seoul fashion week

Spring Style at Seoul Fashion Week

A model shows off a hanbok by Lee Young-hee on the catwalk during Seoul Fashion Week. / Courtesy of Seoul Fashion Week
By Cathy Rose A. Garcia
Staff Reporter

Korea's top designers unveiled their fashion forecast for spring and summer 2009 during the eight-day Seoul Fashion Week, which ended Saturday.

Seoul Fashion Week was once again touted by organizers as the ``evolution of Seoul becoming Asia's representative fashion city."

Judging from what was seen on the catwalks, women will look forward to fresh and feminine looks, with just a hint of sexiness, for spring and summer. The romantic trend continued with bold floral prints on flowing maxis and one-piece dresses. Spring and summer fashion is always colorful, and this season is no exception with a lively pink, blue, purple and yellow color palette.

Men will have to update their wardrobes with smartly cut jackets and clean sportswear. Black, white, navy, brown and beige dominated the color spectrum of men's wear designers, as well as check prints.

Men's Wear

As always, Seoul Fashion Week kicked off with two days of men's wear fashion shows attended by male Korean celebrities like Ji Jin-hee, Lee Dong-wook, Joo Ji-hoon and Dennis Oh.

Park Jong-chul unveiled his spring/ summer collection for Sling Stone, combining Oriental ethnic look with futuristic details. Inspired by the fibrous tissues of a tree, he used these tree fibers in the fabrics for his collection.

Song Zio aimed for French chic clothes for men this season, showing loose-fitting cocoon silhouettes. Actor Cha Seung-won walked down the runway wearing a jacket with thin, haphazardly drawn vertical stripes and slim navy trousers.

Chang Kwang-ho injected a hint of trendiness to classic men's suits. He used basic colors, with pastel colors; and added fun details in the jackets.

``Caribbean travel" is the main theme of Park He-rin's collection. She focused on luxury sportswear, with comfortable but stylishly cut weekend suits and tailored denim.

Suh Sang-young said there was no main item for his collection, but instead he tried to show subtle differences in color and shape. One model wore a gray suit with a peek of bright pink peeking from the sleeves, while another wore loose shorts and vests.

Woo Young-mi, a successful Europe-based designer, celebrated the 20th anniversary of her brand ``Solid Homme." With the theme ``half-transparent beauty," Woo used blue, gray, light purple and beige for her men's wear collection.

Park Sung-chul's theme was taken from the Tom Hanks film ``Big." Park said he wanted to show fathers wearing big clothes, as if children playing with their father's wardrobe. Thus, his collection featured deliberately mismatched, oversized jackets and baggy trousers.

Seo Eun-gil infused his collection with traditional Korean culture by modernizing the traditional Hanbok into a pair of easy, loose-fitting pants.

Punk doesn't seem to go out of style. Song Hye-myung's collection for Dominic's Way brought punk rock fashion to forefront, with all-black motorcycle leather jackets and pants.

Women's Wear

The women's wear fashion shows are always the main attractions for Seoul Fashion Week. Big-name designers like Song Jain, Lee Young-hee and Gee Choon-hee did not fail to attract crowds. .

Song, one of the most popular designers today, introduced a modern sportswear collection with a romantic twist. Her collection featured slim pants, hooded jackets, tank tops, tiny running shorts and sporty dresses with number logos.

Gee's Miss Gee Collection is always one of the most eagerly anticipated fashion shows of every season. Gee turned to neo-classic British style, creating high-waist tailored hot pants with matching jackets and pretty English rose-print dresses.

World-renowned designer Lee Young-hee continued to impress with the innovative ways she has modernized hanbok. With the theme ``hanbok," Lee's collection showed different styles of Korean traditional dress in contrasting and layered colors, as well as unique patterns.

Cho Sung-kyung's collection for her brand Latulle is utterly feminine, with lace popping up in silky pink tops, white blazers and tiered evening gowns.

Seo Seung-hee was inspired by the idea of bringing American illustrator Tasha Tudor's 18th century traditional costumes in her books to a modern style. The results are pretty vintage floral prints with cropped trousers, and earthy brown one-piece dresses.

Yang Hee-duk created billowing dresses with oversize floral prints in a refreshing mix of color, perfect for a vacation aboard a cruise ship. Yang decided to tone down the volume for the maxi, giving it a more streamlined fit.

The 80s, inspired Shin Young-jae to create a collection full of maxi dresses, jumpsuits and zipper vests. .

Ha Sang-beg wanted to combine street wear with couture on the runway. Models wore all-white ensembles, sparkly silver jackets and whimsical peach-colored ruffled dresses

An Yoon-jung used a lot of black and white color, as well as Baroque-style grandeur elements in her collection.

The Japanese art of paper folding or origami inspired Hong Eun-ju for this season's collection. Using fabric as ``paper," she created unique silhouettes in natural materials.

Black was the dominant color at Lee Moon-hee's fashion show for ``Bitter & Sweet," with sexy all black dresses with lace details.

Math mixed with fashion at Lee Bo-mi's understated collection. Lee applied algorithms in her designs, resulting in geometric patterns, smooth lines and clean silhouettes.

Park Yoon-jung, costume designer for the hit drama ``Taewangsasingi (The Four Guardian Gods of the King)," successfully combined her avant-garde designs with femininity. She used Japanese-inspired woodblock prints in sexy gowns and robes for her brand Vack Yuun Zung.

Paris-based Jeong Hee-seok showed off his Jaison Couture collection of intricately detailed couture gowns, including an alluring red gown with beads and feathers.

Foreign Flair

For the first time, Seoul Fashion Week featured four top designers of Asian descent as part of the International Fashion Exchange.

Vietnamese-American designer Thuy Diep presented the spring/ summer collection for her ``Thuy,'' label. The show featured Diep's signature soft structured pieces in lime yellow and orange and black dresses with ruffled detail on the side.

London-based Korean design duo Steve J & Yoni P sent models on the catwalk wearing Gothic-Lolita-inspired slip dresses and chiffon baby doll dresses that bordered between girlish innocence and sexiness. Their designs are always modern and refreshing, with a sprinkling of eccentricity.

The runways for Eley Kishimoto, a brand designed by Mark Eley and Wakako Kishimoto, were filled with color block dresses with graphic lines and sweet summer frocks. There were flirty pink floral dresses paired with lacy tights embellished with pink flowers, as well as prim skirts and tops.

Ravage, the Bangalore-based design team of Raj Shroff and Neetu Gupta, presented bohemian-romantic style clothes in vibrant colors on the catwalk. The brand is known for its unique Indian fabrics and textures.

cathy@koreatimes.co.kr

dose of HOPE

'HOPE' Teaches English to Underprivileged Kids

Matt Romer teaches English to a group of underprivileged children at a welfare center in Mia-dong, northern Seoul.

/ Korea Times Photo by Cathy Rose A. Garcia

By Cathy Rose A. Garcia
Staff Reporters

It's a Wednesday afternoon in Mia-dong, northern Seoul. A group of boys and girls aged between 10 and 13 noisily chat with each other in Korean as they enter the classroom.

Matt Romer, a 27-year-old Canadian teacher, tries to get the children to quiet down before starting with the English lesson.

``How old are you?,'' Romer asks one boy.

The boy's forehead wrinkles in confusion, before saying, ``one-three.''

``Thirteen,'' Romer corrects the boy gently.

It may seem like an ordinary English class, but it's not, Romer is a volunteer who teaches the children for free at a community center. The children are from low-income families who cannot afford the expensive fees hagwon charge for English classes.

Romer is one of several foreigners who are part of a non-profit organization HOPE, which stands for Helping Others Prosper through English. HOPE is the brainchild of a group of Canadian teachers who were looking to make a positive contribution to Korean society.

For Romer, it's a way for him to give back something to the Korean community. He teaches the one-hour class every Wednesday, his day off from work as an English teacher at a hagwon.

``I wanted to help these underprivileged kids. It doesn't take up much time at all. I wanted to give something back to Korea, and teaching English to these kids is a great way to do that,'' Romer told The Korea Times.

HOPE was formed earlier this year, when a group of Canadian teachers, Maria Salken, Sylvia Soo and Philip Lozano were looking to do some volunteer work during their free time.

As English teachers, they know very well that learning English as a second language is a top priority for Korean families. Parents pay hundreds of thousands of won for classes at language academies for their children. Yet there are many families who cannot afford the high fees, leaving their children at a disadvantage.

So, the group thought of doing what they knew best, teaching English. But this time, teaching English to underprivileged children.

The plan was good, but there were concerns that doing volunteer work might be a violation of the working visa's given to English teachers.

``We always wanted to do volunteer work before, but there were problems with regulations. We heard that it might be a violation of our E-2 visas and stuff. We were frustrated with this. We work with public schools and hagwon, but we know there are many kids who can't afford to get English education,'' Maria Salken, HOPE director of recruiting and public relations, told The Korea Times.

