fave restos (so far this year)

Explore Moroccan Cuisine at La Vie

"Kofta,: or minced meat balls with tomato sauce served with an egg, at Moroccan restaurant La Vie, Itaewon. / Korea Times Photo by Cathy Rose A. Garcia By Cathy Rose A. Garcia Staff Reporter Morocco, especially Casablanca, is one of those exotic places that most people dream of visiting some day. But the reality is that it's far away, and expensive to get there. People interested in discovering the taste of Moroccan cuisine don't have to hop on a plane to the North African country; they just need to head over to Itaewon. La Vie, which opened last December, serves authentic Moroccan food, such as "tagine," "couscous" and "bastilla." The restaurant's owner Abdellah Bjaoui raved about his country's unique cuisine, describing the flavorful stews, steamed vegetables and, of course, couscous. ``You can't imagine any Moroccan who does not eat couscous,'' Bjaoui told The Korea Times. Couscous, a dish with steamed wheat granules, looks easy enough to cook but many restaurants serve it as gritty and sticky. At La Vie, the couscous is cooked to perfection. The wheat grains were surprisingly light and did not stick to each other, which Bjaoui attributes to a ``secret'' ingredient. Couscous Royal is served with potatoes, carrots, peas, olives, beans, onions, cabbage, turnips and lamb (8,000 won for a small portion, 13,000 won for a large). The couscous went very well with the different kinds of vegetables. Tagine, a slow-cooked stew, is another famous Moroccan dish. Diners have a choice of lamb, chicken, dried fruits or minced meat tagine. The lamb in the tagine with potatoes, carrots, peas, olives, beans and onions was very soft and tender. The sauce looked a tad oily, but it was very good and flavored with different spices. The vegetables, especially the carrots and potatoes, have a beautiful color when served with the tagine and couscous. Bjaoui attributed this to the saffron from Morocco. Another stand-out dish at La Vie is the "kofta, or minced meat balls with tomato sauce served with an egg (9,000 won for small, 12,000 for large). It might look like ordinary meatballs, except it has a distinct, well-spiced flavor. The addictive sweet-spicy tomato sauce is excellent for being sopped up with the freshly made bread. The kofta was an instant favorite. With its exotic interior and music filling the air, La Vie transports diners to the world of Moroccan food. The dishes are served in colorfully designed traditional Moroccan pots, adding to the restaurant's charm. La Vie's menu is fairly extensive, and we would love to go back to try the bastilla, or dumplings, and the ``harrira,'' or hearty soup with meat, chickpeas, lentils and macaroni. Call (070) 8159-4924 or visit http://blog.naver.com/abho2000. To get there, get off at Itaewon Station line 6 exit 4, immediately turn left and go straight. Turn right at the first corner, and walk about 100 meters, and you'll find La Vie on the second floor of the building next to Irish bar Wolfhound. cathy@koreatimes.co.kr The SteakHouse Boasts It Has 'No.1 Steaks' in City Chopped steak with pasta / Korea Times Photo by Han Sang-hee By Cathy Rose A. Garcia Staff Reporter When new restaurant The SteakHouse recently opened, its advertisements proclaimed ``No. 1 steaks in the city, grilled to perfection." Our interest was definitely piqued by The SteakHouse's bold ads. So we headed to the restaurant to see if it can actually live up to its claims. The SteakHouse is located on the fourth floor of The Place building in front of Cheonggye Stream, downtown Seoul. Don't be dissuaded by the crowds on the ground floor of The Place, which is quite popular for its pasta, pizza and waffles at affordable prices. Since it is relatively new, The SteakHouse does not have much of a dinner crowd, at least not yet. Diners can choose to sit inside the restaurant or the roof garden. Regardless of where you sit, there's a good, unobstructed view of Cheonggye Stream. Inside the restaurant, the dim lighting and candles give a nice romantic ambience, which makes it perfect for dates. The dinner menu was only limited to steaks, a handful of salads and starters like shrimp cakes and calamari. There's Rib-eye steak, New York Strip, Porterhouse Steak, Steak and Grilled Shrimp and Chopped Steak with Pasta. Except for the Tenderloin Steak, all the