james blunt interview

/ Courtesy of Private Curve

By Cathy Rose A. Garcia
Staff Reporter

Everyone probably knows the worldwide hit ballad ``You're Beautiful.'' With the song's haunting melody and romantic lyrics, it is no wonder it's a staple at weddings.

British singer-songwriter James Blunt didn't seem surprised the song became such a huge hit.

``I think it's something that everyone can relate to,'' he said, in an e-mail interview with The Korea Times.

In 2004, Blunt released his debut album ``Back to Bedlam." The track ``You're Beautiful" hit number one in music charts in the United Kingdom, Europe, United States and Asia. He received five Grammy Award nominations in 2006, including Record of the Year, Best New Artist and Song of the Year.

His mix of pop and folk rock resonated with fans around the world. His debut album sold over 11 million copies. Many of his songs were featured in television shows, films and commercials.

Fans also can't get enough of Blunt's heartfelt lyrics. He said he often gets inspiration for writing songs from life and people he knows. ``When I write, I just mess around with musical ideas until I find something that makes me feel. If a musical idea can make you feel something, you can develop it into a song,'' he said.

Blunt considers The Beach Boys, Beatles, Don MacLean and Pink Floyd as his main musical influences. He began listening to their music when he was seven years old, and their influence on his music continues.

Blunt formerly served as an officer in the Life Guards unit of the British Army. He then went on to serve as an armored reconnaissance officer in the NATO peacekeeping force in Kosovo in 1999. While he was there, he wrote the song ``No Bravery.''

``The experiences (in the military) taught me that humans can be inhumane and cowardly, and at the same time, we are all the same, and so should just look after each other and we'll all be better off,'' he said.

Last year, Blunt released his second album ``All the Lost Souls," featuring singles ``1973," and ``Same Mistake." Blunt will perform in Seoul for the first time on April 26 at Olympic Hall, Olympic Park.

``I will play songs from `Back To Bedlam' and `All the Lost Souls.' We are a band of five people, and I think people will be surprised by the energy and dynamics. For us, we're really looking forward to visiting Korea," he said.

Blunt's concert is part of Private Curve's Beautiful Singer-Songwriter series. Korean group My Aunt Mary will perform as the opening act.

Tickets are 99,000 won to 66,000 won. Tickets are available on ticket.interpark.com. For English information, send e-mail to info@privatecurve.com or call (02) 563-0595.

cathy@koreatimes.co.kr

another shanghai fashion show

Stars Shine at Andre Kim's Shanghai Show

Actors Lee Da-hae, left, and Jang Geun-suk grace the stage during the finale at Andre Kim’s fashion show in Shanghai, China. / Yonhap By Cathy Rose A. Garcia Staff Reporter SHANGHAI ― Korean stars Lee Da-hae, Kim Jung-hoon and Jang Geun-suk added a touch of star power to top designer Andre Kim's fashion show here Tuesday. Kim presented his 2009 spring/summer fashion collection during the opening of the Korean textile and apparel trade show ``Preview in Shanghai 2008'' at Shanghai Mart. Hallyu, or the Korean wave, seems to be alive and kicking in this exciting Chinese city, as the audience eagerly awaited the appearance of Korean celebrities at Kim's show. Cameras flashed as Lee, who appeared in several hit dramas like ``My Girl,'' and Kim, best known for his role in the MBC drama ``Princess Hours'' (Gung), hit the runway wearing Kim's unique designs. Jang is one of the hottest young actors in Korea, having appeared in recent dramas like ``Hwangjinyi'' and ``Sharp Blade of Hong Gil-dong.'' Dozens of Chinese fans waited for him to arrive at the airport. Kim's fashion art collection was once again well received in Shanghai. His elaborately detailed gowns showed inspiration from the rich culture, art and history of China, as well as Korean culture. The audience was captivated throughout the show, which had five sections such as ``Beijing Festival'' and ``Chinese Legend.'' The spring/summer collection's color palette featured purple, orange, green, blue, yellow, red and pink, as well as metallic shades of gold and silver. Kim showed his unique vision for modern-day Korean royalty through the ``Fantasy of Korean Palace'' stage. Lee and Kim ― who played a prince in ``Princess Hours'' ― looked like a modern-day royal couple in matching Oriental-inspired robes with golden dragon embroidery. There were some melodramatic moments on stage. Lee and Jang appeared to play star-crossed lovers who were going to tearfully say goodbye, much to the delight of the audience. South Korean actress Lee Da-hae wears Andre Kim’s fuschia-toned evening gown. / Yonhap The final stage, ``My Everlasting Love,'' featured Kim's exquisitely detailed romantic wedding gowns. For the finale, Lee was breathtaking in an embroidered and jeweled wedding gown, accompanied by Kim, who wore a white suit. After the show, Kim and his celebrity-models held a press conference attended by dozens of Korean and Chinese media. The fashion show was also meant to celebrate Beijing's hosting the Olympics in August this year. This is Kim's 11th fashion show in China, having staged star-studded shows in Beijing and Shanghai in the past few years. Preview in Shanghai is an annual event organized by the Korea Federation of Textile Industries (KOFOTI). In a press conference, KOFOTI chairman Ro Hee-chan said the event is aimed at increasing cooperation between Korean and Chinese textile companies. The three-day event, which ends Thursday, also features fashion shows by brands Pro Specs, EXR Korea, Indibuni, Arte, Morine Comte Marant, Joinus and Tomboy. There are also seminars on spring/summer fashion trends, fashion brand value strategy and strategies on how to advance in the Chinese market. Ro said since Preview in Shanghai was first held in 2003, Korean brands have made inroads into the Chinese market. This year, there are 120 textile companies and fashion brands participating, slightly fewer than the 130 companies that participated in 2007. Much of the Korean brands' success in China is attributed to hallyu. Many brands use Korean star power through product placement in Korean dramas, movies and music. Thanks to Korean stars' popularity among Chinese audiences, Korean brands have also become popular. Incidentally, hallyu is a term that originated in China and used to describe the popularity of Korean stars, dramas, movies and pop music outside Korea. cathy@koreatimes.co.kr

