tagged by Jennee!

I don't normally do memes here on multiply. I prefer the safety of my flist on LJ. But because Jennee tagged me... here it goes...

The rules:

Each blogger starts with 10 random facts/habits about themselves
Bloggers that are tagged need to write on their own blog about their 10 things and post these rules
At the end of your blog, you need to choose 10 people to get tagged and list their names
Don't forget to leave them a comment telling they're tagged, and to read your blog

10 random things about me:

1. I am currently obsessed with rings, especially those that are red and have angel wings.

2. Before I travel to anywhere, I NEED to buy new clothes so I can wear them on my trip. But then again, during my trip, I buy more new clothes.

3. I’m scared of turning into one of those “bean-paste girls.” In Korea, bean paste girls are those girls who scrimp on food, but splurge on designer stuff.

4. I absolutely love Colbie Caillat’s music.

5. I always get obsessed with something to the point that I get so sick of it. For the past few weeks, I have been drinking milk tea. But now, I don’t think I can even drink it.

6. When I started working for BW, I only gave myself 2 years in journalism. And now 10 years later, I’m still working for a newspaper!

7. This year, I’ve watched more concerts than movies. Maybe it’s because I get a lot of free concert tickets. I'm so cheap that I hate buying concert tickets for myself.

8. There’s only one Korean star that I would love to see in person: Won Bin. Once I see him, it’s a sign I should go. :P

9. I often vacillate between loving and hating Seoul.

10. Lastly, I’m an idol otome!!! But I just don't like 'em because they're cute. I like ‘em smart (Sho), rocker-ish (Baru), super fashionable to the point of gay-ness (Yasu), sarcastic (Jin) and always picked on (Maru).

I'm tagging Maila, Alfonze, Barb, Uchi, Cheryl, Rina, Shirley, Tina, and whoever else wants to do it.

nicky

Nicky Hilton Serious About Fashion

American celebrity Nicky Hilton, center, appears on the runway during the fashion show for her clothing lines Nicholai and Chick by Nicky Hilton in Seoul, Thursday. / AP-Yonhap
By Cathy Rose A. Garcia
Staff Reporter

American celebrity Nicky Hilton will concentrate on her career as a fashion designer. Hilton, who is currently in Seoul for the launch of her fashion labels Nicholai and Chick by Nicky Hilton, apparently is not interested in following her older sister Paris, who is pursuing a career in acting and music.

``I got into fashion design when I was 17, when I designed a bag collection for Samantha Thavasa in Japan for one year. I launched sportswear label Chick in 2004, and Nicholai, a high end, luxury brand, last year. I'm concentrating on fashion. I have no aspirations to be a singer or actor. Fashion is my priority,'' she said, in a press conference at the COEX Intercontinental Hotel Thursday.

Chick is a contemporary sportswear line for young women, with prices starting at $30, while Nicholai is aimed at more sophisticated women, with prices starting at $80.

Hilton attended the glitzy fashion show for Chick and Nicholai's fall/winter 2008 collection at bar Fradia, southern Seoul, Thursday evening. It is the first time Hilton's clothing line has been launched in Asia.

Hilton, who studied at the Parsons School of Design, said this season's collection has an equestrian theme. ``I get my inspiration from my hobbies and passion. Last year, it was inspired by my jewelry collection with the colors, prints and jewel tones. This season, it has an equestrian theme. I love horseback riding. I have a horse at my ranch in Nevada, so I wanted to incorporate it in my collection,'' she said.

Hilton described her sense of style as ``conservative,'' compared to Paris' loud, more expressive style. ``I like to accessorize with lots of jewelry, shoes and handbags. I love mixing vintage with contemporary pieces. I love wearing platforms and colored tights. … My personality and attitude are reflected in my clothes, classic and sophisticated with an edge,'' she said.

While her focus is on the clothing line right now, Hilton said she hopes to expand the business in the future. ``The focus is on fashion right now. Later we will hopefully expand into eyewear and footwear. And possibly get into the family business with hotels. I just want to keep on working and doing what I love,'' she said.

Hilton wore an elegant black modern Korean hanbok with a white long-sleeved top when she attended the press conference. She later removed the top to reveal a strapless style couture hanbok, designed by Kim Me-hee.

``I've worn a lot of clothing before, but this Korean dress is really beautiful. It's a lot more comfortable than I thought. I really love it,'' she said, with a smile.

Hilton also attended a charity party for the Korea Breast Cancer Foundation at Club Answer, Friday evening. She said she is a big supporter of charities involved with breast cancer because her grandmother died from the disease a few years ago.

On Saturday, Hilton will throw the opening pitch at 6:10 p.m. before the start of the baseball game at the Jamsil Baseball Stadium.

cathy@koreatimes.co.kr

biennales in korea

Gwangju, Daegu Gear Up for Biennales

“Ken Dedes” by Indonesian artist Jim Supangkat will be part of the “Turns in Tropics: Artist-Curator” exhibit at the Gwangju Biennale, which opens on Sept. 5.