The group tried to get a clear and definite answer from the immigration office on the question of whether foreigners can be allowed to do volunteer work in Korea, without it being a violation of their work visas.

After several attempts, the immigration office finally said that it was okay for foreigners to do volunteer work.

``The immigration office said it was okay as long as the organization remains non-profit, and the host centers were also non-profit,'' Salken said.

After clearing the hurdle, HOPE started mobilizing friends and co-workers to sign up as volunteers. The group also started to find orphanages and community and welfare centers where they could offer their services.

On its Web site (www.alwayshope.or.kr), HOPE states its objective is ``to provide a free, safe and accessible place for underprivileged children to develop their English skills and equip them for a brighter future in further education.''

HOPE is entirely run by volunteers, and has limited resources. The group does not accept monetary donations, but would appreciate donations of textbooks and basic school supplies like pencils, erasers, glue and paper.

``We are relatively new and still somewhat small. But every member of the team has a lot of heart with only the best of intentions. We want to help as many as possible. The demand is certainly out there. We are constantly in need of more volunteers as the number of children from low-income families and orphanages is overwhelming,'' Salken said.

HOPE has received very positive responses from the communities where it has volunteers.

Romer, originally from Toronto, is one of the first volunteers, and signed up to teach a one-hour English class in Mia-dong.

``I've always been interested in volunteering. I recently went to Cambodia to volunteer teaching at a school there. In Korea, I've been busy with school so there was no time to volunteer, until I had this opportunity to volunteer for HOPE," he said.

During his one-hour class, it was obvious Romer enjoyed teaching English to the children through fun games. His students were enthusiastic about learning English, especially when they played word games like Hangman.

``After going to class last week, I was on cloud nine. It's been great to teach the kids. That's why I'm here in Korea teaching kids, because I love kids,'' Romer said.

Romer doesn't mind giving up a few hours of his day-off to go across town and teach the class of underprivileged children. ``It doesn't really take much time. I wanted to give back something to Korea. Teaching kids is a good way to give back to the community,'' he said

Aside from the community center in Mia-dong, there are programs in a center in Changsin-dong, as well as an orphanage in Namsan,

While HOPE is optimistic about the future, the group acknowledges the fact that many of its members and volunteers are only in Korea temporarily. Many foreign teachers tend to stay only a year or two before moving back home, so there's a problem of how to sustain the program in the coming years.

HOPE continues to look for more volunteer teachers and partner host centers that help underprivileged children in Seoul. Volunteer teachers should be a native speaker of English, have a secure visa status and be willing to volunteer for at least one hour a week for at least three months. Interested parties can visit the group's Web site www.alwayshope.or.kr.

``Life in Korea is so transitory and temporary. We're hoping we can get enough volunteers to keep this going for the next few years. We hope it will become self-sustaining,'' Salken said.

cathy@koreatimes.co.kr

"walking to the sky"

Walk to the Sky With Jonathan Borofsky

"Walking to the Sky," a new sculpture by Jonathan Borofsky, is located in front of the Kiturami Homsys Co. building, Hwagok-dong, Gangseo-gu, Seoul. / YonhapBy Cathy Rose A. Garcia
Staff Reporter

American artist Jonathan Borofsky's ``Hammering Man,'' a giant sculpture of a worker ceaselessly hammering away, has become a well-known landmark in Gwanghwamun in downtown Seoul.

Borofsky was back in Seoul to unveil a new sculpture ``Walking to the Sky,'' located in front of the Kiturami Homsys Co. building, Hwagok-dong, Gangseo-gu, that is expected to be another landmark. The sculpture features a row of seven life-sized people walking on a pole jutting into the sky, as three people look on from the ground.

``It's a symbol of all of humanity. All of us are connected together and walking to an unknown future,'' he said in a press conference Wednesday.

As a child, Borofsky was fascinated by the philosophical title of a Paul Gauguin painting, ``Where Do We Come From? What Are We? Where Are We Going?''


American artist
Jonathan Borofsky``I'm still involved with the same question myself. Maybe the sculpture represents every one of us being involved in the same question, in the deepest sense. I would say all of my work has a philosophical and psychological meaning to it. This is why I made the work to try and understand how our minds work and why they work the way they do,'' Borofsky said.

In 1992, Borofsky made his first sculpture, ``Man Walking to the Sky,'' for the Documenta art show in Kassel, Germany, where it can still be found today. The man is actually a clay sculpture patterned after Borofsky himself. Later, the city of Strasbourg, France also commissioned him to do a similar piece, but this time it was ``Woman Walking to the Sky.''

``I had this very romantic idea that possibly I can locate `Man Walking to the Sky' in Kassel, and `Woman Walking to the Sky' in Strasbourg from another direction, and then we can get the trajectory to meet. But the cities wanted to place it where they wanted to,'' he said, with a chuckle.

A decade later Borofsky expanded his original idea, creating ``Walking to the Sky'' for a temporary installation at the Rockefeller Center in New York. ``Instead of a man or a woman, I decided to make it humanity, all of us together walking up to the sky,'' he said.

The original piece can now be found at the Nasher Collection in Dallas, Texas. He also created another one for his alma mater, Carnegie-Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Penn.

The sculpture in Seoul features people of different ages and ethnicities, including three Asian people. The pole is angled at 75 degrees, because ``the idea is to walk to the sky, not to the building across the street,'' Borofsky joked.

Borofsky said ``Walking to the Sky'' may have also been inspired by a childhood story his father told him about going up to the sky and talking to the friendly giants. ``As I was making the first sculpture in Germany, I certainly flashed back to that story and it gave me an understanding of where parts of the sculpture came from. But the spirituality that was encompassed in the relationship with my father in that story is all in my work,'' he said.

Well-known around the world for his large-scale public sculptures such as the ``Hammering Man,'' Borofsky admitted feeling ``uncomfortable'' when seeing his old works because he always sees something that could have been done differently.

Always the optimist, Borofsky admitted there are always challenges to this every day, whether it's the news about war or personal problems.

``How to maintain your personal energy to go forward is sometimes difficult but I don't see any reason to put my personal unhappiness in a public sculpture. In general, I'm quite happy to be alive. It is quite an amazing thing. We should all be reminded of that in the face of the struggles that we face,'' he said.

Borofsky is also holding a solo exhibition of his small-scale works including ``Human Structures'' and ``Human Structures and the Light of Consciousness,'' at the Pyo Gallery, Itaewon. It runs through Dec. 31. Visit www.pyoart.com or call (02) 543-7337.

cathy@koreatimes.co.kr

future of fashion

Experts Ponder Future of Fashion

International designers and fashion experts attended the International Fashion Exchange, Seoul Fashion Week, Monday. From left, London-based Korean design duo Steve J and Yoni P, designer Mark Eley of Eley Kishimoto and fashion icon and blogger Diane Pernet, pose for the cameras before attending a fashion show. / Yonhap
By Cathy Rose A. Garcia
Staff Reporter

Seoul Fashion Week is in full swing this week, but the lack of buzz and sometimes sparse crowds at fashion shows seem to reinforce doubts whether Seoul has what it takes to become the fashion capital of Asia.

At the Global Fashion Forum held Monday, fashion industry experts weighed in on the prospects of Seoul Fashion Week.

Nicole Fall, head of a Tokyo-based Asian consumer intelligence agency Five by Fifty, believes there is a strong case for Seoul as a fashion capital.

``There will be five billion consumers living in Asia by the year 2050, with an astonishing 60 percent of the world's population in Asia. The richest countries will be in Asia. How can Europeans and Americans simply dictate to Asia what to wear? We believe Seoul has the essential ingredients to become the future capital of Asian fashion,'' Fall said.

She cited Seoul's prime location, wealth, four seasons, manufacturing expertise, thriving telecommunications technology and rich culture. ``Korea is also a key influencer in trends in Asia. Its celebrities, talent and culture are highly valued in Asia. There is a potential for the country to build its own brands,''' she said.

To distinguish itself from other fashion events, Fall suggested Seoul Fashion Week take its cue from the popular Tokyo Girls Collection, a semi-annual fashion festival that incorporates digital lifestyle trends. Tokyo Girls Collection features fashion shows by affordable, trendy Japanese brands and is open to the public. Visitors to the fashion shows receive real-time text message updates on how to buy the clothes on the runway.

``We have a vision that incorporates technology and democracy with the buying public. Fashion trends are in the hands of the consumers, not the fashion press. Seoul can capitalize on its technology and heritage. Our idea mixes commercialism with the realities of the fashion world today and incorporates the much-needed entertainment factor missing in traditional fashion shows,'' Fall said.

Asian designers, including Korean designers, are also becoming more visible on the international fashion scene. Unlike in the 1980s when Japanese designers such as Rei Kawakubo, Yohji Yamamoto and Issey Miyake started a wave of avant-garde fashion, this time Asians from different countries are attracting attention.