landscapic algorithm

Artist Lee Creates Own 'Landscapic Algorithm'

‘Landscapic Algorithm,’ a series of works by artist Lee Sang-nam, are on display at the PKM Trinity Gallery, Cheongdam-dong. / Courtesy of PKM Trinity Gallery By Cathy Rose A. Garcia Staff Reporter Circles and lines dominate the enigmatic works of New York-based artist Lee Sang-nam. Some may feel the images evoke a Middle Eastern vibe, while others may see it as distinctly Asian work. Lee's use of lines and circles has a deeper meaning. For the artist, the straight line symbolizes death and the circle represents life. ``The deep structure of my icons consists of straight lines and circles. All shapes are composite manifestations of this deep structure. The straight line is death, the circle is life. All time is a composite of straight lines and circles. My art always embraces the straight line of death and the circle of life. My art is found where line and circle vanish. This is what I call awakening or release to eternity,'' he said. Throughout his career, Lee has focused on creating icons that are ``not about objects of nature, but shapes created by human imagination.'' When The Korea Times met with the artist last week, Lee was in the middle of last minute preparations for his first solo exhibition in Seoul in 11 years. ``Landscapic Algorithm,'' the first exhibition at the newly opened PKM Trinity Gallery, Cheongdam-dong, opened Thursday. An algorithm is a detailed step-by-step problem solving procedure. Lee's series of works introduce his own formula for exploring the landscape. His works are filled with geometric icons, which at a glance may seem like computer-generated images. But don't be fooled by the glossy look of his works. Lee painstakingly creates these futuristic-looking icons on paper and cuts them out and transfers them on to a canvas using a stencil. He paints the image layers it with paint and sands it down more than 50 times to create a perfect surface with no stain or mark. Each work is ultra-smooth. Often, it takes three to four months to perfect one small work, while his larger pieces take months or longer. This is the same process he has been following for the past 30 years. Lee sometimes uses lacquer. The results are mysterious black and white images with swirls of cool, jet-black black circles and lines on white surface. When light hits the lacquer-covered icons, there are different effects depending on where you stand. Hur Si-young, PKM Trinity's Gallery director, said Lee has created his own language and dictionary of signs, symbols and shapes. She describes Lee's work as a combination of craftwork and fine art. ``His work is very contemporary, but the whole idea is rooted in tradition,'' she said. For the exhibition, Lee brought 130 pieces, including his most recent works, from New York. There is one wall filled with dozens of his smaller pieces in different colors. Hur said the meaning of Lee's work is subjective. ``One of my Korean friends said it looks Middle Eastern, but to Westerners, it looks Asian. For Lee, it reflects New York, where he has been living and working for nearly 30 years,'' she said. A graduate of Hongik University, Lee moved to New York in 1981. He considers New York his home, but he continues to have a high profile in Seoul even though his last exhibition was in 1997. One newspaper even included him in a list of Korean artists whose works will be remembered 100 years from now. Several of Lee's works are on display in the lobby of LIG Tower, Yeoksam-dong. ``Landscapic Algorithm'' was originally supposed to run until May 7, but due to popular demand has been extended to May 20. PKM Trinity Gallery is located in the second and third basementa of The Trinity Place building, in front of Galleria Luxury Hall, Cheongdam-dong. Visit www.pkmgallery.com or call (02) 515-9496. cathy@koreatimes.co.kr