/ Courtesy of Gwangju Biennale

By Cathy Rose A. Garcia
Staff Reporter

Gwangju Biennale and Daegu Photo Biennale recently unveiled the line-up of programs and activities for the biennales scheduled later this year.

The 7th Gwangju Biennale, considered one of the most prestigious art events in Asia, opens on Sept. 5. The 2nd Daegu Photo Biennale, which focuses on photography, opens on Oct. 30.

Gwangju Biennale

The 7th Gwangju Biennale, which runs through Nov. 9, does not have any overarching theme. Instead, the title ``Annual Report: A Year in Exhibitions'' reflects the biennale's aim to show all the activities, exhibitions and works produced by the artists from January 2007 to September 2008.

Okwui Enwezor, artistic director for Gwangju Biennale, defended the lack of an overall theme, saying it is a response to the ``crisis in thematic exhibitions.''

``For us, we did not want to make it about trends. We wanted to look at the economies of production: intellectual, artistic, cultural, political and social. … We wanted to show the Gwangju Biennale not just as a local destination, but as a global gathering spot that has important significance not just for Korea, but for Asia and artists working in other parts of the world. Gwangju Biennale has been around for 15 years now and I think it is important to recognize it as one of the leading biennales in the world,'' Enwezor said, during a press conference last Thursday.

The Gwangju Biennale is divided into three inter-connected components: ``On the Road,'' ``Position Papers'' and ``Insertions.'' ``On the Road'' will recreate recent exhibitions that have been held around the world between 2007 to 2008, such as the first full retrospective of the works of American artist Gordon Matta Clark. The retrospective was first shown at the Whitney Museum of Contemporary Art in February 2007, and traveled to Los Angeles and Chicago.

``Position Papers'' is dedicated to the curatorial proposals and initiatives of five emerging curators, namely Patrick D. Flores, Kim Jang-un, Abdellah Karroum, Park Sung-hyen and Claire Tancons. For example, ``Turns in Tropics: Artist-Curator,'' curated by Flores, explores the works of four Southeast Asian artist-curators. ``Spring,'' curated by Tancons, will take the form of a street procession that will remind people of the May 1980 Gwangju uprising.

``Insertions'' features artists' new works that have been commissioned specifically for the biennale.

``We are not isolating the exhibition within the buildings alone, but we want to break it down and engage the locality of Gwangju. One of the exhibitions will be in the market in Gwangju, and another will be a procession through downtown Gwangju,'' Enwezor said.

Aside from exhibitions, there will be performances, film screenings, music and theater events during the biennale. Exhibitions and events will be held not just in the Biennale Hall, Gwangju Museum of Art and Uijae Museum of Korean Art, but also at Cinema Gwangju and the Daein traditional market. Visit www.gb.or.kr.



Daegu Photo Biennale

The Daegu Photo Biennale 2008 opens on Oct. 30, featuring over a thousand photographs by 200 photographers from Korea, China, Japan, Taiwan, France and United States.

The Daegu Photo Biennale will be held through Nov. 16, with exhibits held at the Daegu Exhibition and Convention Center and various galleries around the city.

This year, the spotlight will be on the photographs from Korea, Japan and China. With the main theme as ``Then & Now: Memories of the Future," the exhibit takes a look at contemporary photography from the East Asia.

Another exhibit ``Photographs from 100 Years Ago," will mainly focus on photography from Korea, Japan and China in the last 100 years.

``The Hidden 4" exhibit features the works of Zhang Xueben, Chang Chao Tang, Han Young-soo and Shoji Ueda. ``Illusory Space" is a special exhibition of ``imaginary pictures" taken by young artists.

``The Changing Social Landscape of Democratic People's Republic of Korea" gives a view on the changes in North Korea from 1945 to 2008, through the lens of eight photographers including Chris Marker, H. Edward Kim, Kuboda Hiroshi and Chang W. Lee.

Top Korean photographer Koo Bohn-chang is the artistic director of the biennale. Daegu Biennale organizers are hopeful the event will attract much attention, and eventually become internationally known in the future.

Around 50,000 visitors are expected to see the Daegu Photo Biennale during its duration. Visit www.daeguphoto.com or call (053) 601-5052.

cathy@koreatimes.co.kr

interview with CK global president

Calvin Klein Sees More Growth in Korea

Tom Murry, president and chief operating officer of Calvin Klein Inc., talks to The Korea Times about the prospects of the Calvin Klein brands in Korea.

/ Korea Times Photo by C. McCarthy

By Cathy Rose A. Garcia
Staff Reporter

The Calvin Klein brand is a household name around the world, especially in Korea where it is one of the most popular designer brands.

The high-end line Calvin Klein Collection, bridge line ck Calvin Klein and casual wear Calvin Klein Jeans are all enjoying success in the Korean market.

Tom Murry, president and chief operating officer of Calvin Klein Inc., sees even brighter prospects for the Calvin Klein brands in Korea.

``Up until 2008, Korea has been our number two country in Asia. Japan, our oldest business in Asia, was number one. But in 2008, Korea will surpass Japan as our biggest market in Asia. The performance across the board for our various brands has been very positive,'' Murry told The Korea Times, in an interview Wednesday at a hotel in southern Seoul.