``With the world becoming a global village, the cultural gap between the East and West is narrowing. Differences in style and looks are also narrowing. Another reason for the success of Asian designers in the West is the backing they have received from domestic customers,'' Felix Boukobza, a leading French creative director, said.

Fashion Films

The future of fashion may not be on the traditional runways, but in film. Diane Pernet, a well-known fashion critic and influential fashion blogger, believes that if the magazine era focused on photography, the Internet era focuses on films.

A fashion icon to many, Pernet writes about the global fashion scene on her popular blog www.ashadedviewonfashion.com and founded ``A Shaded View on Fashion Film,'' a festival showcasing films about fashion.

Pernet cited the growing phenomenon of fashion companies making short films for the Internet, sometimes to sell the product and sometimes just as a visually exciting experiment in design.

``(Dutch designers) Victor & Rolf decided this year that instead of having a runway show, they would present their collection on the Internet, giving everyone a front row seat. I think that's the future,'' she said.

Pernet only had good things to say about the fashion shows she saw during Seoul Fashion Week.

``I thought it was very well done and production wise, it was on an international level. It's the same with every emerging market, everyone wants to be on the same level as Milan or Paris or New York and London, but it takes time to build an international following. I think what (Seoul is) doing right now, inviting international people and press to come, its what should be done to get a higher profile,'' Pernet said.

cathy@koreatimes.co.kr

flies in space

'Fly Me to the Moon' Lacks Buzz

A scene from the 3-D animated film "Fly Me to the Moon."
By Cathy Rose A. Garcia
Staff Reporter

It has been nearly 40 years since Astronauts Buzz Aldrin and Neil Armstrong became the first men to step on the moon's surface.

``Fly Me to the Moon'' takes the audience back to July 1969, when the whole world eagerly awaited man's first landing on the moon. Even houseflies are buzzing about the historic space flight. Perhaps most excited are three young flies, the adventurous Nat, the nerdy IQ and the chubby Scooter, who are even building their own makeshift space shuttle.

Nat dreams of excitement and adventure, inspired by his grandfather who accompanied female pilot Amelia Earhart on her historic trans-Atlantic flight. Grandfather McFly apparently saved Earhart from crashing her plane, by going up her nose and causing her to sneeze.

Nat comes up with a plan for him and his buddies to fly to the moon with the Apollo 11 astronauts. They sneak out from under the noses of their protective mothers, slip into NASA and manage to hitch a ride inside the astronauts' helmets.

Directed by Ben Stassen, ``Fly Me to the Moon'' is the first ever computer animated feature film created and produced solely for 3D projection.

Thanks to the 3D technology, you'll find yourself looking at the world through the flies' eyes and gliding through blades of grass. You may even find yourself squinting as you anticipate the blades of grass hitting your eyes.

One of the highlights of the film is Apollo 11's take off from the Kennedy Space Center. It makes you feel as if you were there watching the spectacular blast off. The scenes in outer space are also equally impressive.

The animators created cute characters, with huge dopey eyes, translucent wings and bluish skin color, that bear little resemblance to real houseflies.

However, the problem with ``Fly Me to the Moon'' is that once you take out the 3D technology there's not enough excitement or charm in the film. Nat, Scooter and IQ are cute but bland, and fail to connect with the audience.

The plot takes an odd turn when some Russian flies, apparently envious of Apollo 11's achievement, head to the U.S. to sabotage the return flight. Of course, everyone already knows the Apollo 11 astronauts returned home safely, so there's no suspense. But the real question is will the houseflies survive? It's a no-brainer.

At the end of the film, Buzz Aldrin even makes a cameo appearance to shoot down the film's entire premise that flies could have traveled with the astronauts on the lunar module. It's not exactly the equivalent of someone telling the kids there's no Santa Claus, but it does take some of the fun out of the movie.

The film is dubbed in Korean and opens at IMAX theaters Oct. 30.

cathy@koreatimes.co.kr

interview with Andre Kim

Fashion Critical for Upgrading Korea's Image

Designer Andre Kim

By Cathy Rose A. Garcia
Staff Reporter

There is no doubt Andre Kim is Korea's most famous fashion designer. He has created a unique image and brand name instantly recognizable by Koreans.

As Korea's first male designer, Kim is a trailblazer in the fashion world. His fashion shows are known for showcasing his decadent, richly embroidered gowns worn by beautiful celebrities.

Throughout his 46-year career, Kim has successfully cultivated the Andre Kim brand, associated with luxury and romanticism. He has lent his name to a wide range of goods, such as golf wear, eye wear, jewelry, underwear, children's clothing, bedding, home lighting, Hankook Chinaware porcelain dishware, Samsung household appliances, wallpaper, a Kookmin Bank credit card and even interior design for apartments.

Kim, who has, perhaps singlehandedly raised the international profile of Korean fashion design in the last four decades, recently talked to The Korea Times about the importance of fashion in upgrading Korea's national brand.

Kim supports President Lee Myung-bak's efforts to upgrade the country's brand on par with advanced countries. ``Our President Lee tries so hard. I have great respect for him. He tries his best to promote Korea internationally and more strongly,'' he told The Korea Times, at his shop in Sinsa-dong, southern Seoul.

Kim has been staging his fashion shows abroad since the 1960s. He believes fashion is an important tool to introduce and highlight Korea's rich culture and arts to the international audience. Aside from Korean culture, his distinctive designs are also inspired by Oriental and European culture.

``It is very important to combine artistic and cultural imagination together with fashion. Most strongly, I want to impress the citizens from around the world with Korea's very high culture and sophisticated, very artistic fashion. This is very important to do internationally,'' he said.

Kim was the first Korean fashion designer invited to present his collection in Paris, France in 1966. ``Even Japan didn't present a fashion show in Paris yet. I was the very first Korean to present a show in Paris," he said.

His collection in Paris was well received, with French paper Le Figaro calling him a ``magician from fairyland.''

In the late 1960s to 1970s, Korea was still a developing country, so it was a big thing for Kim to be often invited to present his designs around the world, such as Washington, D.C., New York, Honolulu, Singapore, Jakarta and Los Angeles.

Throughout the years, Kim staged his extravagant shows amid the pyramids in Egypt, and Angkor Wat in Cambodia. He was also invited by the International Olympic Committee to stage shows for the Olympics in Barcelona and Atlanta

Foreign audiences, according to Kim, were very impressed with his designs.

These fashion shows did not just boost Kim's international profile, but Korea's as well. Kim wanted to prove that Korean and Asian arts and culture were just as rich and significant as the arts and culture of Western countries.

``I have great pride in my country and Asia. That is my very important purpose. Internationally, European arts and culture are better known. But I wanted to show through my artistic fashion collection that Korea is also very artistic. I wanted to show Korea's rich and high culture. I wanted to impress them. That was my focus,'' Kim said.

Kim said his fashion shows reflect his love for Korean and Asian arts, culture and history, and he wants to share this with the international audience.

``I wanted to recreate Korean and Asian royalty's dresses. Because I am Korean and I am Asian, so I wanted to show Asia and Korea's beautiful heritage of culture. I wanted to have a fashion show not only for the sake of commercial fashion. I wanted it to be more like an artistic stage performance. My desire is, through Korean design and arts, to pursue total arts. I wanted to be a fashion designer, not just for commercial design, but dedicated to total arts,'' he said.

Promoting Korea

Kim's fashion shows abroad invariably help promote Korea's fashion industry, something that he is well aware of.

``Helping to promote Korea as a country is a very important part. I wanted to show them (international audience) Korea's garment export business. European designers are exporting with higher price, but Korean exports are not very high. But Korean designers, they have imagination and creativity. People have a special impression when they see the labels `Made in France' or `Made in Italy' because of their long history of fashion. I want to promote Korea and Asia's imagination through my fashion,'' Kim said.

The demand for his fashion shows abroad is stronger than ever, thanks perhaps to the continued popularity of hallyu or Korean Wave around Asia. Kim is known for inviting top Korean stars such as Bae Yong-jun, Choi Ji-woo, Jang Dong-gun, Lee Young-ae and Won Bin to model his creations on the catwalk.

``My fashion shows are very different from others shows in America and from other designers. I wanted to insert very artistic and dramatic style, so we need TV actors and actresses to convey the dramatic feeling and atmosphere, he said.

At 73, Kim is definitely not one to rest on his laurels. He continues to work hard to promote his designs and Korea's national image as well.

``I will work more to present Korean fashion, culture and art around the world. I want to let the world know about Korean fashion and creativity,'' he said.

cathy@koreatimes.co.kr








From chinaware to electronic goods to lighting, interior design and of course, couture, Andre Kim offers his distinctive sense of fashion and style to a wide range of products.

 

Who Is Andre Kim?