beef is from Australia. While waiting for our order, we were given hot flat bread topped with Parmesan cheese. It was served on a stone plate, which kept the bread nice and toasty. The Chopped Steak with Pasta (22,000 won) contained slices of steak and mushrooms in a thick, creamy white sauce. There were not a lot of fettuccini noodles in the dish, and they were slightly dry. The Rib-eye Steak itself was sizeable, but it only came with three pieces of grilled vegetables. The grilled beef was juicy and tender. It was better than most steaks we've had in Seoul, but we're not quite convinced it is the best in the city. The prices at The SteakHouse did seem a tad expensive, especially since the steak didn't come with any side dishes. The Rib-eye steak was 34,000 won for 280 grams and 42,000 won for 350 grams, while the Tenderloin Steak was 34,000 won for 180 grams. Side dishes such as mashed potatoes and grilled vegetables should be ordered separately. The restaurant does serve more affordable options during lunch, such as the Steakhouse Original Burger, Spicy Salsa Burger, Steak Panini and Steak Pasta. To get there, get off Jonggak Station line 1, exit 4. Go straight and turn left before Cheonggye Stream. Go straight and you'll find The Place at the first corner. It is open for lunch 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., and dinner 5:30 p.m. to11 p.m. For reservations, call (02) 734-1244. cathy@koreatimes.co.kr Japanese Curry Udon at Maru The chicken curry udon at Maru / Korea Times Photo by Han Sang-hee By Cathy Rose A. Garcia Staff Reporter Japanese curry rice is already a quite popular dish at many restaurants in Seoul. But finding curry udon noodles in restaurants is not as easy. We were glad to find Maru, a restaurant specializing in curry udon and rice, located near Myeongdong Cathedral. We went to the restaurant just a few minutes after noon, but the lunch crowd was in full force. It was not surprising that the restaurant was full, considering that it could fit only around 25-30 people. The menu, posted on the wall, offers pork cutlet curry, fried shrimp curry, chicken curry, vegetable curry and boiled egg curry. Customers can choose if they want the curry and toppings with rice or udon noodles. Since it was busy during lunchtime, our order for fried shrimp curry udon and chicken curry udon took more than 10 minutes to arrive. The fried shrimp curry udon (8,500 won) was served in a bowl, filled with a generous serving of thick, brown curry. Underneath the layer of sauce, you'll find the succulent, fat white noodles. While there was a lot of noodles and curry, there were only three pieces of shrimp. The fried shrimp was crunchy, although the size of the shrimp was somewhat small. The chicken curry udon had a surprisingly big serving of chicken. The steamed chicken already had an excellent flavor in itself, but coupled with the curry and noodles, it was a satisfying dish. The curry had a good, hearty flavor but it was not too spicy. This might disappoint some people who like their curry hot with a strong flavor and smell. The curry mixed well with the thick wheat-flour noodles. The dish was well complemented by a side dish of pickled vegetables. We also tried the raw egg with rice (2,000 won), which provided a break from all the noodles. If you want more shrimp or chicken in your dish, you can order more toppings for an additional 4,000 won or 3,000 won. Maru's interiors are bright and modern, with blonde wood tables and chairs. Unlike other restaurants, Maru has an open kitchen which shows everything is clean and orderly when it comes to food preparation. Maru is located on the fourth floor of the building in front of Seoul Royal Hotel (a Leonidas shop is located on the ground floor). Open from 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Go early to avoid the lunch and dinner crowds. Call (02) 3789-8161. cathy@koreatimes.co.kr Sweet Chicken at Manna Teriyaki This teriyaki chicken and shrimp combination set is served with stir-fried vegetables and rice at Manna Teriyaki. / Korea Times Photo by Han Sang-hee By Cathy Rose A. Garcia Staff Reporter Teriyaki is often associated with Japanese cuisine, but the technique of grilling dishes in a sweet soy sauce has become popular everywhere. At the Manna Teriyaki restaurant in Haebangchon, Itaewon, the recipe for the sweet teriyaki sauce is