Murry attributes the brand's overall success in Korea, and Asia in general, to its high quality products and high profile advertising campaigns, such as the memorable ads featuring Brooke Shields, Marky Mark and recently Djimon Hounsou.

``Over the last 25 years, we have spent $2.5 billion in advertising our brand around the world. The advertising message has been very consistent. We have Calvin Klein himself to thank for that. The other part is we worked hard on the consistency of the high quality products and excellent execution,'' he said.

Asia accounts for approximately 25 percent of Calvin Klein's total business, while the United States accounts for 50 percent and the rest from Europe and the Middle East. While he doesn't see any major changes in the near future, Murry predicts sales will be skewed to Asia in the long-term.

Among its extensive product categories, Calvin Klein Collection is considered the ``image maker'' for the Calvin Klein brand. ``We are looking forward to expanding our Calvin Klein Collection business, which we recently took back in-house… This is a very important business for us. The collection creates a halo for the brand. It is the `image maker' that helps generate sales for ck Calvin Klein and Jeans business,'' Murry said.

As for ck Calvin Klein, Murry said it is a new business but is doing very well in Asia and Europe. ``The brand ck Calvin Klein also plays a role in creating the image for the brand. The prices are the next level down from Calvin Klein Collection. We're able to cater to a broader consumer audience, and there's a much higher volume potential. It's a little more trend driven, more youthful and more contemporary,'' he said.

In Korea, ck Calvin Klein, which is distributed by Bifun Trading Co. Ltd., is available in all the major department stores. The line is popular among young, working women who favor the minimalist and sophisticated look of the designs, but at a mid-range price point.

Founding designer Calvin Klein gave up control of the company in February 2003, but still keeps tabs on the company's progress. Calvin Klein Inc. is now a wholly owned subsidiary of Phillips-Van Heusen Corp.

``He (Klein) doesn't have any official involvement but we frequently talk. He loves to hear what's going on and I often ask him for advice. We have a great relationship. He's pleased with the way things are going,'' Murry said.

It may be hard to believe but the Calvin Klein brand is celebrating its 40th anniversary this September.

``It may seem like we've grown very fast but we really haven't grown that fast. We are very careful and cautious. And we don't get into any product category or channel distribution that we think would be damaging to the brand,'' Murry said.

Calvin Klein, now considered a lifestyle brand, has over 40 product categories available in 75 countries, and it continues to expand its business. The Calvin Klein line of golf wear and line of women's fitness wear were recently introduced in the United States and will soon be available in Asia.

Murry said the ck Calvin Klein beauty cosmetics line will be coming out in the fall this year, and a furniture line will be launched in the United States in spring 2009.

When asked how Calvin Klein plans to stay competitive, Murry said ``it's all about continuing to be fresh and innovative in advertising and products.''

cathy@koreatimes.co.kr

interview with chris botti

Chris Botti Excited to Perform in Seoul

By Cathy Rose A. Garcia Staff Reporter When American jazz trumpet player Chris Botti performed in Seoul a few years ago, the warm reception he received from the Korean audience made a strong and lasting impression. ``I would put the Korean audience in the top five of my favorite international audiences I've ever performed for. I am so excited to return to Korea based on the enthusiasm on the last time we performed,'' he told The Korea Times in an e-mail interview. Botti returns to Seoul on May 22, as a headliner for Romantic Jazz Night at the Seoul Jazz Festival (May 21-24). Fans will be able to listen to Botti perform different selections from his latest album ``Italia'' and older albums. ``More importantly, you're going to see one of the best bands working in any genre of music today so you should expect to have a great time and hear a variety of sounds of jazz, classical music, and rock,'' he promised. Botti gained critical acclaim and won fans with his smooth jazz music. He is no overnight sensation, having released several solo albums before hitting it big with ``When I Fall in Love" and ``To Love Again." Growing up in Oregon, Botti said he knew he wanted to become a jazz musician when he was 12 years old and listened to legendary Miles Davis play ``My Funny Valentine" for the first time. Until today, he listens to Davis' music every day. Aside from Davis, he counts great trumpet players like Freddy Hubbard, Clifford Brown, Chet Baker and Wynton Marsalis, as well as artists like Sting, Peter Gabriel and Joni Mitchell as his major influences. Throughout the years, he has performed and recorded with artists such as Sting, Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Josh Groban, Steven Tyler, Paul Simon and Burt Bacharach. His latest album, ``Italia" features the title track, which was written by top songwriter/producer David Foster, and sung by Andrea Bocelli. Botti said he wanted to do an album based on the romance of Italy. ``Once the song Italia was finished with Andrea Bocelli and David Foster, all of the other songs flowed naturally in a combination of classical pieces and traditional jazz tunes," he said. Even with his movie star good looks (he was named one of People magazine's 100 Most Beautiful People in 2004), the 45 year-old artist is all about the music. ``The sound of my trumpet is what sets me apart from other jazz musicians. Ultimately, the musical backdrop changes whether you are playing jazz or classical music, but I have been fortunate enough to have the solitary tone of my instrument connect with a worldwide audience, and it is a great fortune that I am very aware of,'' he said. When asked if he has any advice for young jazz musicians, Botti said: ``when I meet young people these days, they say `if I don't make it I'll fall back on something else.' I'm pretty sure that's what will happen ― they will fall back on that one thing. In many ways, I jumped off that ledge and just went for it. To be naive was, at times, a very good thing because in the situations that I wasn't doing well, I didn't freak out and quit, and I stuck with it, which turned out to be the best decision in my life. With this, I would tell a young jazz musician to stay focused, practice daily, and stay passionate about your craft,'' he said. The Seoul Jazz Festival will be held from May 21 to 24 at the Sejong Center, Gwanghwamun. Korean jazz pianist Kim Kwang-min, singer Lena Park and actor-singer Lee Hyun-woo will perform on May 21, while American jazz group The Crusaders and Korean group Prelude will perform May 23. The festival ends on May 24 with British acid jazz group Incognito and French bossa nova Nouvelle Vague. Tickets range from 40,000 won to 120,000 won. Visit www.seouljazz.co.kr or call Private Curve at (02) 563-0595 for English information. cathy@koreatimes.co.kr