remakes

Korean Dramas Remade in Philippines, Japan

‘Hotelier,’ the Japanese drama version By Cathy Rose A. Garcia Staff Reporter When the SBS drama ``My Girl'' was shown on primetime Philippine TV in 2006, the dialogue was dubbed in the Filipino language and the characters played by actress Lee Da-hae and actor Lee Dong-wook were re-named Jasmine and Julian. Filipino audiences fell in love with the romantic comedy series, making it one of the most popular Korean dramas in the Philippines. Since it was such a big hit, ABS-CBN, the broadcasting network that aired the drama, decided to remake ``My Girl'' with an all-Filipino cast. ABS-CBN bought the rights to remake the drama from SBS, and the Philippine version of ``My Girl'' is scheduled to air next month. ``We're retaining the basic core of the story, but we're `Philippinizing' it in so many ways. So it's going to be different. Ours is a combination of drama and comedy. It's a younger version definitely. The number of episodes is slightly more as well. Our version should run for about 16 to 20 hours," ABS-CBN business unit head Deo Edrinal said in a statement. While the story is set in the Philippines, the producers are trying to inject some Korean flavor to the drama. A Korean stylist has been hired to create a trendy ``Korean look" for the Filipino actors and actresses. GMA Network, another major broadcasting network in the Philippines, also reportedly acquired the rights to remake the 2005 MBC drama ``My Name is Kim Sam-soon.'' This is not the first time for a Korean drama to be remade abroad. The first was the Japanese drama ``Hotelier,'' a remake of the Korean drama starring hallyu icon Bae Yong-joon, which was aired last year by TV Asahi in Japan. Bae, who remains wildly popular among Japanese women, even made a cameo appearance in the drama. However, ratings for the drama were quite low. In recent years, Japanese production companies have been acquiring drama adaptation rights for Korean movies. A Japanese drama version of the successful 2001 Korean film ``My Sassy Girl'' called ``Ryokiteki na Kanojo'' will hit TV screens this spring. Tsuyoshi Kusanagi, a member of the popular group SMAP, and actress Lena Tanaka will play the lead roles. However, the original plot and characters have been slightly changed. Instead of the lead characters playing college students, Kusanagi will play a marine biology professor, while Tanaka will play a writer. The drama airs April 20 on TBS network in Japan. Incidentally, the Hollywood version of ``My Sassy Girl,'' starring Jesse Bradford and Elisha Cuthbert, will be released this year. ``My Boss My Hero,'' based on the Korean film ``My Boss, My Teacher,'' was one of 2005's biggest hit Japanese dramas. Tokio lead singer Tomoya Nagase played the role of a tough but idiotic gangster forced to return to high school to get his diploma, which was originally played by Korean actor Jeoung Jun-ho. On the other hand, Korean production companies have been snapping up rights to remake several popular Japanese manga and dramas. Last year, MBC aired the Korean remake of the Japanese drama ``White Tower,'' which garnered high ratings. There are plans to do a Korean drama version of the popular manga ``Boys Over Flowers (Hana Yori Dango),'' this year. It has already been turned into a successful drama in Taiwan (Meteor Garden) and Japan. cathy@koreatimes.co.kr

trendspotting

[Trend 2008] Free Stuff for All: 'Free Love'