not from Japan. It's actually from a popular chicken teriyaki chain based in Seattle, Washington. The restaurant has a fairly extensive menu of different teriyaki dishes. You can sample teriyaki-style chicken, beef, spicy chicken, chicken salad, pork, chicken katsu, beef short rib, tofu, tuna and shrimp. Since we wanted to try different dishes, we opted for the combination meal menu. We chose the chicken and shrimp (8,900 won) and chicken and egg roll sets (8,900 won). Each dish comes with rice, salad and pickled radish. The chicken teriyaki and shrimp dish was served with a sizable serving of sliced chicken strips, a skewer of grilled shrimp, two scoops of rice and vegetables. The chicken was tasty and flavorful, helped by the sweet teriyaki sauce, which is drizzled liberally on the chicken strips. If you need something spicier, you can pay an additional 500 won to get a spicy sauce. While the chicken was juicy, the grilled shrimp turned out to be a tad too dry. We were also expecting a fresh salad (as seen in the huge photos on the wall) to accompany the dish, but instead stir-fried vegetables were served. But the vegetables were warm and provided a good contrast to the sweet teriyaki sauce. As for the other combination, the chicken teriyaki and egg rolls complemented each other well. The egg rolls were crunchy on the outside and chewy on the inside. But it would have helped if they offered a different sauce for the egg rolls. The menu also includes yakisoba and various side dishes like egg rolls, gyoza, spring rolls, french fries, chicken nuggets, chicken wings, hash browns and fried shrimps. We tried the gyoza (2,000 won for five pieces), which turned out to be too greasy for our taste. Manna Teriyaki has nice, clean and bright interiors, decorated with a handful of framed images of Seattle. Overall, the restaurant offers good value for money since the teriyaki dishes are fairly sizable for the price. Service is fast and efficient. The restaurant is open seven days a week, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Call (02) 749-9297. To get there, leave exit 1 or 2, Noksapyeong Station, subway line 6. Cross the road using the overhead footbridge. Turn left and walk straight for about 100 meters, and you'll find Manna Teriyaki on your right. cathy@koreatimes.co.kr Chili King Reigns in Itaewon The Jalapeno Ranch burger at Chili King By Cathy Rose A. Garcia Staff Reporter Anyone with a craving for authentic honest-to-goodness chili knows how hard it is to find it in town. So when we heard about a new restaurant in Itaewon called Chili King, we just had to go and try it. Finding Chili King can be a bit tricky, even with a map and detailed instructions, but it was a good thing that you can call up chef and owner Kevin Cyr if you're lost like we were. The place itself is small and can seat only about a dozen people, but it has a cozy atmosphere. Cyr cheerfully greeted the diners, and helped us out with choosing what to order. The menu features a selection of burgers (cheeseburgers, chili burgers, bacon cheddar burgers, chili hot dogs), sandwiches, chili cheese fries (7,900 won) and a bowl of chili (5,900 won). But we found ourselves intrigued by the ``Big Kev" burger. As Cyr kindly explained, the Big Kev burger is humongous, with two juicy beef patties, provolone and cheddar cheese, bacon, onions, tomatoes, pickles and lettuce. With that warning, we opted to skip the big burger and instead tried the popular Jalapeno Ranch burger (8,900). It turned out to be a good choice. The burger is a beef patty, topped with gooey cheese, grilled jalapenos, and a savory ranch dressing. We should make mention of the lovely burger buns, which were really good and freshly baked. We also tried the Donair (7,900 won), described as an East Coast Canada classic made with 100 percent beef and a mix of secret herbs and spices. The sauce is sweet and garlicky, and the beef is served on a pita. Of course, special mention should be made of the chili cheese fries. The criss-cut fries are served with a generous serving of chili and melted cheese on top. The chili is meaty and flavorful. It's Cyr's own personal recipe, so the taste is unique but will satisfy anyone's craving for chili. All sandwiches and burgers are served with fries and homemade coleslaw. For an extra 2,000 won, the fries can be upgraded to chili cheese fries. And