will.i.am.

Black Eyed Peas' will.i.am Says Piracy Can Be 'Good Thing'

Black Eyed Peas frontman will.i.am talks about the future of the music industry during the Seoul Digital Forum, Wednesday. The forum is sponsored by local broadcasting company SBS. / Courtesy of Seoul Digital Forum By Cathy Rose A. Garcia Staff Reporter The music industry blames rampant piracy for declining record sales, but Black Eyed Peas frontman will.i.am chooses to see piracy as a ``good thing.'' ``Piracy should not be a bad word. I don't call them pirates. I call them promoters. If I were the King of Spain, they (pirates) would be my Christopher Columbus who found new land. I make music and pirates spread it on the Internet. ... The record companies shouldn't chew them out, but rather embrace them. I think piracy is and could be a good thing. If fans download our music, but still come to our concerts, that's cool,'' he said, at the Seoul Digital Forum 2008, Wednesday. The forum is sponsored by local broadcasting company SBS. Despite piracy, will.i.am noted the Black Eyed Peas have sold more than 12 million records in the last five years. While countless people may have downloaded the Black Eyed Peas albums, he chooses to see the positive aspect of piracy in that it helps spread their music. Even if record sales are down, he notes concert attendance is up and fans remain very supportive of their music. Will.i.am suggests the music industry should look beyond CD sales, and focus on becoming a ``music experience industry,'' where artists and companies make money from concerts and other forms of multi-media. ``Its not about the CDs, as crazy as that sounds since I sell a lot of CDs. The music industry should try to make the music experience into a better experience and monetize it. You need to define what type of music you're making, and it's not necessarily just music. The options are limitless. We can't be held back by yesterday because yesterday has no place in tomorrow,'' he said. He cited the example of his music video ``Yes, We Can,'' where he took the words from U.S. democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama's speech and set it to music. The music video featured celebrities like Scarlett Johansson, John Legend, Herbie Hancock and Kate Walsh singing Obama's lines. The video was uploaded on the Internet, and within one week, it got 20 million views. ``This showed me that music industry is not about CDs anymore. We should inspire people's imagination to look at the world and make it better. We should inspire you to make the best out of yourself,'' he said. Will.i.am also created a Web site called DipDive, which describes as a ``home'' for music. With the combination of music and technology, he believes the next big superstar will come from the Internet. ``The next Michael Jackson will be a multimedia artist who can make records, do viral videos, and not just an album but 30 tracks a month. It's going to be a bombardment of content on the Internet,'' he said. When asked what he thought about Korean artists and their prospects of making it in the American music market, will.i.am said he thinks pop star Rain is ``huge.'' ``Korean music is dope. I think the only problem is why Korean artists should only be big in Korea. If American artists can be big in Korea, why can't Rain be big in the U.S.? But I would also love to work with non-famous Korean artists for the Internet and mobile. That would be a wonderful thing, to make a Korean artist famous everywhere else,'' he said. The Black Eyed Peas made a name for itself by creating catchy, hip hop music with socially-relevant messages like ``Where is the Love.'' However, fans may have to wait a little longer for the Black Eyed Peas' next album. will.i.am said the group will reunite on June 10 to start recording the album, which he hopes would be released before the summer of 2009. cathy@koreatimes.co.kr

