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Tokebi Storm - 12/14/2002 - 02/16/2003

Address : Chungdong Theater, Jeong-dong, Jung-gu, Seoul
Non-verbal performance ‘Tokebi Storm’ is being presented at Jeongdong Theater. Tokebi Storm was first noticed when it won the ‘Herald Angel Award’ at the Edinburgh International Film Festival. The show has also received international acclaim after touring eleven cities in five countries, and was recognized for its excellence receiving 4 stars (maximum 5 stars) from the art magazine ‘The List’ in the U.K.

Tokebi Storm begins with two office workers who are working late into the night, tired from the monotony and tediousness of life. They start to make exciting beat but fall asleep. Suddenly they participate in a party hosted by Tokebi (Traditional Korean Goblin). After awaking from the dream, they recall that they were so free, released from the pressures of life. Percussive instruments act as media for people and Tokebi. All kinds of items – jars of clay, pots, calabash, gayageum (twelve-stringed zither), and taepyeongso (metal-bell) are used as percussion instruments. The highlight comes in the middle of the performance when the percussion instruments create traditional Korean music with straw-roofed houses and bamboos in the background. Each actor can play more than ten musical instruments with their excellent musical skills, creating an ecstatic sound which entices the audience to participate with clapping and cheering. Tokebi Storm is considered to embrace Korean culture and is definitely worth seeing. Jeongodng Theater is located on Jeongdongno Street which also features popular promenades around Deoksugung Palace.

Period: December 14, 2003 – February 16, 2003
Time: 19:30 (February 15th and 16th: 15:00 and 18:00)
*Closed on Mondays
Location: Chungdong Theater, Jeong-dong, Jung-gu, Seoul
Tickets: R Seats 50,000 won / S Seats 35,000 won / A Seats 25,000 won
Inquiries: 02-2068-0657~9 (Kor./Eng.) / Website: http://www.tokebistorm.com/ (Kor.)

Seoul Subway Line 1 (Exit 1) and Line 2 (Exit 12). Walk about 5 minutes along the Deoksugung Stone Path.

World Flower Exhibition Goyang, Korea 2003 - 04/24/2003 - 05/08/2003

Address : At the Ilsan Lake Park, Janghang-dong, Ilsan-gu, Goyang-si, Gyeonggi-do
Festival Overview
The World Flower Exhibition Goyang (WFEK 2003) will take place from April 24 to May 8 for fifteen days at the Lake Park in Ilsan, Goyang-si, Gyeonggi-do, about 45 minutes north of Seoul,. This is a yearly event to stimulate the floriculture trade as well as tourism. With main theme “Joy of Flowers and Human Beings” 100 foreign companies from 35 countries will participate, as well as 100 Korean firms. The exhibition will provide trade counsel and various flower exhibitions in outdoor and indoor exhibition halls. The indoor hall consists of World Hall I and World Hall II for trade counsel and contract, Theme Hall, which shows harmony of flowers and life, Wildflower Garden exhibitin Korean indigenous flowers, Kid Flower Garden, which exhibits animal shape plants for children, and Flower Decoration Hall for works by international florists and flower arrangement lessons. In particular, a rare plants exhibition shows Rafflesia, the biggest flower in the world, a fan-shape Euphorbia, and other marvelous flowers. Outdoors, Lake Ilsan, large and beautiful park pond, harmonizes with Topiary Garden, Tulip Garden, Rose Garden, Water Garden, and Herbs Chrysanthemum Garden. It offers thirty different kinds events, for example, a concert of opera, a dance festival, a magic flower show, and a singing contest. Volunteers, operating staff, and security guides will help visitors at the entrance, the information centers, a facility for safekeeping and rentals, and a special area for missing children

Main Events

• Events related to flowers: International Flower Seminar, Special lecture on Flowers, Flower Arrangement Contest for WFEK CUP, Body Flower Show, Flower Demonstration, Lecture on flower arrangement, etc.

• Events with visitor participation: Flower Photograph Contest, Flower Drawing Contest, Essay Contest, Singing Contest, Quiz Game, etc.

• Performance Events: Parade, Character Show, Aerobic Show, Symphonic Orchestra, Flower Fashion Show, Military Band Performance, etc

• Cultural Events: Performance of Provincial Korean Orchestra & Dance Company, Farmer’s Folk Band, Provincial Folk Performance, etc

Date: Thursday, April 24 – Thursday, May 8, 2003 (the first two days, April 24 and 25 are open only to industry visitors, but for the rest of the period the exhibition will be open to all.)
Venue: At the Ilsan Lake Park, Janghang-dong, Ilsan-gu, Goyang-si, Gyeonggi-do
Inquiries: 2003 World Flower Exhibition Goyang Organizing Committee
Tel: +82-31-908-7754
Website: http://www.flower.or.kr (Korean/English/Japanese/Chinese)
Entrance Fees:
Adults 10,000 won, middle and high school students 6,000 won, children 4 through elementary school 4,000 won. Foreign visitors in groups of 10 or more can receive a discount if tickets are bought in advance.
Accommodations