Korea's top designer Andre Kim was born in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province in 1935. At a young age, Kim said he was always interested in the arts, and wanted to become an artist, or poet.

He finished high school at Hanyeong High School, and graduated from the Kukje Fashion Design Academy. In 1962, Kim presented his first fashion collection. He became known as Korea's first male fashion designer.

At the age of 27, he founded Salon Andre Kim in 1962 in Sogong-dong. In 1966, he was the first Korean to hold a fashion show in Paris. Throughout his career, he has staged countless fashion shows in Korea and abroad, including New York, Washington D.C, Barcelona, Cairo, Sydney, Beijing, Shanghai, Bali and Cambodia.

Kim's fashion shows always feature the hottest Korean celebrities as models. Some of Korea's biggest stars such as Song Seung-hun, Jang Dong-gun, and Kwon Sang-woo, have all walked down the catwalk wearing Kim's designs.

When asked how he chooses which celebrity to appear in his fashion shows, Kim said, ``Of course, beauty is important. Intellectual aura is also very important. Also good acting skills.''

Kim has received many accolades at home and abroad. In 1982, he received a Cultural Merit Award from the Italian government. He became the first fashion designer to receive the Korean Presidential Culture & Art Medal in 1997. In 1999, the San Francisco city government even established Andre Kim Day, and in 2000 he received an Art and Literature medal from the French government.

Over the weekend, Kim received the Bo Gwan Order of Culture Merit from the Korean government, in appreciation of his outstanding contribution to the promotion of culture through fashion.

He was named chief designer for the 1981 Miss Universe beauty pageant, and designed the Korean athletes' uniforms for the 1988 Seoul Olympic Games. He was also appointed UNICEF goodwill ambassador in 2003.

At the age of 73, Kim shows no signs of slowing down. He remains a high-profile figure in Korean society, instantly recognizable because of the signature all-white space suit that he has worn for decades.

Kim continues to hold numerous fashion shows in Korea and abroad. This year, he has staged fashion shows in Shanghai and Bali, featuring Korean stars Lee Da-hae and Han Chae-young.

Kim has a reputation for working 7 days a week, but he clarifies he works only half a day on Sunday. ``So, it's just six days and a half," he says, with a smile.

seoul fashion week

Seoul Fashion Week Starts Saturday

Left, World-renowned designer Lee Young-hee will present her spring and summer collection at the Seoul Fashion Week next week.
Center, Cho Sung-kyong presented fall/winter fashion at the Seoul Fashion Week last March. She will once again participate in the 2009 spring/summer Seoul Fashion Week next week.
Right, Park Jong-chul presented his fall/winter designs at the Seoul Fashion Week last March. He will hold his fashion show for 2009 spring/summer Seoul Fashion Week Saturday.
By Cathy Rose A. Garcia
Staff Reporter

Seoul is once again making a bid to become one of the world's fashion capitals, with Seoul Fashion Week kicking off Saturday.

Top Korean designers will present their spring and summer collections for eight days at the Seoul Trade Exhibition Center (SETEC), Daechi-dong, southern Seoul.

Organized by the Seoul Metropolitan Government and Seoul Fashion Center, the event features fashion shows for men's wear (Oct. 18-19) and women's wear (Oct. 21-25), as well as Asian designers (Oct. 20). Organizers hope Seoul Fashion Week will help boost Seoul's profile as a fashion hub, not just in Asia but around the world.

Seoul Fashion Week begins with two days of men's wear fashion shows. Men's wear designers will include Chang Kwang-hyo, Park Jong-chul, Song Hye-myung, Park He-rin, Kim Seo-ryong, Song Zio, Park Sung-chul, Lee Ju-young and Seo Eun-gil.

The women's wear fashion shows run for five days, with designers such as Song Jain, Gee Choon-hee, Lee Young-hee, An Yoon-jung and Cho Sung-kyong showing their spring and summer designs.

Noticeably absent from Seoul Fashion Week are top designers like Rubina, Lie Sang-bong, Son Jung-wan and the rest of the members of the Seoul Fashion Artists Association (SFAA). A rift between the organizers and the SFAA has once again resulted in the association's non-participation in the event. Last year, SFAA also withdrew its participation during the 2008 spring/summer fashion week, only to return for the 2009 fall/winter fashion week last March.

Asian designers will be in the spotlight during the International Fashion Exchange Oct. 20. The ``Discover Asian Creative" event features shows by rising Asian designers such as Thuy Diep; Eley Kishimoto; Ravage, Raj Shroff and Neetu Gupta; and London-based Korean design duo Steve J & Yoni P. The pair are best known for creating a limited edition line for British fashion chain Topshop a few years ago.

There will be a forum featuring international fashion insiders Diane Pernet, Nicole Fall and Felix Boubkobza on Oct. 20.

Pernet, a fashion blogger and critic for Elle.com and VogueParis.com, will talk about the future of modern journalism in fashion. Boubkobza, France's leading creative director, will discuss strategies for Asian designers in the Asian market. Fall, owner of Tokyo-based Asian consumer intelligence agency Five by Fifty, will talk about prospects of trends and the fashion business in Asia.

Young Korean fashion designers are also given a chance to show their creations at fashions shows at off-site venues, Daily Project and De Vill Whoa-Su-Mok, in Cheongdam-dong, Oct. 21-25. Among the participating brands are Instantology, Johnny Hates Jazz, Paul & Alice, The Centaur and Play Circus.

To get to SETEC, get off at Hangyeoul Station Subway Line 3. Visit www.seoulfashionweek.org for more information.

cathy@koreatimes.co.kr

waffle-y

Fluffy Waffles at The Waffle Factory

Waffles with caramel latte at The Waffle Factory

/ Korea Times Photo
by Cathy Rose A. Garcia

By Cathy Rose A. Garcia
Staff Reporter

Waffles are a dime a dozen in Seoul. Thin, usually tasteless waffles slathered with cream and jam, folded like a sandwich, can easily be found in street stalls and subway stations.

But real, honest-to-goodness waffles are hard to find. Most brunch places in Seoul serve nice, fluffy pancakes, but rarely waffles.

So it was great to hear about The Waffle Factory, a small restaurant located in Itaewon, (Noksapyeong Station Subway Line 6).

Lazy weekend mornings are perfect for having brunch, and it was good to find the restaurant wasn't very crowded. The place itself was smaller than expected with just about a dozen seats inside and two tables outside. It was also good to find the menu was written in clear English and Korean.

If you are hungry, then go ahead and order the combination set with either waffles or French toast. We ordered the French toast combination (12,000 won), which includes two thick slices of French toast, two sausages, two slices of crispy bacon, fruit compote and a serving of eggs.

The French toast was quite thick and tasty. It was served with a tangy blueberry-cassis that went well with the French toast.

The menu included several dessert waffles, which had tempting names like ``Very Berry Waffles'' and ``Brown Thunder Waffles.''

We eventually decided on ``Brown Thunder Waffles'' (9,000 won), described as cinnamon apple compote and caramel sauce on top of a pile of Belgian waffles. The description couldn't have prepared us for the overwhelming sight of thick waffles, a dollop of whipped cream on a plate drizzled with caramel sauce.

The waffles were thick, fluffy, and more importantly, tasty. While it looked like it was a diabetic's nightmare, it was actually not very sweet. The cinnamon apples and caramel sauce added just the right amount of sweetness. The sauce did not overpower the waffles.

We ordered caramel lattes, which seemed more like hot chocolate because of the overwhelming chocolate flavor. A friend commented the caramel latte didn't taste anything like caramel or coffee.

Service was quick and efficient. Another plus point is the reasonably priced items on the menu. It didn't seem overpriced like most brunch places in Itaewon.

To get to The Waffle Factory, go to Exit 1 or 2 and go over to the other side of the intersection using the overhead footbridge. Walk straight for about 100 meters, turn left at the first corner and you'll find The Waffle Factory. Open 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Closed on Mondays. Call (02) 790-0447.

cathy@koreatimes.co.kr

more than words

Reunited Extreme to Perform in Seoul

Newly reunited rock band Extreme will play in Seoul Dec. 13.

/ Courtesy of Yellow Entertainment

By Cathy Rose A. Garcia
Staff Reporter

American rock band Extreme reunited to release a new album this year, and are now embarking on a much-awaited world concert tour. Extreme will perform Dec. 13 at the Melon-AX, northern Seoul, as part of their ``Take Us Alive World Tour.''

The newly reunited band, composed of vocalist Gary Cherone, guitarist Nuno Bettencourt, bassist Pat Badger and drummer Kevin Figueiredo, is expected to rock fans once again.

Extreme was one of the most popular rock bands in the early 1990s, thanks to the smash acoustic hits ``More Than Words'' and ``Hole Hearted.''