i'm not here to watch Larku *weeps*

L'Arc~en~Ciel Shares Secret to Success

Japanese rock stars L'Arc~en~Ciel promises a thrilling concert on May 17 at the Olympic Gym, Olympic Park, Seoul. / Courtesy of SonyBMG Four-Member Japanese Rock Band to Visit Seoul May 17 By Cathy Rose A. Garcia Staff Reporter Popular Japanese rock band L'Arc~en~Ciel is celebrating their 17th year anniversary this year, with a world tour that brings them back to Seoul on May 17. Seventeen years after they were formed in Osaka, L'Arc~en~Ciel continues to thrill audience with their evolving rock music and exciting live performances. The Korea Times recently conducted an e-mail interview with L'Arc~en~Ciel, composed of vocalist and guitarist hyde, bassist tetsu, guitarist ken and drummer yukihiro. L'Arc~en~Ciel may look like intense rock stars on stage, but members show their humorous side as they talk about their current world tour, what they love about Korean fans and why they think wearing no underwear is the secret to their success. The Korea Times: When L'Arc~en~Ciel was formed (in 1991), did you ever predict it will become one of the most successful bands in and out of Japan? tetsu: We never could have predicted we would be successful outside of Japan. However, we knew we would not only stay in Japan. Our wish to gain as many fans as possible has brought us worldwide fame. Q: Each member of L'Arc~en~Ciel has their own solo projects. After doing solo activities, how is it possible for the band to continue making great music again? hyde: After our solo activities, we were able to broaden our scope of music. I believe that is what makes L'Arc~en~Ciel. It is all four of us making music. That is why we don't get bored. Sometimes we get bored with current music out there. The music sounds the same. In that sense, fans might think of us as the likable band that is never boring. Q: This will be your third concert in Seoul. What do you think about the Korean audience? ken: There were things that I felt after the two concerts (in Seoul). We participated in a rock festival with many other bands. We were there as a headliner but the audiences remembered the lyrics of our songs and were singing along. And I thought ``Wow, this is good!'' Now, we are thinking: ``Will we be able to hear bigger shouts this time?'' Q: Is there any difference in your concerts when you're playing in Japan and in Korea? ken: We get a little more anxious in Korea, because we want to show our Korean fans what's good about us. Q: Could you please tell us about ``TOUR 2008 L'7~Trans ASIA via PARIS~'' which covers Shanghai, Taiwan, Paris, Seoul, Hong Kong, Tokyo, and Osaka? hyde: This time, we get to play in places we always dreamed about playing at. And we are going to be in Paris where our name came from. I wish I could pronounce L'Arc~en~Ciel properly. tetsu: Whether it is going to be Paris or Asia, we do need a great deal of preparation for overseas gigs. In order to realize the tour, it takes years to plan in advance. … People may request that we play in their counties, but it is just not possible for us to go to those countries without proper equipment for our tour. yukihiro: We will do live concerts anywhere. With my drums, I hope to bring joy to our fans. Q: How would L'Arc~en~Ciel like to be remembered by people? ken: We would like to be remembered as ``mmm … nice,'' its better than being remembered as the worst! We hope people will still kiss and pat yukihiro and hyde's poster. But please do not play darts on our posters! Q: What would be the group's secret for sticking together all these years? hyde: I go to bed with no underwear on. Stay healthy with no underwear! tetsu: I wake up with no underwear. (laughs) ken: I guess the secret lies with the fact that we pretty much do whatever we like to do. And, our spirit, as such, is passed on to all of you. L'Arc~en~Ciel will perform at the Olympic Gym, Olympic Park on May 17. Tickets are 99,000 won, 77,000 won, 55,000 won and 44,000 won. For English inquiries, send an e-mail to larc.korea@gmail.com or call Iyescom Entertainment at (02) 783-0114. Visit ticket.interpark.com. cathy@koreatimes.co.kr