By Cathy Rose A. Garcia Staff Reporter ''The best things in life are free, or so the saying goes. Today, there's a lot of free stuff around, if you know where and how to find it. With free newspapers, free Wifi service, free online games, free videos (YouTube), free information (Wikipedia) and free software programs, it's no wonder consumers are starting to expect more free stuff to be offered online and offline. Independent trend firm, Trendwatching.com dubs this phenomenon as ``free love.'' As competition grows fierce, companies are scrambling to find ways to attract consumers and hold their attention. Freebies, giveaways and samples are soon expected to become an essential part of doing business. ``Free love'' comes with a strings attached, of course. Products and services may be free, but you can be sure its loaded with advertising. Companies still have to find a way of making money from advertising. While circulation in many newspapers continues to decline around the world, there is a rise in the number of free newspapers. On the Internet, there are already more than 1.6 million Web sites offering news for free. According to NewspaperInnovation.com, in less than 10 years free daily newspapers have been introduced in Europe, United States, Canada, Australia, South America and Asia. In Seoul, several free newspapers are available everyday such as Metro, AM7 and Daily Focus. There are also some free English magazines such as Eloquence and Groove. Trendwatching.com said it expects be continued growth in emerging markets such as Brazil, Russia, India and China. It also foresees a rise in niche free papers, similar to the free business papers such as London's City A.M. and Scotland's Business7. Skype pioneered the free phone calls over the Internet, enabling people to make calls from computer-to-computer. Now, there are companies attempting to make cell phone calls free. British mobile operator Blyk and American mobile operator Mosh Mobile both offer free cell phone services but customers will have to deal with advertisement-related messages. Pumbby, a company based in Brussels, pays users who are willing to receive advertisements on their phones. Another service called Talkster allows consumers to make free international calls from their cellphones, landlines, computers and VoIP phones. Low-cost carriers may soon be replaced with ultra-low cost carriers giving out free seats on flights. In 2007, European airlineRyanair had a ```sale'' of 1 million seats absolutely free, with no taxes or changes. The airline can do this, since its planes are loaded with advertising on tray tables, seat covers and even exteriors. Trendwatching.com said to watch out for free seats and pocket money paid for by travel destination and travel partners, especially cities bent on attracting more tourists. Imagine vending machines serving free cups of soda and coffee. This may soon be a reality, as Japanese vending machine operator Apex is planning to roll out ``MediCafe'' (media and coffee). The machines will play a video commercial while the coffee is being dispensed, and the paper cup will be printed with advertisements. Advertisers may shoulder the partial or full cost of the drinks. Korea may be one of the most wired countries in the world, but free Wifi is not widely available. Trendwatching.com says that ad-sponsored wireless access points could be the next ``free love'' success story. In the Philippines, WIGO offers free wireless Internet to registered users at coffee ships, malls and restaurants in Manila, but banner ads from sponsors appear while you are using the service. Korean gamers are already used to free online games, such as Freestyle and Sudden Attack. Gamers only have to pay extra if they want to purchase certain items to be used in the game itself. This year, Electronic Arts is releasing a free and online version of its popular Battlefield series, called Battlefield Heroes. Advertisements will appear within the game and on its Web site. Maybe the Korean music industry, which is suffering from widespread music downloading, could take a cue from these examples of ``free music.'' Qtrax is said to be the world's first free and legal peer-to-peer music service. It hopes to generate advertising revenue to pay licensing fees to record companies; depending on how many times a song is played. British We7 is a British free music service backed by musician Peter Gabriel, which offers free songs with 10-second advertisements. Fans of British rock band Radiohead were able to download their latest album, at any price they wanted to pay. It is estimated the group ``sold'' 1 million copies. Don't know where to look for all the wonderful stuff you can get for free? There are several Web sites that list giveaways and samples. The ad-supported Web site myopenbar.com is a way to find free or cheap drinks in U.S. cities like New York, San Francisco and Los Angeles. Other Web sites include thefreesite.com, startsampling.com, freechannel.net, freebielist.com, freebiesplanet.com, alles-kostenlos.de, yes-its-free.com, totallyfreestuff.com and teenfreeway.com/yp. Companies are getting into ``tryvertising,'' which allows consumers to try goods and services before buying them. Electronics giant Samsung opened a Samsung Lounge, featuring its phones, computers and other gadgets, at Incheon International Airport, and recently, eight Samsung Mobile Travel centers at Dallas Airport. In Tokyo's Harajuku district, a members-only Sample Lab was opened to allow consumers to sample and test new products. Members can try out products, give their feedback and take home up to five samples per visit. Recently, there has been a rise in the number of people offering free hugs in Seoul's streets. No, he's not some weirdo or pervert. He's likely a follower of the ``Free Hugs'' campaign, which was founded by Juan Mann in Sydney Australia. The basic concept is to offer hugs to strangers in public places. Free hugs are probably the only thing that comes with no strings attached. cathy@koreatimes.co.kr

ne-yo!