if the chili is not enough on your cheese dog and burger, you can always add 1,000 won for more chili. Chili King is open 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., but closed on Tuesday. To get there, get off Itaewon Station Line 6 Exit 1. Turn right at the fourth alley. Go straight around 200 meters up the hill, and you'll find Chili King on your left. If you get lost (like this reporter), you can always call the shop (02) 795-1303. cathy@koreatimes.co.kr Tasty Rice Bowl Dishes at Donburi Ebi katsudon By Han Sang-hee Staff Reporter The Hongik University area, better known as Hongdae, is full of pleasant surprises, many of them culinary. Among the numerous tasty and attractive restaurants scattered along the streets of the area is a small Japanese place where many line up without hesitation: ``Donburi.'' Donburi is a Japanese rice bowl dish in which fish, meat, vegetables and other ingredients are simmered together and served over steamy rice. The toppings and sauce are what makes the dish special ― people can choose their favorite ingredients. The restaurant is far from spacious, with only three tables and small chairs lined up where you can eat and watch your food being cooked. Fit for about 20 guests, and with the owner and cooks shouting out ``hello'' and ``thank you'' from time to time, you will easily feel right at home. The menu consists of various donburi dishes, including katsudon (deep fried pork cutlets, onion and egg on rice, 6,000 won), tendon (tempura shrimp and vegetables on rice, 8,000 won), unadon (grilled eel on rice, 8,000 won) and sakedon (salmon sashimi on rice, 8,000 won). We ordered the ebi katsudon (deep fried prawns, onion and egg on rice), the salmon belly donburi (10,000 won) and the roasted salmon head (9,000 won). The ebi katsudon comes in two sizes and prices (7,000 and 6,000 won), depending on the size of the prawns. We ordered the bigger one. The first dish was a treat, with three large deep-fried prawns covering the steamy rice and caramelized onions. The sweet soy sauce was delicious, harmonizing the rice and onions and also the egg that was placed over the dish. The prawns were steamy and juicy, not the small, thin and dry kind offered at ordinary donburi restaurants. The salmon belly dish was apparently a popular one and it was easy to see why as soon as we took a bite. The salmon was tender and so soft that it felt like it was melting. With a generous portion of pink salmon sashimi placed on top of the steaming rice, the dish was scrumptious and satisfying in almost every way. The roasted salmon head was a surprise. Considering the price of salmon in markets these days, devouring a full sized salmon's head would seem to cost a lot, but at Donburi it was offered in the same delicious, yet affordable manner. Quite hard to believe that the dish only cost 9,000 won, the roasted salmon was both satisfying in quantity and quality. As the ancient Chinese saying goes, the tastiest part of the fish is the head, and the roasted salmon indeed met our expectations. The salmon was sweet and tender, and with the bowl of white rice it only took minutes to finish. This particular dish is neither on the menu nor is it offered every day ― it is only served when it is available ― so it would be a good idea to call and ask if they have the dish ready for those who want to try it out. Aside from the famous donburi dishes, the restaurant also offers other noodle and side dishes as well, including croquette and udon. To get to Donburi, leave from exit 5 at the Hongik University station on subway line 2. Walk toward KT Sangsang Madang and turn right when you find the Su Noraebang ahead on your left. Then turn left on the first corner, where you will find Bongchu Jjimdak. Donburi is right next to the Bongchu restaurant. Opening hours are 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. The last orders should be made at 9:40 p.m. It is closed on Mondays. For more information, visit www.katsudon.co.kr. sanghee@koreatimes.co.kr

interview with Korean author Kim Yong-ja

Author Shares Secrets on Korean Cooking in Book