• Palace Motel: Tel. 82-31-975-6050

• Daeyang Hotel: Tel. 82-31-906-0118

• Minbak (homestay): Tel. 82-31-900-6262

Nearby Tourist Attractions
Haengjusanseong, Bukhansanseong, Tomb of General Choi Young, Byeokjegwanji, Goyang Hyanggyo.
Tourist Information

• Tourist Information: Tel +82-31-1330 (Korean/English/Japanese/Chinese)

• Department of Culture and Art, Goyang City Hall: Tel. +82-31-961-2735

Subway
Exit 2 of Jeongbalsan Station, Seoul Subway Train Line 3. Walk 8 minutes in the direction of Ilsan Lake Park.
Public Bus

Lake Park bus stop: No.72-2 from Myeongdong, Midopa, and No.959 from Gimpo University
Jeongbalsan Station bus stop: Nos.77-2, 903-1from Shinchon-Stn,
Nos. 87-1, or 914 from Yeongdeungpo, No. 907 from Seoul Station, No. 33 from Gimpo Airport, No. 3300 from Incheon International Airport

Promenade of Modern Art - 11/27/2002 - 05/11/2003

Address : National Museum of Contemporary Art, Deoksugung Palace
A special exhibition called the ‘Promenade of Modern Art’ will be held at National Museum of Contemporary Art in Deoksugung Palace from November 2002 to May 2003. The exhibition is composed of two parts, Korean modern paintings and Western modern paintings. Exhibition Hall 1 and 2 features colored paintings in Indian ink with the theme of ‘Thoughts, Reality and Expression’. Exhibition Hall 3 and 4 features watercolor and oil paintings under the theme of ‘Grope for Modernity’. The exhibition provides an excellent opportunity to appraise Korean modern paintings through the keen artistic spirit bearing the thoughts of the times. One hundred twenty four modern paintings from the National Museum of Contemporary Art are also on display. Visitors can stroll along the stream of modern art works.

Period: Part 1 - from November 27, 2002 to March, 30, 2003
Part 2 – from December 18, 2002 to May, 11, 2003
Hours: (March to October) 09:00-18:00
(November to February) 09:00-17:00
* Admission is permitted a hour prior to the closing.
* Closed on Mondays
Location: National Museum of Contemporary Art, Deoksugung Palace, Jeong-dong, Jung-gu, Seoul
Inquiries: 02-779-5310 (Korean) / http://www.moca.go.kr/ (Kor/Eng/Jap/Chn)
Admission Fees: Admission tickets to Deoksugung Palace include admission to the exhibition.
Individual: (ages 19~24): 500 won /(ages 25~64): 1,000 won
Group: (ages 19~24): 400 won /(ages 25~64):800 won
*Free for people aged 18 or under, 65 or over

Seoul Subway Line 1 (Exit 2) or Line 2 (Exit 12). 2-5 minutes by walk to the museum.

Age of Philosophy and Aesthetics - 11/21/2002 - 02/02/2003

Address : Museum of Contemporary Art, Gwacheon-si, Gyeonggi-do
A special exhibition called the ‘Age of Philosophy and Aesthetics’ is being held at Exhibition Hall 1 and 2 of the National Museum of Contemporary Art from November 21, 2002 to February 2, 2003. This exhibition is significant in that it reviews the works of monochrome art in the 1970’s and 1980’s, which created a formative and unique aesthetic in Korean art. During that time, various experimental styles appeared, but monochrome dominated the modern art scene in Korea. Monochrome, which eliminated all the images and forms on canvas, was the major art style in the 1970’s. 45 major Korean artists are participating in this exhibition and about 140 works are on display. Monochrome is called ‘the birth of Korean modernism’ in Korean art history.

Period: November 21, 2002 – February 2, 2003
Time: 09:00-17:00
Location: Exhibition Hall 1 and 2, Museum of Contemporary Art, Gwacheon-si, Gyeonggi-do
Inquiries: 02-2188-6000(Kor) /
Webpage: http://www.moca.go.kr/ (Kor/Eng/Jap/Chn)
Tickets: (age over 19) 2,000 won / (age under 18) 1,000 won

Seoul Subway Line 4, Seoul Grand Park Station (Exit 4). Take a shuttle bus to the museum (takes about 10 minutes).