Ne-Yo Promises to Return to Fans

American R&B Ne-Yo performs the hit song ``So Sick'' during his first solo concert at Olympic Hall, Olympic Park, Sunday. / Courtesy of All Access Entertainment By Cathy Rose A. Garcia Staff Reporter R&B star Ne-Yo promised Korean fans he'll definitely be back for another performance, after obviously being surprised at the crowd's raucous reception at his concert Sunday evening. ``Seoul is really good. I'm definitely coming back here… This is my first time here but it definitely won't be my last,'' he told the crowd at the packed Olympic Hall, Olympic Park. From the moment he came on stage, Ne-Yo had the crowd screaming and grooving to his music. Cheers erupted when he sang the worldwide number one hit, ``So Sick.'' His voice was deep and smooth, and he had a simple style, wearing khaki pants, matching vest and a navy shirt. His only ``bling'' accessory was a huge diamond-studded necklace. Ne-Yo followed up with ``Do You,'' and ``Sexy Love,'' which he dedicated to ``all the beautiful women in Korea.'' His sexy back-up dancers heated up the stage with steamy dance moves, as he sang ``Addicted.'' Since it was his first time in Seoul, Ne-Yo teased the crowd, saying he wasn't convinced everyone knew his music. He asked them to sing along if they knew the hit songs that he had written for other artists. Fortunately, the crowd recognized his songs. Ne-Yo, who started his career as a songwriter, is remembered for writing smash hits like Beyonce's ``Irreplaceable'' and Rhianna's ``Hate that I Love You.'' Before performing some of his songs, Ne-Yo liked to tell the audience what they're about. He described the ballad ``Go On Girl'' as a ``anti-love song,'' while ``Make It Work'' is about trying to make a relationship work. Toward the end of the show, Ne-Yo sang the title track from his Grammy Award-winning album ``Because of You,'' and showed some fancy footwork. He endeared himself with the audience by declaring: ``you're all officially part of my family and I love you all.'' For the encore, Ne-Yo performed ``When You're Mad,'' and gave audiences a sneak preview of a single from his upcoming album ``Year of the Gentleman.'' ``2008 will be `The Year of the Gentleman.' The new record is coming out on June 24. Be sure to get a copy," Ne-Yo said. Sean Kingston, a rising reggae artist from Jamaica, was a special guest at the concert. Before Ne-Yo hit the stage, the 18-year old singer did an excellent job of pumping up the crowd with a mix of reggae, rap and hip-hop-infused tracks. Everyone started singing along and jumping when Kingston performed the chart-topping hit ``Beautiful Girls,'' which includes sample riffs from the classic Ben E. King song ``Stand By Me.'' Korean singer Lexy also performed as the opening act for Ne-Yo. Popular girl group Wonder Girls and R&B group Big Mama also watched the concert, and had the chance to meet Ne-Yo backstage. cathy@koreatimes.co.kr