Extreme was formed in 1985 in Malden, Massachusetts. The band became popular in the Boston area, winning Outstanding Hard Rock/Heavy Metal Act at the Boston Music Awards in 1986 and 1987. They released a self-titled debut album in 1989, to moderate success.

In 1990, Extreme released ``Extreme II: Pornograffiti,'' which went multi-platinum. The acoustic ballad ``More Than Words'' reached number one on the Billboard charts, and became a worldwide hit.

While the band gained mainstream success because of their acoustic songs, Extreme's trademark sound is actually ``a mix of hard rock funk in the spirit and style of their predecessors in Led Zeppelin, Aerosmith, Queen and Van Halen.''

Extreme released ``III Sides to Every Story" in 1992, and ``Waiting for the Punchline" in 1995. The band's four albums sold over 10 million copies around the world.

The band decided to go their separate ways in 1996. Cherone briefly joined Van Halen as lead singer, replacing Sammy Hager. Bettencourt released several solo albums, and formed other bands such as Mourning Widows and Dramagods.

In late 2007, Extreme announced the group's reunion and plans to release a new album and a world tour. Last August, Extreme released ``Saudades de Rock,'' their first album with new music in 13 years.

Band members were excited about performing their new songs such as ``Star," ``King," and ``Learn to Love."

``As much as we enjoy recording, for me, I've always loved playing live for the fans. We can't wait to get out there and play this music," Cherone said, on the band's Web site.

Bettencourt said Extreme wanted to record as much of the new album ``live'' in the studio. ``Because of it, these songs will translate easily to the stage. We're really looking forward to getting out on tour, putting on a show. That's really where the band shines," Bettencourt said.

Extreme will start the European leg of its tour in Lisbon, Portugal, Oct. 29. The group will also perform in Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya and Hiroshima in December, before heading to Seoul.

Tickets are 88,000 won. Visit ticket.interpark.com or call 1544-1555 (Korean only). For reservations in English, email 9ent@naver.com or call (02) 3444-9969.

cathy@koreatimes.co.kr

not another one of his shows :(

Andre Kim's Fall Fashion at Songdo

Fashion show in Songdo: Foreign ambassadors and their wives pose at the Andre Kim Fashion Show to commemorate the opening of Songdo Convensia, a high-tech convention center in Songdo, Incheon, Tuesday. From left: top designer Andre Kim; Annabel von Arnim-Baas, wife of German Ambassador Norbert Baas; Wendy Fil, wife of Joseph F. Fil Jr., the 8th Army commanding-general; Francoise Thiebaud, wife of French Ambassador Philippe Thiebaud; Donna Heinsbroek, wife of Dutch Ambassador Hans Heinsbroek; Ahn Sang-soo, mayor of Incheon; El Salvadoran Ambassador Zoila Aguirre De May; Bjorg Skorstad, wife of Norwegian Ambassador Didrik Tonseth; Chu Qingling, wife of Chinese Ambassador Ning Fukui; and New Zealand Ambassador Jane Charlotte Coombs. / Korea Times Photo by Shim Hyun-chul
By Cathy Rose A. Garcia
Staff Reporter

Korea's top designer Andre Kim presented his fall and winter fashion collection in a fashion show commemorating the grand opening of the convention and exhibition hall, Songdo Convensia, in Songdo, Incheon.

Leading actress Han Chae-young and young actor Jeong Dong-jin walked the runway wearing Kim's signature designs. Han, dubbed as Korea's ``Barbie doll'' for her tall and curvaceous figure, looked stunning as always as she wore Kim's elaborate evening gowns.

The fashion show featured the entire range of Kim's designs in vibrant colors, from fur-trimmed coats and black-and-white suit dresses to slinky exotic dresses and voluminous embroidered robes.

Prominent members of the diplomatic community also participated in the fashion show, including New Zealand Ambassador Jane Coombs, El Salvador Ambassador Zoila Aguirre De May and Netherlands Ambassador Hans Heinsbroek.

Five girls from the talk show ``Beauties Chatterbox,'' including Dominique Noel from Canada and Bronwyn Mullen from South Africa, also participated in the fashion show as models.

The nearly hour-long fashion show ended on a dreamy and romantic note, as Han and Jeong appeared as a picture-perfect bride and groom. Han looked gorgeous in a snowy white long gown, while Jeong looked handsome in a dark suit.

Kim was named honorary promotional ambassador for Songdo Convensia, the newly built exhibition hall in Incheon. Incheon mayor Ahn Sang-soo, who was also participated in the fashion show as a model, gave a plaque of appreciation to Kim.

``We are honored Andre Kim, a prominent designer, is here to support the grand opening of Songdo Convensia. We are preparing Incheon as a hub of East Asia … We want Incheon to become the new engine of growth to lead Korea's economy in the 21st century,''' Ahn said.

Stan Gale, chairman of the U.S.-based Gale International which is developing the Songdo project, hailed the opening of the Songdo Convensia.

``The Songdo international business district is full speed ahead. Songdo Convensia is an architectural gem for the city of Incheon. It is not just a place to pass idle time but also functional and provides inspiration for the people.''

cathy@koreatimes.co.kr

song hye-kyo's indie film debut

Song Hye-kyo Unveils US Indie Film in Busan

Actress Song Hye-kyoBy Cathy Rose A. Garcia
Staff Reporter

Hallyu star Song Hye-kyo unveiled her new movie ``Make Yourself at Home,'' at the 13th Pusan (Busan) International Film Festival over the weekend.

Song, one of the best known Korean actresses in Asia, surprised many when she chose to work on an independent film by first-time Korean-American director Sohn Soo-pum.

``The film is not necessarily a Hollywood debut for me, rather it is an independent American movie," Song said, Sunday in Busan. ``I was very comfortable acting because I was working with people who loved movies.''

A joint U.S.-Korea production, ``Make Yourself at Home'' is described as a psychological thriller about a woman shaman Sook-hee, who chooses to live an ordinary life in the United States. She marries a Korean-American named Peter, played by Arno Frisch.

Song's character in the film is something of a femme fatale, a role that is new to the actress who has played mostly sweet, innocent characters in popular Korean dramas like ``Full House'' and ``All In.''

``The role was a challenge because it is a character that I have never played before. I didn't choose it to change my image, I chose the work because I liked the overall feeling I got from reading the scenario," Song said.

Song's dialogue in the film is about 80 percent in English. ``It was really difficult. The staff all turned into English teachers and corrected my pronunciation. I am grateful to them," she said.

Her co-stars only had good things to say about Song. Firsch praised Song's professionalism on the set.

When asked about Song's English ability, co-star Athena Curry said it was ``excellent."

Song admitted she hopes to make it in Hollywood, following in the steps of other Korean stars like Kim Yun-jin and Rain. ``I believe that I can work hard to make it in Hollywood, by steadily making movies," she said.

cathy@koreatimes.co.kr

rivermaya in seoul

Filipino rock band Rivermaya
By Cathy Rose A. Garcia
Staff Reporter

Rivermaya, one of the most popular rock bands in the Philippines, performed in Seoul for the first time Saturday at the Asia Song Festival.

But the biggest thrill the group got was meeting their Korean fans, who even put up a Rivermaya banner during the concert.

The Korea Times met Rivermaya, composed of drummer Mark Escueta, vocalist Jayson Fernandez, bassist Japs Sergio and guitarist Mike Elgar, for an interview backstage at the Seoul World Cup Stadium Saturday.

Even the fact that they were invited to perform at one of Asia's largest pop music festivals was a surprise for the down-to-earth band members.

``We were really surprised when we got an email, but it's a great honor to be invited to perform at this festival,'' Escueta said.

Rivermaya was in a relaxed mood throughout the interview, cracking jokes and listening to music on their iPods while waiting for the concert to start. But they are serious about their music.

``We try to do our best with every gig we do. We give the same performance,'' Elgar said.

Rivermaya is considered one of the most influential Filipino rock bands. They are already well known in Southeast Asia, after releasing an all English-language album. They also performed in top music festivals in Thailand, Indonesia and Singapore, as well as the MTV Asia Awards.

But the members were obviously excited about performing in Korea, especially at a huge venue like the Seoul World Cup Stadium.

``We also want to see the performances of the other Asian artists at the concert. We want to see the style of different Asian singers and groups,'' Elgar said.

Rivermaya hopes their performance at the Asia Song Festival will highlight just how talented Filipino musicians are. They noted how Filipino singers such as ``Miss Saigon'' star Lea Salonga, Black Eyed Peas member Apl.d.Ap, Journey lead singer Arnel Pineda and lately, young singer Charice Pempengco have been making waves on the international scene.

It was actually Rivermaya's second time to perform in Korea, although the first time was a concert for the Filipino community in Ulsan. At that time, the band had another lead singer who dropped out last year.

Fernandez, the new lead singer, seems to have fit in quite easily with the rest of the group. Last February, the band released a new album ``Buhay'' (Life).