busan fashion

Fall Fashion at Pret-a-Porter Busan

A model wears a crystal-encrusted evening gown by top designer Andre Kim, at the opening fashion show of the Pret-a-Porter Busan, Tuesday. / Courtesy of Pret-a-Porter Busan By Cathy Rose A. Garcia Staff Reporter Busan ― Eleven Korean and foreign designers presented their fashion forecast for fall and winter during the three-day Pret-a-Porter Busan (PAP Busan), which ended Thursday. Top Korean designer Andre Kim unveiled his fall/winter collection with a star-studded fashion show featuring his distinctive and romantic evening gowns. Kim said his collection is inspired by Korean and other Asian royal sculptures, as well as elaborate designs during the Byzantine and Renaissance eras. ``My garments display intellect and cultural grace. As the warm beauty and cultural mystique are alive and existing, my work gracefully and intellectually connects the lives of people around the world," Kim said. Paris-based Spanish designer Theresa Flores made her Korean debut with a simple yet utterly feminine collection. Her luxurious pieces were characterized by bold draping, billowing sleeves and ribbons. ``My collection is designed with soft materials with simple colors as its base. This collection is a purely feminine line with occasional masculine touches that stand out," Flores said. Paris-based designer Theresa Flores made her Korean debut at the Pret-a-Porter Busan, Wednesday, with a collection featuring bold draping and feminine designs. / Courtesy of Pret-a-Porter Busan Japanese designer Kohshin Satoh chose ``From Russia With Love" as the theme for his brand Arrston Volaju's collection. He mixed tough details and heavy materials like wool, fur and leather, creating an avant-garde Russian look for men and women. French designer Christophe Guillarme, who participated in the PAP Busan last year, returned with another bold collection. This season's casual but chic collection, he said, was inspired by the glamorous era of the 1920's. Models wore mini-dresses in vibrant prints and colors, as well as slinky, figure-hugging gowns. ``This season's colorful range is voluntarily minimalist with old pink, faded colors or acid pastels counterbalanced with a bright garnet and chocolate satin," Guillarme said. Chinese designer Liu Wei offered bejeweled evening gowns in yellow and white, as well as flirty spring dresses. There were touches of Chinese inspiration, from the inky prints to glittering embroidery. Gioia Pan, Taiwan's ``Queen of knitted wear," sprinkled Swarovski crystals on her knitted dresses and evening gowns. Pan's classic and elegant designs enhance women's curves. The PAP Busan is also a chance for Korean designers from Seoul and Busan to show off their current designs. The Korean designers presented a good balance of edgy and commercial designs for fall and winter. Lee Moon-hee created a dark, gothic-inspired collection, featuring a lot of black, fur, lace and ruffles. Inspired by a strong yet feminine rocker, Lee's designs included lush fur coats, slim-fitted trousers and romantic tops. Seoul-based designer Ha Seng-beg follows the futurism trend, with his collection inspired by a futuristic Indian and Japanese ninja. Models walked the catwalk wearing shiny gold coats, oversized jumpers and edgy slim-fitting jackets. ``My inspiration came from a mix of fun colors that you find in American Indian garments and the secretive ninja's garb," Ha said. Kim Dong-soon showed an ethnic-inspired collection for modern women in their 30's to 50's. She said this season's collection is a well-balanced mix of bold and extravagant details with moderate shapes and colors. Husband-and-wife team Lee Jong-chul and La Sae-young, who are based in Busan, showed mix-and-match looks under the theme ``macho woman" for their brand Duo.ze. It was an eclectic collection; featuring pinstriped trousers, purple puffy jackets, motorcycle jackets and printed tops. Jo Myung-rye created haute-couture gowns in different tones of brown, violet, green, beige and gold. Jo said she strives to create an elegant, timeless style for her designs. PAP Busan, organized by Model Center International, is held twice a year during spring and fall. Model Center International president Toh Shin-woo said the event is becoming a truly international fashion event with the increasing presence of foreign designers. cathy@koreatimes.co.kr

pirate

How to Solve the 'Pirate's Dilemma'

In this photo released by China’s Xinhua News Agency, a worker carries confiscated pirated publications to be destroyed in Taiyuan, capital of north China’s Shanxi Province, April 20, 2008. Author Matt Mason writes about how youth culture trends and modern technology have affected today’s society in his book “The Pirate’s Dilemma.” / AP-Yonhap By Cathy Rose A. Garcia Staff Reporter When you think of pirates, you think of Johnny Depp as Captain Jack Sparrow, the guy selling bootleg DVDs in the street or even the kid next-door downloading the latest Coldplay album from the Internet. In his book ``The Pirate's Dilemma,'' former pirate DJ Matt Mason proposes the idea that being a pirate is not as bad as the government or big business might say. Who is a pirate anyway? Mason defines a pirate as ``essentially anyone who broadcasts or copies someone else's creative property without paying for it or obtaining permission.'' While he admits that some acts of piracy are theft, Mason says that ``one man's copyright terrorist is another's creative freedom fighter: many forms of piracy can transform society for the better.'' When Thomas Edison invented the phonographic record, musicians called him a pirate for trying to steal their work. Major pharmaceutical companies branded Dr. Yusef Hamied a pirate because his Indian company produced cheaper copies of anti-HIV drugs for as little as $1 a day, versus their prices of $27 a day. Mason notes that piracy has been going on throughout history, and should be encouraged because it spurs innovation. In the 19th century Industrial Revolution, the United States ``employed pirated know-how to industrialize.'' Europeans started calling Americans as ``Janke,'' the Dutch slang word for pirate, which is now pronounced as ``Yankee.'' ``From the birth of America to the birth of the Internet, it is often left to pirates to chart the winds of change and plot better courses for the future. When pirates start to appear in a market, it's usually an indication that it isn't working properly… Piracy transforms the markets it operates in, changing the way distribution works and forcing companies to be more competitive and innovative,'' he said. Mason shows how youth culture trends like punk, hip-hop, disco, graffiti, remix and the open-source movement have ``evolved into powerful forces that are changing the world.'' Today, people, companies and governments are facing the ``pirate's dilemma.'' ``How should we react to the changing conditions on our ship? Are pirates here to scupper us or save us? Are they a threat to be battled or innovators we should compete with and learn from? To compete or not to compete _ that is the question _ perhaps the most important economic and cultural question of the 21st century,'' he says. One of the best examples of this dilemma is the music industry's struggle to fight piracy. Record companies have fought file sharing on the Internet, by suing illegal downloaders and by introducing software to make it difficult for people to copy CDs, but without much success. Instead of fighting the problem, Mason said the best way is to compete, as Apple did. Apple legalized music downloading with its hugely successful iTunes, proving music no longer needed a physical system of distribution. On the other hand, while CD sales continue to decline, the demand for live performances and legal downloads has been increasing. ``The music industry's response to the `pirate's dilemma' is a lesson all others need to learn from. Movies, video games, magazines and newspapers have all suffered losses as they make the transition to business models based on electronic distribution. The music industry found out the hard way that resistance is futile. The best way to stop piracy, as Apple's Steve Jobs said, is to compete with it,'' Mason said. The open-source culture is changing the way businesses are being run. Take for instance, Linux that distributes its core software for free, but makes money from selling customized software. With newspapers, games, music, movies, software and TV shows available on the Internet for free, Mason challenges companies to think outside the box and find new ways of competing. ``As we learn to pirate more of the things we buy and sell, many industries will face short-term uncertainties. But looking at the history of youth movements, the social experiments that took hold by figuring out new ways to share, remix and produce culture, in the long term, the benefits of this new, more democratic system, seem clear. It is down to every one of us to approach the pirate's dilemma from our own unique perspective and to apply the best option to our particular situation,'' he says. The book offers fresh insights on various youth culture trends. What makes it even more interesting are the anecdotes about 50 Cent, the Sex Pistols, FUBU founder Daymond John, graffiti artist Taki, as well as a Jamaican man who invented the remix in the 1960's and a nun who inspired disco parties. Incidentally, the book's cover features a stylized pirate logo that uses a light bulb instead of a skull, on a ``P" keyboard button. Korea-born Ji Lee, an art director at Droga5 Agency, designed the logo. True to the book's principles, the logo is available on the Web site www.thepiratesdilemma.com where you are encouraged to take it and create new versions. cathy@koreatimes.co.kr

