ezra Miller is in the band. He’s a fascinating person, an outspoken activist, and, in general, one of my favorite people in Hollywood at the moment. His quirky, gender-fluid fashion has turned more than a few heads on the red carpet and you can’t help but be drawn to him, no matter what your opinions are on his acting. After meeting him at Comic Con Seoul last August, I was further moved by his bright personality and love for his fans.

That said, I did listen to a lot of their music before the show, deciding immediately that I was into it and putting “Deus Sex Machina:

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It was a statement of who they are as a band and as individuals - they don’t conform to anything, whether it’s music genres or gender norms Or, Moving Slowly Beyond Nikola Tesla” on repeat, but still, I was not completely prepared for the joy that was seeing them live.

My friend who accompanied me - who knew nothing about the band or their music - even walked out a new fan, vowing to look into them more.

The three members - Miller, Lilah Larsen, and Josh Aubin - made a strong impression from the get-go, walking out in matching full-length dresses, with Miller and Aubin showcasing impeccable makeup skills. It was a statement of who they are as a band and as individuals - they don’t conform to anything, whether it’s music genres or gender norms.

While they started with Miller on drums, Larsen on guitar, and Aubin on keyboards, they didn’t stay this way. Every few songs,

two or all three would calmly switch instruments, each showing extreme talent no matter what they were playing. They would switch lead vocals nearly as much, each bringing something different that still worked together, whether it was Miller’s growly crooning or Aubin’s slight twang, or Larsen’s higher tones.

The affection they share for each other throughout the show is both subtle and loud at the same time. It wasn’t so much in words - again, they didn’t speak outside of a random “감사합니다” here or there until the first encore - or large actions. It was more that you could feel it. It was in the swift kisses they shared in passing, the short cuddle that Aubin and Larsen shared during “EG,” when both ended up on the stage floor. The way their voices blended together. ▶

MUSIC

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The affection they share for each other throughout the show is both subtle and loud at the same time

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MUSIC

And then there was the music.

Sons of an Illustrious Father is known for its genre fluidity - they even call themselves a “genre queer” - moving from the bluesy feel of “Straighty Perry” into “Tooth,” which had more of an electronic feel. But this is nothing new; the band has long been known for this, citing their influences as Nirvana and Patti Smith. They are just as likely to play something dark and angsty just as easily as a tune that you find yourself dancing to. In the same show, they performed the light and airy “History” with its memorable piano chords along with the harsher, darker “EG.” They even peppered in a few covers - a moving a cappella rendition of Nirvana’s “All Apologies” that had the three standing center stage with no mics and later an alternative version of The Pussycat Dolls’ “Don’t Cha”.

They ended the main set - which they breezed through in under an hour - with “US Gay”, a song they released shortly after the Pulse nightclub shooting. It’s a powerful song with deep lyrics despite its relatively bright beat. It was during this song that they broke their silence, with Miller shouting at the crowd, “We love you guys so much and

really appreciate the love we have in this part of the world!”

After leaving the stage, the expected chorus of “Encore!” came, and it didn’t take long for Miller, Larsen and Aubin to reappear, asking if they had somehow coordinated the shout. The band seemed to loosen up a bit more, playing two more songs including “Post Future” before awkwardly leaving the stage.

The crowd didn’t have to wait nearly as long this time before they once again came back for a second encore, with Miller moving to the keyboard.

“Don’t do that next time. You’re making it impossible to leave,” he chided the audience with a grin.

They did one last song, before finally leaving the stage for good, shouting “Thank you!” and “We love you, Korea!” And no matter how loud or long the audience shouted, eagerly wanting more, there was no third encore. But at the same time, there didn’t need to be. Sons of an Illustrious Father had left their mark.

And, as this was their second appearance in Seoul, you can bet that they will be back.

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MUSIC

ENTER POP-SYNTH HEAVEN Bloom with Troye Sivan at his biggest headlining concert ever Story AMY BENHAM Photos LIVENATION

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MUSIC

T

roye Sivan is an icon for anyone who has struggled with approaching loneliness and heartbreak while tackling adulthood. He blessed us with his luscious tunes at Olympic Park in Seoul on a warm Saturday evening in April. As the venue opened and people steadily funnelled in, I could feel my excitement building. I was so excited I could pass out and, in fact, someone else did pass out (thankfully, she was OK).

Whenever people ask Troye Sivan what his craziest concert experience was, he always tells them about the festival he played at in Korea back in 2016. As you can imagine, Troye was extremely excited to come back to Korea and this time to play his biggest headlining concert.