dining with the stars

Dining With The Stars

Hallyu star Bae Yong-joon owns ``Gorilla in the Kitchen," a restaurant near Dosan Park. The restaurant serves healthy, tasty dishes such as this mushroom salad with maple syrup dressing. / Courtesy of Gorilla in the Kitchen A Taste of Celebrity-Owned Restaurants in Seoul By Cathy Rose A. Garcia, Han Sang-hee Staff Reporters In celebrity-crazed Korea, stars can hawk everything from ramyeon to cell phones to vitamin drinks. So it is no wonder that some celebrities have started their own businesses such as clothing brands and restaurants, using ``star power'' for their own benefit. Hallyu superstar Bae Yong-joon, K-pop group Shinhwa, singer Kim Jong-min and actors Lee Jung-jae and Hong Suk-chun are some of the celebrities who have entered the restaurant business. Some of these stars generate hype for their restaurants by placing their names and photos prominently inside the restaurant. Others play down the star factor and concentrate on the quality of the food and service. The Korea Times takes a look at some of the celebrity-owned restaurants. Actors Turned Restaurateurs If you are a big fan of Bae Yong-joon (star of ``Winter Sonata'' and recent hit epic drama, ``Taewangsasingi'' (The Four Guardian Gods of the Kings), try visiting his restaurant ``Gorilla in the Kitchen'' near Dosan Park. ``Gorilla in the Kitchen'' is all about healthy food. But don't let this scare you because all the food served is not only healthy but also full of taste, color and aroma. One interesting feature of the place is the menu. Unlike plain menus that show the name of the dish and the price, ``Gorilla in the Kitchen'' lists the ingredients, the calories and even the nutritional contents of the dish. They also offer two size choices of the same meal: human and gorilla. The gorilla contains a little more of everything, so those who up for a big meal might as well choose the gorilla. ``Gorilla in the Kitchen'' does not use butter and cream in their recipes, and also does not have any deep fried recipes. Most of the dishes are seasoned with various herbs and each offer a distinctive taste. Another interesting service is their expert teams that help visitors choose the right food. There is the Chef Team who take care of the taste and styling of the menu, the Nutrition Team who look after the nutritional balance, and a Trainer Team that offers tips on how to keep your body healthy with the right exercise. The restaurant is right across from the entrance to Dosan Park. Opening hours are 11:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. For more information visit www.gorillakitchen.co.kr (English and Korean) or call (02) 3442-1688. Actor Lee Jung-jae also owns a restaurant, but it is a franchise of the popular Italian chain Il Mare. It's located in the Daehangno area. Movie buffs might remember Lee starred in the Korean film ``Il Mare'' (Siworae) with Jun Ji-hyun, which was turned into a Hollywood film ``The Lake House.'' To find Lee's Il Mare restaurant, go to Hyehwa Station Line 4, Exit 1 and you'll find Il Mare located behind McDonald's. Call (02) 744-8697. K-pop & Food Korean pop group Shinhwa endorsed the fried chicken chain Kyochon a few years ago, and ended up opening a Kyochon chicken franchise restaurant in Rodeo Street in Apgujeong, southern Seoul. The restaurant is quite small, and decorated with autographed posters of Shinhwa members and even their framed handprints on the walls. There is not much variety on the menu, which includes the Kyochon original chicken (8,000 won for small, 15,000 won for big servings), French fries, salad and cheese sticks. There is even ``Shinhwa chicken,'' which is a very spicy version of the original Kyochon chicken. Because of Shinhwa's popularity around Asia, it is no surprise there are always some foreign fans dining at the restaurant. Angel Mahinay, a 23-year old fan from the Philippines, said that she already knew about Kyochon chicken from watching the Shinhwa commercials on the Internet. While visiting Seoul last week, Mahinay and her friend checked out the Shinhwa restaurant to try the chicken. ``I saw the Kyochon chicken commercial and I really wanted to eat the yummy chicken. Now that I have tried it, I can say the chicken is really as good as it looked on the commercial,'' she said. To get there, leave exit 2 of Apgujeong station, Line 3 and walk towards the direction of the Galleria Department Store. After around 700 meters, turn right at the Hana Bank, walk a few meters and you'll find the Shinhwa Kyochon Chicken restaurant on your right. Even K-pop music industry giant SM Entertainment is getting into the restaurant business. SM, whose acts include TVXQ, BoA and Super Junior, will open ``EverySing'' a restaurant with karaoke on Apgujeong's Rodeo Street. The karaoke will include songs by SM artists, using the actual music. ``EverySing'' is expected to be popular among young K-pop fans. SM Entertainment is also planning on opening more branches in Korea, as well as Southeast Asia and Japan. Kim Jong-min, a member of dance group ``Koyote,'' also has a restaurant near Nonhyeon-dong called ``Eori Beori.'' The name literally means silly, and is known to be Kim's nickname among friends. The main menu is ``gob-chang,'' or small intestines of cattle. They normally come with the restaurant's specialty sauce, which is quite spicy, but if you don't want the spicy flavor, ask the servers to skip the sauce. The intestines are cut into small bite-pieces and are broiled over a charcoal fire, which gives them a smoky taste. The dishes cost from 18,000 won to 20,000 won. To get there, leave exit 2 of Nonhyeon station, Line 7 and walk straight until you see H Pharmacy. Turn left and walk straight again until you find it on your right. Opening hours are 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. For more information call 1577-0292 (Korean). Hong's Restaurants Actor Hong Suk-chun already has three restaurants in Itaewon, namely Our Place, My China and My Thai. All of the restaurants are within walking distance of the Hamilton Hotel. There is little indication these restaurants are owned by Hong, except for some portraits of himself on one side of the wall at My Thai. Hong has appeared in several films and TV shows, but may be best known among Koreans as the first celebrity to publicly admit he was a homosexual. My Thai, as the name suggests, offers Thai cuisine. The menu is fairly simple, with the usual Tom Yum Goong soup, Thai curry and rice dishes. There are not a lot of appetizers, except for the vegetable spring rolls served with the typical sweet and spicy Thai sauce. The Pad Thai noodles (12,000 won) are served covered in a thin egg omelet, and small scoops of chili powder and crushed peanuts for additional flavor. The Khao Pad Gai (8,000 won) is fried rice with pieces of chicken breast, served with a chili-laden fish sauce and cucumber slices. A Thai dessert called Rummitnumkati, tapioca pudding in coconut milk, is a sweet way to end a spicy meal. Overall, My Thai offers simple and good Thai-style food, but if you're looking for authentic Thai food, you should look elsewhere. To go to My Thai, go to Itaewon station Line 6, exit 2 and turn left at the first corner. My Thai is located on the left side. For more information call (02) 794-8090. Hong's first restaurant is Our Place, a New York fusion restaurant and a sky garden bar where you can enjoy a different view of Itaewon's busy streets. Our Place offers pasta, steak, salad and seafood dishes. To reach Our Place, go to Itaewon Station Line 6, Exit 3 and go to the building at the corner on the right. The restaurant is on the 6th and 7th floor. cathy@koreatimes.co.kr sanghee@koreatimes.co.kr