Before the concert, Fernandez was assigned to learn a few Korean sentences to say to the audience. It was something Fernandez found easy, especially since he had watched Korean dramas such as ``Full House'' in Manila.

Rivermaya also managed to meet some of their Korean fans at the hotel where they were staying. Apparently the Koreans became fans of Rivermaya after listening to their music while studying in the Philippines.

``They even have a banner for us, which says `Ang Rivermaya' (translated as The Rivermaya). That was great,'' Sergio said.

Rivermaya has been around since 1994, and the band is thankful that they continue to make music that people love to listen to.

``We really love what we do, that's why it's fun to play our music, whether its in clubs back home or at a big concert festival in Korea,'' Escueta said.

cathy@koreatimes.co.kr

interview with KarenMok

HK Star Karen Mok Loves Enthusiasm of Korean Fans

Hong Kong singer-actress
Karen MokBy Cathy Rose A. Garcia
Staff Reporter

If there's one thing that Hong Kong star Karen Mok loves about performing in Korea, it's experiencing the enthusiasm of the fans.

Mok was back in Seoul to participate in the 5th Asia Song Festival over the weekend. Two years ago, she impressed the Korean audience with her performance as Mimi for the Asian tour of the Broadway musical ``Rent.''

``I had a great time performing here (in 2006)). The Korean audience is definitely the best we had (during the Asian tour of Rent). They were really into the whole thing. They're really part of it,'' she told The Korea Times, backstage after she performed at the Asia Song Festival concert Saturday.

Still wearing the slinky printed mini-dress she wore on stage, Mok did not look the least bit tired after giving an energetic performance before a crowd of 35,000 at Seoul World Cup Stadium. She performed two songs from her album ``Live Is… Karen Mok,'' which won Best Mandarin Album at Taiwan's Golden Melody Awards last July.

Mok was all smiles, and had nothing but praise for the Korean audience. ``They're great. It's the first time I'm kind of performing the songs from my album in Korea. The songs may be new to the audience but they were still very receptive,'' she said.

Mok has been in the entertainment industry for 15 years, having success in both the music and movies. She has released 14 albums and appeared in over 40 movies including ``Around the World in 80 Days," ``So Close" and ``Fallen Angels."

Mok starred in the film ``So Close" with Korean actor Song Seung-heon in 2002, but they never appeared on screen together. ``I should be very angry with my director because I never had any scenes with him," she laughed.

During the interview, Mok suddenly stopped in the middle of a sentence when she heard the strains of Korean singer Shin Seung-hun singing ``I Believe." ``Oh, that's such a amazing song. Everyone knows that song," she said, excitedly.

She hopes to work with Korean director Park Chan-wook in the future. ``I would love to work with the director of `Old Boy.' He's amazing. `Old Boy' was definitely one of my favorite movies. It's very stunning," she said.

Mok recently appeared in a horror film ``The Coffin," and is now preparing to produce and star in another movie. ``It's a project I really want to do. It's a sports movie. Basically, it's about a long distance runner. I used to do a bit of long distance running myself. So I have special affinity to long distance running,'' she said.

Next week, Mok will be launching her own brand of perfume, said to be the first Asian celebrity fragrance. The perfume has been described as ``capturing the essence of Karen Mok in a bottle ― sexy, edgy and utterly feminine.''

``I'm really excited about this because I've had this idea in mind for a long time. I believe Asia should have its own celebrity fragrance. It is suitable for most women, especially Asian women,'' she said

Despite her hectic work schedule, the 38 year old still looks as radiant and youthful as ever.

When asked about her beauty secret, Mok said: ``You try to live a healthy lifestyle. The state of mind is also important to stay happy. And you really have to like what you do. It gives you energy and makes you more youthful.''

And judging from Mok's smile, she really likes what's she's doing.

my hongdae story

Rediscovering Hongdae's Artistic Side

Tour guide Jung Moon-shik talks about Hongdae's vibrant art scene during a special tour for foreigners, Sunday. / Courtesy of Sangsangmadang
By Cathy Rose A. Garcia
Staff Reporter

Young people often head down to the Hongik University area, popularly known as Hongdae, for a night of fun, dancing, drinking and partying. No wonder since Hongdae is synonymous with dance clubs and live music bars, especially the exciting ``Club Day'' event that takes place on the last Friday of every month.

But there is more to Hongdae than just clubs, bars and parties, as a group of foreigners found out last Sunday with a unique walking tour organized by KT&G's cultural center Sangsangmadang and Seoul Foundation for Art and Culture.

Around 20 foreigners, a mix of teachers, artists and students, joined the ``Rediscovering Hongdae'' walking tour. It was the first time the tour was conducted in English for foreigners, although there have already been free tours in Korean on the last Sunday of every month since April.



The tour was meant to break the perception that Hongdae is just a place to party, and to reestablish Hongdae's position as a place of art and culture filled with energy and creativity.

``We want to introduce the `real' Hongdae,'' tour guide Jung Moon-shik told the participants before the start of the tour.

Hongdae 101

Many often forget Hongdae developed into an ``art town'' because of Hongik University, which is undoubtedly Korea's top fine arts and design school.

In the 1980s, Hongdae only had art galleries, studios and bookshops near the entrance of the university. But in the 1990s, dance and music clubs sprouted up. Unlike the flashy clubs in Gangnam and Itaewon, many of the clubs in Hongdae were originally artists' ateliers that were transformed into clubs.

The live music clubs also helped nurture the independent music scene, giving a venue for young musicians to perform. Successful Korean rock, punk and hip-hop acts like Nell and No Brain were ``discovered'' while they were performing in the area's clubs.

Hongdae Children's Park

The first stop on the walking tour was the popular Hongdae Children's Park, located near the front gate of the university. It is not much of a playground for children, at least on weekends. The park is transformed into a street market, on Saturdays it is ``Free Market,'' and on Sundays it is ``Hope Market.'' It is open from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m.

University students and young artists set up makeshift stalls around the park, selling their unique arts and crafts. There's a lot of stuff to see and buy, such as handmade earrings, rings and necklaces, stylish clothes, embellished sneakers, dolls, bags, hats, household items and other accessories. This is the perfect place to find cute items to give as presents or handicrafts to decorate your home.

``This place is a famous cultural area. Children gather here to play during the day, while punk rockers come here at night to perform. This park is not just a playground for children, but a symbolic place for young people,'' Jung said.

As proof, some buildings around the park have been covered in graffiti as if the artists have staked their claim to the area.

B-boy Stage

Next stop on the walking tour was at the B-boy Theater, which claims to be the world's first. The original show ``Ballerina Who Loved B-boy,'' brings break dancing and urban street dancing on stage.

It was supposed to have been a chance to meet with B-boy members and watch their rehearsal. However, it turned out the foreigners could only watch a rehearsal, where the B-boys did not even do much dancing or show off any of their moves.

Inside a Calligraphy Studio

The visit to a calligraphy studio was the highlight of the tour. Sooltong is the studio of calligraphy expert Kang Byung-in. If you've ever picked up a bottle of Chamisul soju, you have already seen Kang's calligraphy on the label



At the studio, Kang showed how with a brush, ink and paper, he can create beautiful calligraphy that conveys the meaning and feeling of the word.

He whipped out a blank sheet of paper, dipped his brush in a bowl of ink and wrote the Korean word ``kkot,'' which means flower. With a few strokes of his brush, he created an elegant, almost flower-shaped character for ``kkot.''

Using a brush with chicken feathers or even just ordinary wooden chopsticks, Kang showed how different implements can create various effects in calligraphy. He also used various materials to write on such as Korean traditional paper and even kitchen roll paper.

Kang revealed he was always interested in calligraphy ever since he was in sixth grade. ``I really love the beauty of Hangeul,'' he said.

When asked if which of his works was his favorite, he cited the calligraphy for the title of a Korean drama, ``King Sejong,'' who created the Korean alphabet.

Street Art

Unlike Insadong and Cheongdamdong, Hongdae is one place where art is not just in the galleries but also on the streets. Even the buildings and walls around Hongdae are decorated with graffiti and bright-colored murals. After all, one person's graffiti can be another person's idea of street art.

``There are around 20 art galleries and alternative spaces in Hongdae. These galleries are not like the mainstream galleries in other parts of Seoul. Unknown young artists are given a chance to show their works,'' Jung said.

Since 1993, Hongdae has always hosted its annual street art exhibition during autumn. This year's street art exhibition started Thursday and runs through the weekend. It will be exciting to see fresh and innovative art works by young artists, many from Hongik University, at the exhibition.



Legendary Street

Seogyodong Street No. 365 is a legendary street in Hongdae, which was once filled with art studios and workrooms. Now, the street is home to many small boutiques selling clothing, shoes and accessories, as well as old-fashioned Korean restaurants.

``This street is very symbolic for the artists in Hongdae. The old buildings used to be workshops of many artists, but now many of these have been converted,'' Jung said.