“I’ve been looking forward to this performance for so long!!” exclaimed the singer as came on stage, and consequently started to tear up by seeing the vast sea of lights of his biggest sold-out venue ever. He opened the night with the tender synths of Seventeen, followed by Bloom and later to perform Wild which Troye said he wrote about his coming out experience.

With the confidence of someone who has grown into their sexuality and put it at the forefront of his music, Troye Sivan gave us a night to remember and left the crowd feeling elevated.

I may also have teared up at intermittent points throughout the concert, especially when he sang The Good Side, a song which I understood a little too well. “Have you ever been through a breakup and it was shit?

With the confidence of someone who has grown into their sexuality and put it at the forefront of his music, Troye Sivan gave us a night to remember and left the crowd feeling elevated Same... If you’re doing the breaking up, it still sucks because you really care about the person. I didn’t know how to express how I felt so I went into the studio and wrote this” explained the singer as he effortlessly performed the single.

He then energetically busted into “I’m So Tired…,” which is a collaboration with Lauv and a song that I’m sure many people can relate to. Troye’s voice is not to be taken lightly; it was as though he swallowed the

CD itself and was playing it out through his lungs. He held his strong vocals throughout the whole concert.

One of the highlights of the concert was Troye’s dancing energy, gliding across the stage all night. “Here I am noodling around on the stage and I hope everyone else is dancing their hearts out too!” As well as his “noodling around,” another highlight of the night for me was when he went backstage to bring out the gifts some Korean fans had given him to share with the audience, then going on to ask the audience to teach him ‘I love you’ in Korean. His fan engagement was heartwarming to see.

Troye’s songs have the themes of giving and taking love, experiencing passion, all while learning about maturity. What I took away from this concert and Troye’s songs is that music really brings people together with shared pain and joy. There are certain experiences that everyone goes through and Troye manages to capture this in his music. He has a talent for writing songs that many people can relate to by touching hearts with his warming vocals and popsynth beats.

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MUSIC

LIVE FOREVER An electric performance by Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds Story ROYA ARLISA CARTLEDGE Photos LIVENATION

Nostalgia filled the air as the speakers blared a mixture of psychedelic rock and sobering instrumentals

S

unday, May 19th was the first day of a two-day performance at Olympic Hall

by Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds.

There were over 2,000 fans in attendance filling up the entirety of the concert hall.

The entrance time was set for 6 pm. Even in the rain, fans were lined up an hour prior to entry, eager to witness the performance.

As the doors opened, nostalgia filled the air as the speakers blared a mixture of psychedelic rock and sobering instrumentals. Cellphones were in-hand recording the scene as the crowd awaited zealously, applauding and cheering for the coming act. Without delay, Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds began their performance

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and the atmosphere was electric.

The backdrop to the stage was visually stimulating filled with colorful lights and thoughtful imagery which could stand alone and captivate an audience. However, the set in combination with the music created a living performance that left fans swooning. The crowd was entirely energetic as the audience clapped, sang, and danced along to the sounds of Gallagher and his band. Piercing screams could be heard across the arena between the transitioning of songs. The performance was spectacular for the viewers.

As the performance seemed to come to an end and Gallagher’s High Flying

Birds appeared to complete their set the resound of encores came forth. The crowd then simultaneously began singing the famous lyrics of Live Forever, written by the English rock star himself, until Gallagher’s High Flying Birds returned to grace the stage for their final encore.

The bands’ performance was riveting.

Noel Gallagher is genuinely a legendary and iconic artist. Though the set included songs written over the span of his 25-year career, Noel Gallagher has managed to evolve while producing a truly complementary sound.

Keeping the integrity of his artistry, his life’s work creates a is definitely authentic and relatable to worldwide audiences.

MUSIC

The bands’ performance was riveting. noel gallagher is genuinely a legendary and iconic artist

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FOOD & DRINK

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FOOD & DRINK

Urban Dining With a Taste of Home A place of quiet and comfort amid the busy streets of Hongdae Story & Photos KYUNG LEE

T

here’s no denying Hongdae features a plethora of attractions for visitors who crowd the local alleyways, which resemble blood vessels pumped with adrenaline.

With its lively atmosphere generated by the daytime buzz and bustle that keeps going until past midnight, this Mapo neighborhood’s eating culture offers options for people on the go, with alcohol as a selling point to warm any gathering, while also delivering a number of places where those waiting in lengthy queues can experience yet another new food trend and add it to their suite of Instagram trophies.

Emerging out of this lively intensity, however, are settings that encourage their patrons to appreciate the smell of their home-roasted cups of coffee or the detailed flavors of their dishes over casual dialogue.