Footloose - 12/19/2002 - 03/02/2003

Address : Yeongang Hall, Yeonji-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul
The world’s famous musical “Footloose” will be performed at Yeongang Hall until March 2nd, 2003. Debuted in Korea in 1998, “Footloose” has not only been favored by critics around the world but also by musical lovers. Many songs from the musical are still loved even now. The story line is based on an experience of a high school boy moving to a rural town from a large urban city. At first he faces a great cultural gap and other hindrances, but finally brings a harmonious unity of this rural village with dance and music. “Footloose” invites the audience to the world of dazzling jazz dance and heart beating rock ‘n’ roll where it becomes hard to just sit and watch.

Period: January 19, 2003 – March 2, 2003
Time: (Wed. Fri. Sat. Sun.) 16:00, 19:30 / (Tue. Thurs.) 19:30
*Closed on Mondays.
Location: Yeongang Hall, Yeonji-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul
Tickets: R Seats 55,000 won / S Seats 45,000 won / A Seats 35,000 won
Inquiries: 02-766-8551 (Kor)

Seoul Subway Line 1, Jongno 5(o)-ga Station (Exit 1)

Outdoor Opera Turandot - 05/08/2003 - 05/11/2003

 Address : Seoul World Cup Stadium in Sangam-dong
Turandot will be performed under the open sky at the Seoul World Cup Stadium on May 2003 to commemorate the first anniversary of the 2002 FIFA World Cup KoreaJapan.
The opera is produced by world-class Chinese film director Zhang Yimou whose made “Red Sorghum”, “Raise the Red Lantern”, “Ju Dou”, among other notables.

This will be the biggest opera in Korean history- production will cost about five billion won (over four million US dollars). The giant stage will be 150 by 40 meters. The 1,500 costumes and props were designed in Italy and China, and 600 top-class performers guarantee this opera’s success and dignity. Turandot won high praise such as “marvelous harmony of the culture of the East and the West” through its premier in Italy in 1997 and performances at the Forbidden City, China. Zhang Yimou is setting the stage at Seoul World Cup Stadium more than double the scale than in Italy or China. Giovanna Casolla was cast as the beautiful Chinese Princess Turandot, and the greatest tenor Nicola Martinucci was cast as Prince Calaf.

Story:
Princess Turandot with her cold heart proclaimed she would marry only the prince who could answer her three riddles. Charmed by her beauty, many princes tried to solve them but failed and died trying.
The handsome Prince Calaf solves them all but she still refuses him. In the end, Turandot’s frozen heart finally melts and she falls in love with Calaf because of his true heart and passionate kiss. They close with a wonderful love song.

- Date and Time: Thursday ~ Saturday, May 8 ~ 10, 2003. (20:00), Sunday, May 11, 2003 (19:30)
- Place: Seoul World Cup Stadium in Sangam-dong
- Inquiries: 02-3473-7635 (Kor) / 02-3486-0145 (Kor) / 011-316-2842 (English)
- Tickets: Ticket Link (1588-7890) / Ticket Park (1588-1555)

- Discounts: Call 02-3473-7635, press #1 15% discount for groups of thirty or more. 50% discount for a handicapped person and one aide.

Seoul Metro Subway Train Line 6, World Cup Station (exits 1, 2, or 3)

Jongmyo Daeje: The Royal Ancestral Rite - 05/25/2003 - 05/25/2003

Address : Jongmyo Shrine, Hunjeong-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul
Jongmyo Daeje, the Royal Ancestral Rite, takes place in Jongmyo Shrine every year in May. Jongmyo Royal Ancestral Shrine, was one of the three main state institutions of the Joseon Dynasty (1392–1910), and enshrines the spirit tablets of Joseon Kings, Queens, and meritorious retainers. This ritual is accompanied by Jongmyojereak, which is the essence of Korea’s royal court music including ritual music and solemn line dance. The orchestral ensemble is composed of Chinese-derived and Korean string, percussion and wind instruments including bell chimes (pyeonjong), stone chimes (pyeongyeong), the cylindrical Chinese oboe (dangpiri), the bowl zither (ajaeng), and transverse flute (daegeum), which still captures the authentic form of the old court music that has been played since the early Joseon period. The ritual is conducted twice in Yeongnyeongjeon and Jeongjeon, and a royal procession is held from Gyeongbokgung Palace to Jongmyo. These royal ancestral rite and ritual music are designated as important intangible cultural assets #56 and #1 accordingly on UNESCO World Cultural Heritage List on May 18,2001.

Date: 10:00–16:30, May 25, 2003
Program
Yeongnyeongjeon royal ancestral rite 10:00–12:30
Royal Procession 12:30–14:00 (Gyeongbokgung Palace -> Gwanghwamun (Sejongno) ->Jongno 1,2,3 ga-> Jongmyo
Jeongjeon Royal Ancestral Rite 14:00–16:30
Venue: Jongmyo Shrine, Hunjeong-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul
Tourist Information: + 82-2-1330 (English/Japanese/Chinese)

a 5-minute walk from Jongno 3 (sam)-ga station on Seoul Subway Line 1,3, and 5.