brunch

Bon et Beau Attracts Brunch-Lovers

By Cathy Rose A. Garcia Staff Reporter French bistro Bon et Beau has been attracting attention among Koreans restaurant goers as evidenced by the amount of blog activity on the venue since it opened this year. Rave reviews, photographs of this chic Itaewon restaurant and its delightful dishes have been popping up on Korean blogs. When you enter the restaurant, you're immediately struck by the sophisticated yet edgy interior. There are metal decorations on the wall, white curtains, sleek reflective black walls on one side, and wide windows on the other. For a French bistro, we were expecting more than just pasta and brunch staples like eggs benedict, pancakes and French toast on the lunch menu. We decided to try out the Gravlax salmon blini, lemon cream chicken pasta and tomato with mussels pasta. Warm, herb-flavored bread buns were served before the main course arrived. The Gravlax salmon blini (20,000 won) is served with a small fresh salad, a sausage, fried egg and a glass of mixed vegetable juice. Pieces of the salmon, which have been marinated in dill, are placed on top of a mashed potato cake and blini (buckwheat Russian pancakes). The salmon blini is quite tasty, but the serving was smaller than we expected. The lemon cream chicken pasta (16,000 won) was a pleasant surprise, with a smattering of olives, capers and chunky pieces of twice-grilled chicken breast. Unlike other cream-based pasta dishes where the sauce is too thick, the lemon cream sauce has the right consistency and tanginess. On the other hand, the tomato pasta with mussel (16,000 won) had an almost overwhelming spicy, peppery flavor. The fresh mussels helped with the spiciness of the tomato sauce. While there is an extensive wine list, there is no dessert menu. They only offered dessert of the day, which was apple pie a la mode. While it was delicious, the apple pie seemed more like apple bread, since there was no crust. The warm bread is topped with a scoop of homemade vanilla ice cream. During lunch, Bon et Beau attracts mostly young women and middle-aged ladies. In the evenings, Bon et Beau attracts office workers and couples who come to unwind with wine and good food. Dinner sets are available. To get there, get off at Itaewon Station Subway Line 6, Exit 3. Walk several hundred meters until you reach Cheil Worldwide building. Turn right, and you'll find a fork in the road. Go to the left and walk a few meters, you'll find Bon et Beau on the right. Restaurant hours are 11:30 a.m. to 1 a.m., Tuesday to Saturday; 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Sunday. Closed on Mondays. Weekend brunch is at 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Call (02) 3785-3330. cathy@koreatimes.co.kr