Jung pointed out two famous bars, Chez Robert and Bar Da that still remain popular among artists and music lovers. Jung, who is also the lead singer for an indie rock band The MU:N, recommended going to the bars for ``excellent'' live music and drinks.

Cultural Center

The final stop on the tour was Sangsangmadang, a cultural center that has a cinema, live hall, art gallery, academy, studio and cafe. Here, indie artists can hold exhibitions at the gallery, while amateur musicians can perform at the live hall.

At the basement cinema, independent films from Korea and abroad are shown. Every Tuesday at 8 p.m., there are film screenings with English subtitles. (Visit www.sangsangmadang.com.)

The Rediscovering Hongdae tour lasted three-and-a-half hours, barely scratching the surface of Hongdae's artistic side. But it may have been enough to change some people's perception of Hongdae. Carol Scott, a 25-year-old American teacher, has always gone to Hongdae for the nightlife. She was pleasantly surprised to have discovered something new about the area.

``Sometimes, its hard for foreigners to find out things about Hongdae if you don't speak a lot of Korean. It's great to rediscover this other side of Hongdae,'' she said.

cathy@koreatimes.co.kr

asf 2008

5th Asia Song Festival Bigger Than Ever

Korea's TVXQ presented adoring fans with songs from their new album "Mirotic" at the 5th Asia Song Festival held Saturday at Seoul World Cup Stadium in northern Seoul. / Courtesy of organizers
By Cathy Rose A. Garcia
Staff Reporter

Celebrating its 5th anniversary Saturday, the Asia Song Festival concert proved to be bigger than ever with performances from 20 top singers and groups from 12 Asian countries.

Organizers estimated around 35,000 people attended the concert, including several thousand fans from Japan, China, Hong Kong, Singapore and Thailand.

It was a night of pop music, whether it was from boy bands, sexy divas, R&B singers and rockers. The concert opened with international popera singer Rose Jang belting out ``All That Jazz.''

Korean boyband SS501 treated the crowd to two energetic dance numbers, followed by Hong Kong R&B diva Karen Mok's performance.

``It's great to be back in Korea,'' Mok, who performed in the musical ``Rent" in Seoul in 2006, told the crowd.

Chinese singer Anson Hu serenaded the crowd with a ballad. ``It's my first time in Korea. I'm very happy to see all of you,'' he said.

Rising pop group SHINee elicited cheers from the crowd, as they performed their hit song, ``You're So Pretty.'' SHINee and Japanese girl group Berryz Kobo received awards for Best New Artist at the festival.

While the concert was dominated by pop singers and groups, Rivermaya from the Philippines and Japanese singer Anna Tsuchiya injected a much-needed dose of rock music to the festival.

Rivermaya, a popular Filipino rock band, performed two songs ``Nice To'' and ``You'll Be Safe Here,'' both of which were warmly received by the audience. Tsuchiya, who starred in the popular Japanese film ``Kamikaze Girls,'' gave a wildly energetic performance of her hit song ``Rose.''

Korea's top ballad singer Shin Seung-hun performed ``I Believe,'' a song from the popular Korean film ``My Sassy Girl.'' Agnes Monica, described as the Britney Spears of Indonesia, also attracted attention for her sizzling dance number.



Expectedly, the night's biggest cheers were reserved for popular male groups, Fahrenheit from Taiwan, w-inds from Japan and TVXQ from Korea.

Fahrenheit showed off their strong dance moves, as they performed three songs, including the cheerful ``New Home.'' The group's popularity recently soared around Asia after two of its members, Wu Chun and Jiro Wang starred in ``Hana Kimi, a Taiwanese drama.

W-inds, a three-member R&B group, impressed their fans with their powerful singing and dancing. W-inds, who recently released their album ``Seventh Ave.," also performed their latest single for the first time in Korea.

The crowd became even more excited when TVXQ came out to perform songs from their new album ``Mirotic,'' including the title track and ``Hey! (Don't Bring Me Down).''

With the slogan ``Asia is One,'' the Asia Song Festival has always been aimed at increasing cultural exchanges among Asian countries and promoting Asian music.

``The Asia Song Festival marks its 5th anniversary this year, having grown to become one of the biggest music festivals in Asia. The festival brings together artists from different countries, and creates a solid foundation for artists to become stars around Asia,'' said Shin Hyun-taek, director of Korea Foundation for International Cultural Exchange (KOFICE), which organized the festival.

Many of the Asian artists were participating in the festival for the first time, but hope to come back to perform for Korean fans again.

``We just had our tour in Hong Kong. We are just so honored to be here performing in this festival. All the fans here are so lovely and nice to us. We really hope one day we can have our own solo concert here and meet all the fans here,'' Calvin Chen, a member of Fahrenheit, said during a press conference Friday.

The Asia Song Festival started in 2004 with only nine artists from seven countries, but has now become one of Asia's biggest music festivals. Aside from Saturday's main concert, there was also a free concert featuring young new pop artists from Asia on Friday, as well as the Asia Music Industry Leaders' Forum.

cathy@koreatimes.co.kr

restaurant review: tteokgalbi

Juicy Tteokgalbi at Nunnamujip

Kimchimaribap at Nunnamujip / Korea Times Photo by Cathy Rose A. Garcia
By Cathy Rose A. Garcia
Staff Reporter

There's more to Samcheong-dong than just fancy restaurants and cafes. Look hard enough and you'll find no-frills, hole-in-the-wall eateries that have had a loyal following for years.

Nunnamujip (roughly translated as Snow Tree House), located along the main road of Samcheong-dong, has been around since 1990 and is a place to go for good old-fashioned, hearty meals.

This basement restaurant is quite small but does not feel cramped at all. The walls are decorated with bamboo, adding to the homey atmosphere. The tiny kitchen is partly visible, but there's enough ventilation to prevent kitchen smells from bothering diners.

On the menu (posted on the wall) are kimchimaribap (iced kimchi soup with rice), kimchimariguksu (iced kimchi soup with noodles), tteokbokki (rice cakes and vegetables in spicy sauce) and tteokgalbi (grilled short rib meat patties).

The tteokgalbi (7,000 won for 1 person) was the highlight of the meal. The grilled meat was served sizzling hot, and mouth wateringly delicious. The meat patties were juicy and cooked very well. The flavor leaned towards sweet, but was not too cloying. ,

The tteokgalbi was served with a handful of lightly toasted rice cakes. Unlike most rice cakes, which are tough to chew, the toasted rice cakes were cut into small pieces, soft, and easy to chew.

For foreigners, the kimchimaribap is something that might take some getting used to. First, the dish itself does not look appetizing: rice dumped in a bowl of ice and kimchi soup. But if you try a sip of the kimchi soup, you'll find yourself surprised at the refreshing flavor.

At Nunnamujip, the kimchimaribap (4,500 won) has a light taste that doesn't overwhelm the palate. The kimchi soup is not at all spicy, with perhaps the sesame oil helping add flavor.

However, there weren't enough ice cubes in the soup, which depending on one's preference may be a good or bad thing. The rice also appeared overcooked.

On the other hand, the kimchimariguksu (4,500 won), which features noodles instead of rice, was much better. The noodles had the right texture and consistency, which complemented the mild flavor of the kimchi soup.

To find the restaurant, go along the main road of Samcheong-dong. Nunnamujip is around 50 meters away from Yongsusan. It is right next to the Oz Kitchen restaurant.

cathy@koreatimes.co.kr

buena vista social club diva in seoul

No Slowing Down for Cuban Diva

Cuban diva Omara Portuondo will perform in Seoul Oct. 3.

/ Courtesy of Private Curve

By Cathy Rose A. Garcia
Staff Reporter

Omara Portuondo, the 77-year-old diva of the legendary Buena Vista Social Club, shows no sign of slowing down anytime soon.

Portuondo is celebrating her 60th anniversary as a musician this year, by releasing a new album ``Gracias'' and going on a world tour which brings her to Seoul Oct. 3.

In an e-mail interview with The Korea Times, Portuondo said she is not yet thinking about retirement. ``I guess I will (retire), someday, when the time comes… But it's most certainly not now! I still have yet a lot to sing and a lot to give to my audience,'' she said.

Portuondo said she gets the strength to keep singing and performing from her family, friends, Cuba, Cuban food and the audience who comes to see her in concert. ``From nature, too,'' she added. ``I'm very fortunate to have healthy genes, and therefore, I also have to thank my parents.''

Born in Havana, Cuba in 1930, Portuondo started her career as a dancer at the Tropicana Club, and later formed a singing group Cuarteto D'Aida, with her elder sister Haydee and friends Elena Burke and Moraima Secada.

Portuondo is best known around the world as part of the Buena Vista Social Club, which was a popular members-only club in Havana in the 1940s. Interest in the club was revived in the 1990s, as Cuban musician Juan de Marcos Gonzalez and American guitarist Ry Cooder made an album featuring many of the musicians who performed at the club.