Of the places that promote this concept for frequenters of Hongdae who also prefer a break against the tide, the restaurant July 16th serves as a culinary exception.

Nestled within a cul-de-sac located roughly 500 meters from the main entrance of Hongik University, this Western kitchen – with a pinch of Korean – is run by chef Chang-woo Park, who intends to cultivate a relaxing dining atmosphere with a recipe he believes involves more than just a wide selection of creative dishes and beverages that he concocts from scratch. ▶

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FOOD & DRINK

The Rooms Set in a house that has been converted to a commercial nest of restaurants, the main floor of July 16th zigzags into three separate dining sections with the kitchen stationed in the center. And thanks to the bricked wall interior that can prevent the echoes of conversations from leaking through to its neighboring tables, patrons will barely notice the presence of others seated and conversing in the adjacent or opposite rooms, save the erratic laughter that can burst out from any direction.

Park’s modern studio décor also doesn’t copy the glitter of surrounding objects and opulent bright lighting that you might observe in French or Italian restaurants located in Cheongdam-dong, but instead offers a setting fixed with warm white LED bulbs, modest but plush seating, and silverware that requires nothing fancy beyond a fork, a spoon and a round metal dish.

“For people visiting Hongdae, I want to give them a chance to take a deep breath

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and settle down and eat in a place like a home away from home,” he says. “By no means do I want to channel the kind of vibe that makes customers get up right after finishing their meals only to surrender their seats to the next incoming diners.”

The Rooftop One of the main draws that finalized Park’s decision to use this space for July 16th – which is named after his birthday – was the appeal of creating a dining environment for his patrons on the third floor rooftop.

Carpeted with lawn turf, the rooftop offers a more natural setting for patrons accompanied by their friends and even furry companions – the restaurant allows in dogs and, yes, even ferrets – with a perspective overlooking Hongdae’s bustling alleys, with fresh air whipping up your thoughts as you sip on a draught beer or cool glass of red wine. “[The rooftop] is an especially popular during the spring and summer that customers love to use as their own

personal outdoor space,” Park says.

“While it might be a little too chilly to dine up there in the winter, I have a radiator fixed in the center just in case.”

A Family Man The retro-hip interior and multilayered comfort July 16th communicates to its diners may speak volumes, but the service doesn’t end there. To ensure that his customers receive the Park family treatment as if glued to the living room sofa conversing with family and friends over tea and biscuits, Park says he tries to accommodate each and every incoming diner by observing – from his kitchen or in direct engagement – their behaviors, seeing what they might be lacking on the table, and serving extras for dishes that appear more plentiful than the photos attached in his menus.

“On top of preparing appetizers and sides on the house to satisfy my customers, my menu concept from the beginning offers dishes at nearly half the price of what

FOOD & DRINK

someone would pay at other Western kitchens in Korea,” he says. “Tasting what I have to offer, customers won’t have to spend too much, a philosophy that goes against the mainstream logic of paying a hefty check for French or Italian. And though I receive a volume of customers from Seoul and afar, I always try to remember their faces with hopes of delivering them seconds,” he adds.

The Chemistry July 16th caters to its incoming diners with portions customized for pairs or more. Between couples, perhaps a seafood tomato pasta and pan-seared scallops with thin slices of chorizo and paprika would suffice while, for groups of at least four (e.g., during a girls’ night out), a yogurtbased beef flatbread and a smoked turkey leg with potato wedges on the side, topped off with a party-sized platter of strip steak and pork ribs would be the ticket.

And though each dish may be worth its standing in your Instagram gallery of photos, Park says that what’s equally deserving of merit when it comes to his creations is the chemistry of flavors between the ingredients he uses.

From the seasoning that goes with the meats to the creamy thickness of a pasta sauce, all the way down to the condiments, his cooking methods are as meticulous as a scientist mixing elements in the lab.

And when I asked Park why he placed

July 16th 줄라이식스틴 Mapo-gu Wausan-ro 23-gil 35-6 (서울 마포구 와우산로23길 35-6) |

a tablespoon’s worth of flying fish roe on top of twirled strands of pasta with tomato sauce, he replied with: “The balance between textures is also important, especially for customers who order a dish with a sauce that’s creamy or thick, weighted against something crunchy they can chew,” he says. “After much careful experimenting, I always try to incorporate Korean elements, whether appreciated through our palates or the other four senses, that can dance well with their Western counterparts.”

@fight7896

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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 Chunghwa Animal Hospital / Korea Animal Transport (02) 792-7602 • 21-1 Itaewon-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul / www.cwhospital.com

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.

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

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