hotel splendid

American Playwright Depicts Plight of Comfort Women

Cho-In Theater international manager Lucinda Walker, left, and American playwright Lavonne Mueller read a copy of Mueller's play ``Hotel Splendid' 'about comfort women during their meeting with The Korea Times in a hotel in downtown Seoul last week. / Korea Times Photo by Cathy Rose A. Garcia By Cathy Rose A. Garcia Staff Reporter American playwright Lavonne Mueller first found out about the ``comfort women'' or World War II sex slaves, when she was on a study grant in Tokyo in the early 1990s. She saw a big demonstration, but when she asked some Japanese people what it was about, no one gave her a straight answer. ``I finally found a man at a coffee shop who told me about the women in military brothels. Then, he dismissed it, saying `that's just war.' I became angry because it was a secret. I feel the only way we can come to terms with our past in order not to repeat it is to know about the past and what happened. Anything kept secret is wrong,'' Mueller told The Korea Times in an interview last week. This incident prompted her to find out more about the estimated 200,000 comfort women in Japanese military brothels, mostly in Korea, during World War II. Mueller was shocked since history books did not even mention atrocities inflicted by Japanese soldiers against women in Korea, China, the Philippines and other Japanese-occupied territories. She channeled her outrage by writing a play about their ordeal titled ``Hotel Splendid.'' Mueller is currently in Seoul to see the Cho-In Theater present the Korean version of the play at the Arko Arts Theater, which opens Wednesday as part of the Seoul Theatre Festival. Mueller said she did a lot of research on the issue and interviewed three relatives of Korean comfort women, most of whom are still afraid of going public and did not want to be named. In the play, she chose to focus on the story of four Korean women to represent the plight of all comfort women during the war. ``This is an anti-war play. We don't see any anti-war plays about women. We always see the men in the battlefield, which is important, but we also need to see it from the women's point of view. This is a graphic view showing how women were the spoils of war,'' she said. She expressed frustration with the Japanese government's stubborn refusal to acknowledge the thousands of comfort women during the war, and to apologize. ``Even Germany has come out and apologized for the Holocaust. Why can't the Japanese government do that while these women are still alive, and I think we only have eight to ten years until all living archival persons are dead. I don't think we have much time,'' she said. Hotel Splendid, which won an International Peace Award in 2001, is named after one of the comfort stations established by the Japanese military. Mueller shakes her head at the irony of naming a place where girls were raped and brutalized on a daily basis as ``splendid.'' Mueller hopes Hotel Splendid can bring the issue of comfort women to greater public awareness, much like how the The Diary of Anne Frank helped give a human face to what happened to 6 million Jews during the Holocaust. ``I'm proud that the U.S. said Japan should give an apology to these women. But I think the Japanese are waiting for these women to die. Once they die, they think the issue will die. One good thing about writing a play is that the people live on every time the play is performed,'' she said. Last year, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a resolution stating Japan should formally acknowledge, apologize and accept historical responsibility for using comfort women. Despite tackling the comfort women's horrible ordeal of being repeatedly raped by Japanese soldiers, Cho-In Theater international manager Lucinda Walker said the play does not have graphically violent scenes. ``It is hard-hitting, but it is still very watchable. Poetic language is used. You don't actually see anyone being raped. You can see how the women come together and bond. It's very sad and moving,'' Walker said. Fifty percent of proceeds from the production will go to support the House of Sharing, a home for comfort women (www.nanum.org/eng). The play will be in Korean with English subtitles. Hotel Splendid runs through May 5 at the Arko Arts Theater Main Hall in Daehangno. Ticket prices range from 20,000 won to 40,000 won. For English information, visit www.train3.com/english. For reservations, email choin.theatre@gmail.com Tickets will be available at the theatre. cathy@koreatimes.co.kr