For Portuondo, it was a ``great coincidence'' that led her to join the Buena Vista Social Club.

``I was recording at the Egrem Studio where Juan was also recording with Ry and Nick Gold. I had long known Juan, so he introduced me to Ry and Nick, and invited me to record a song for Buena Vista on the spot. I was really lucky to have been in the same studio on that same day! It was a very lucky coincidence,'' she said.

The album became an international hit. German director Wim Venders even made a documentary about the Buena Vista Social Club, which only helped raise the group's international profile.

Portuondo, now the group's only surviving member, has wonderful memories performing with the Buena Vista Social Club, especially her old friend Ibrahim Ferrer.

``We had known each other for a long time, but we had drifted apart. It had been long since I had last heard from him. So it was a really touching and beautiful moment when we met again at the studio. Singing `Silencio (Silence)' with Ferrer was the best experience I had with the Buena Vista Social Club. Of course, recording with Ry Cooder and other great musicians has been something really big. Well, what can I say, whenever you make good music with great musicians and colleagues, it becomes an unforgettable experience,'' she said.

Her latest album ``Gracias,'' which means ``thank you,'' in Spanish, is a way for her to express gratitude to her fans' support in the last 60 years.

``I really wanted to thank my audience by selecting a series of songs that have been really important to me during all these years,'' Portuondo said.

Portuondo said all of the songs are very touching and have special personal meaning for her. The album includes ``Cachita,'' a duet with her granddaughter Rossio; ``Nuestro Gran Amor (Our Great Love)" composed by her son Ariel Jimenez; and ``Yo Vi (I Saw)," a song about her homeland Cuba.

Portuondo is returning to Seoul for a concert Oct. 3 at the concert hall of the Seoul Arts Center. The Cuban star has nothing but praise for Korea, where she has performed several times.

``I like everything about Korea! The people, the food and the culture ― I adore your country. I would go there every year if that were possible. I have many beautiful memories of Korea, but the best thing is the love and the way the Koreans treat me, which is something I'm very grateful of,'' she said.

Portuondo promises fans a ``magical and unforgettable evening'' at the concert. VIP tickets are 165,000 won. Other tickets range from 55,000 won to 132,000 won. Call (02) 563-0595 or visit www.interpark.com and www.ticketlink.co.kr.

cathy@koreatimes.co.kr

cartier

Cartier Opens Flagship Store in Cheongdam

Models display jewelry at the opening of Cartier flagship store in Cheongdamdong, southern Seoul, Thursday. / Yonhap
By Cathy Rose A. Garcia
Staff Reporter

World-famous French jeweler Cartier finally opened its first flagship store in the fashionable Cheongdam-dong district in southern Seoul.

Designed by French architect David-Pierre Jalicon, the Cartier Maison building is already attracting attention for its elegant facade, inspired by the Korean wrapping cloth or bojagi.

``Cartier has been `jeweler to kings, king of jewelers' for 160 years and as you know every king needs a castle … This is like a private mansion with unique style. The decor, the private lounges, bridal salon and watch salon ― all of this to make our guests very comfortable,'' said Philippe Galtie, managing director of Cartier Korea, during the press preview last week.

While Cartier has opened flagship stores in Japan and China in the last few years, it took longer for the company to open one in Seoul.

``We feel it is the right time for the market to have a flagship store, in terms of level of sophistication of the market. The market is growing very rapidly. Despite the economic uncertainty affecting the world, the high-end products are not affected. We are selling products that you can keep forever,'' Galtie said.

Cartier Maison certainly conveys the essence of the Cartier brand, which is known for luxury, craftsmanship and rich heritage. It features two floors of classic interiors, crystal chandeliers and display cases filled with diamond jewelry, tank watches, leather goods and handbags. It is also has several private lounges, where VIP customers are treated to champagne while picking through the Cartier collection.

Galtie said this boutique is the seventh biggest in the world, although he expects the ranking to drop as Cartier builds more stores around the world.

Cartier Maison features the largest assortment of Cartier jewelry, watches and handbags in Korea.

``We have a long history of accessories. We are known for our jewelry and watches. In jewelry, our best selling items are the Love ring and the Trinity rings, which have become icons for many years. Love rings are 30 years. It is quite old for a fashion item that is still hot. The Trinity ring was introduced in 1924, but the old lady is still quite sexy. That's the beauty of Cartier, the creativity, design and timeless style,'' Galtie said.

Cartier Maison has a wide array of diamond jewelry and bridal rings, but the most stunning and expensive piece is a necklace with a 13.6-carat yellow diamond pendant and 19 carats of diamonds.

On Thursday, a jewelry fashion show featured models wearing some of the most dazzling necklaces, earrings, rings and bracelets from Cartier's collection. There's even a diamond tiara, which is now available exclusively at the boutique.

To celebrate the opening of the flagship store, six limited edition mini-Marcello handbags, which come in different colors and materials, are available at the Cartier Maison. Three of the mini-Marcello bags already been reserved as of Wednesday.

cathy@koreatimes.co.kr

interview with doo.ri chung

Doo-ri Chung Brings NY Style to Seoul

Left: A model shows off a slim skirt, loose top and scarf from the W Concept by doo.ri collection. New York-based designer Doori Chung collaborated with online retailer Wiz Wid for a line of “affordable luxury” clothes geared to Korean consumers.

Right: A model wears a feminine trench coat with detachable capelet from the W Concept by doo.ri collection designed by Doori Chung, during a fashion show at Dear Chocolate, Cheongdam-dong, Wednesday. / Yonhap
By Cathy Rose A. Garcia
Staff Reporter

Her sexy jersey dresses are worn by Hollywood celebrities, splashed on the pages of Vogue, sold in New York and London ― there's little doubt that Korean-American designer Doo-ri Chung has made it in the fashion world.

Chung is now bringing New York style to Seoul with a special collection for online retailer Wiz Wid (www.wizwid.com). She was in Seoul last week to launch the W Concept by doo.ri, a line of ``affordable luxury'' pieces catered to the Korean market.

``There is a way the people dress here, just as there's a way people dress in Paris. There's a very New York sensibility. I wanted to bring a bit of that. … It's a channel for me to do that because I don' t do that with my own collection, so it's a nice way to evolve that sensibility and that's what I do with this Wiz Wid collection,'' Chung told The Korea Times, over coffee last Friday.

The W Concept by doo.ri collection featured feminine trench coats, jersey dresses, streamlined puffer vests, knit tops and stylish coats in black, gray and blue. Unlike her usual line, the W Concept collection is more affordable with pieces starting at 200,000 won.

Chung said the materials used for the collection are different, but the silhouettes and the overall sensibility are the same. However, some of the sexier designs for jersey pieces were toned down for the more conservative Korean market.

Success Story

Chung's success story has always a subject of keen interest in Korea. Her family moved to the United States when she was four years old. Chung was always interested in the arts, particularly fashion illustration. She majored in fashion design at Parsons School of Design.

After graduation, she worked at Banana Republic for six months and worked for fashion designer Geoffrey Beene for six years. Working for Beene was ``amazing, '' but Chung admitted, for the first two years, she went to work thinking she was going to get fired that day.

Feeling she should challenge herself more, Chung made the decision to start her own business. With a $100,000 loan from her parents, she set up a studio in the basement of her parents' dry cleaning business in New Jersey.

``I couldn't have done what I did without them (my parents). It's not just the money. Money is important, yes, but my mother helped me sew, my father picked up the clothes from the production house. They fed me. It's little things like that. … My parents became my co-workers, as opposed to Mom and Dad. They helped me out in my business and they cared so much. It's amazing to have that,'' Chung said.

Chung's success came swiftly. A year after launching her label, she was named a finalist in the first-ever Council of Fashion Designers of America/Vogue Fashion Fund (CVFF).

``It's so funny because there were 10 people nominated there and I felt like I was the only one that didn't know anybody. All these people had their established businesses and mine was just forming. It was kind of intimidating, and then you're meeting Anna Wintour (Vogue editor-in-chief),'' she said.

A few years alter, she won the Samsung Fashion Design Fund Award, CFDA Swarovski/Perry Ellis Award for Emerging Design Talent and the CVFF grand prize.

Chung advises young aspiring designers to not listen to anyone else, and to trust their own judgment. ``Just listen to yourself. If you don't have the conviction and you need someone else to tell you that, you're in the wrong industry. You have to be self-assured and you really have to know what you want to do,'' Chung said.

In the future, Chung wants to open her own store in New York and launch a secondary line.

And what do her parents think of her success? Chung says her parents are proud and happy about it, but their concerns haven't changed.

``They're still my parents and the only concern is `Are you eating well? You look so skinny','' she laughed.

cathy@koreatimes.co.kr