can't wait for blue man group

How to be a Rock Star: Blue Man Style

The Blue Man Group MegaStar World Tour hits Seoul for the first time in June. The show will run for 16 days from June 10 to 22 at the Sejong Center Main Theater, Gwanghwamun. / Courtesy of Mast Media By Cathy Rose A. Garcia Staff Reporter Three bald guys painted in bright blue, running around the stage pummeling PVC pipes and drums to create unique beats, all while not saying a single word: this is the world-famous Blue Man Group performance. The Blue Man Group is bringing its ``MegaStar World Tour'' to Seoul for the first time in June. The show will run for 16 days from June 10 to 22 at the Sejong Center's Main Theater, Gwanghwamun. Blue Man Group was founded in 1988 by Phil Stanton, Chris Wink and Matt Goldman, who were then working as caterers in Manhattan, New York. From their street performances, the Blue Man Group has become a 700-person international organization involved not only in theatrical performances, but also music, TV and film. Most people will recognize the Blue Men from those quirky Intel 3 TV commercials a few years ago. Seth Freed, senior executive for Blue Man Group International, said the primary goal of their projects is to ``transcend language and culture to connect people through universal humor and rock music.'' The MegaStar World Tour is a satirical look at the rock industry, as it follows the innocent Blue Man character's road to becoming a rock star. The Blue Man character uses an instruction manual for the ``perfect rock concert experience,'' and figures out the formula for stardom, while engaging the audience in a humorous, exciting way. Laura Camien, Blue Man Productions director for marketing and press, said the MegaStar World Tour expands on the Blue Man character, which was first introduced in the original Blue Man Group show. ``We wanted the character to expand and do more things. With the character being innocent and curious, we can just place the character in new surroundings and let him explore it and see what humor comes from it. So we took the character and put him in a rock concert setting. He has to learn quickly how to entertain the audience,'' she said. While applying the title ``megastar'' to the innocent Blue Man sounds absurd, Freed said the real megastars of any concert are the audience. ``It is the energy of the audience that makes any live performance truly great,'' he said. Attending one of the Blue Man performances is a described as a ``diverse combination of 21st century multimedia theatrics, music, visual art, comedy, science, and state-of-the-art technology.'' The show features a set of custom musical instruments, like the piano smasher, air poles, PVC instrument, drumbone and tubulum, all made of out PVC pipes. If you're wondering about the wet-looking blue paint used on the characters, Camien said it is a unique color called ``Blue Man blue'' which is only available exclusively for the company. ``The founders didn't really choose blue, but blue chose them. It wasn't a rational choice. It was creative. Blue was all there was. They knew the character was blue and that he wasn't going to speak. They started to question how he would express himself. And they realized there are two ways to express his emotion, through color and music," she said. The Blue Man Group's worldwide success has been both surprising and humbling, even for the officials. ``The secret of our success is the innocent and curious character of the Blue Man. People can relate to the Blue Man. Living in a high-tech world, we can all attest that sometimes technology is our best friend and other times its has complicated our lives beyond belief. Here is a sweet character, very childlike trying to figure out the world around him. Its funny the way he interprets things,'' Camien said. The show will only be in Korean, but Camien said the storyline is fairly easy to follow and there is no need to translate the music. Even children can appreciate the Blue Man performances, since it involves a lot of humor and action. ``Children who come to the show can relate to the character immediately. Like he's their best friend because that's how they see the world. They are still trying to figure out the world for themselves,'' Camien said. More than 2 million people have seen the Blue Man MegaStar World Tour around the world. The Blue Man Group's MegaStar World Tour makes its Asian debut in Seoul in June. It will also visit France, Austria, Germany, Holland and Denmark later this year. Tickets range from 50,000 won to 150,000 won. Visit www.blueman2008.co.kr or call (02) 541-6235. cathy@koreatimes.co.kr

dj kai

What trends do you see in the club scene this year?

DJ Kai: Clubs are losing their focus and need to get back to the basics. People are swept away by the VIP craze. That's all good but clubs no longer have an identity … Given that the market is so saturated, I like seeing smaller venues that have strong focus and do it well.

How would you compare the World DJ Festival in Seoul with other events you've performed in?

DJ Kai: This is a large-scale event so it's going to be quite special for me. Other than my involvement with the Love Parade in San Francisco, I usually play smaller clubs. Playing for this many people is going to be a fun ride indeed.

For more information about the World DJ Festival, visit www.worlddjfest.com (Korean) or www.myspace.com/seoulvibes (English). English inquiries can be sent to urbanevents@gmail.com.

cathy@koreatimes.co.kr