Kim Yong-ja, author of ``Korean Cuisine'' is a New York-based chef and gastronomy journalist. By Cathy Rose A. Garcia Staff Reporter When foreigners think of Korean cuisine, they immediately think of kimchi, but there's a wide array of Korean dishes that have yet to be discovered by the rest of the world. The government recently launched its globalization initiative for Korean cuisine, but there are some people like gastronomy journalist and cooking instructor Kim Yong-ja who are, in their own little way, helping more people discover the many flavors and delights of ``hansik.'' Kim, who is based in New York, has just released a book ``Korean Cuisine: Healthy Food, Full of Flavor,'' (Yekwong Publishing, 224pp. 28,000 won) where she shares not just recipes of well-loved Korean dishes but also its traditions and food culture. In an email interview with The Korea Times, Kim said she was always disappointed that Korean cookbooks were very hard to find in bookstores abroad. This prompted her to start writing a book on Korean cuisine a few years ago. ``I visited nearly 30 countries around the world. Wherever I go, I often go to the bookstores and see what kind of interests they have. Of course I also look at their cookbooks. It is not difficult to find Chinese, Vietnamese, Japanese or even Turkish cookbooks but I could not find any Korean cookbook. So four years ago, I started to write this book. I wanted to introduce our delicious flavors but also our tradition and food culture to the world and to the second-generation Koreans around the world,'' she said. The book describes Korean food as the ``secret to staying young and slim,'' which Kim hopes will catch the attention of many health-conscious individuals. ``Nowadays, Americans and other foreigners are very open minded to different flavors, so we have a good chance to promote our food,'' Kim said. World renowned chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten wrote the foreword for Kim's book, saying: ``Spicy, clean flavors, light broths, all of these things can be found in the Korean foods that I've come to know through my wife's home cooking. In this book, Kim Yong-ja takes this tradition that I love and brings it to a new level of sophistication and understanding. She shows you how simple it can be to make amazingly flavorful food.'' Love for Cooking Kim grew up in Seoul and moved to the United States in 1967 at the age of 22. ``We all love the food that we grew up with. My interest in learning cooking started with my marriage. I realized that it is something I have to do everyday. And I wanted to eat well. It can be a very simple meal but it should be good," she said. Kim shares her passion for Korean cuisine in the book. It is packed with recipes for appetizers, side dishes, grilled meat and fish dishes, stews, porridge and noodles. It also offers tips on how to organize the menu, dining etiquette, as well as Kim's personal anecdotes about Korean traditions. It wasn't too difficult for Kim to write the book. After all, Kim writes a weekly column ``Journey for Taste'' for The Korea Times in New York. She was a sous chef in various restaurants in Long Island, New York. She wrote the first comprehensive guide and cookbook on continental cuisine in Korean ``Food of the West'' in 1995. Since 1993, she has been a freelance cooking instructor for Korean and Continental cuisine. ``Many of the recipes I learned from my grandma, who was a wonderful at home cooking, and some from my mom and also from relatives. Some I learned from the (Hwang Hae-sung) cooking school in Seoul,'' she said. Hwang Hae-sung, a state-designated Intangible Cultural Asset, inherited the art of court cuisine from Han Hui-sun, one of the last kitchen court ladies of the Joseon Kingdom (1392-1910). Kim is trained in not just Korean cuisine, but French and Italian cuisines from the Ritz-Escoffier Cooking School, Paris, France and Giuliano Bugialli Cooking School, Florence, Italy, respectively. ``Because I learned both food of the West, such as French, Italian and American; and Korean, I know how delicious our food is. No country can prepare fish as delicious as we can,'' she said. Asked what dishes she would serve people who have never tried Korean food before, Kim suggested a first course featuring galbi (beef short ribs) or bulgogi (grilled beef with soy sauce and sesame marinade) with ssam (lettuce wraps), and then bibimbap (rice with a medley of vegetables) as a second course. "Most people love meat so it will be good to show that first, through galbi and bulgogi. And bibimbap is beautiful to present, and vegetarians will love it," she said. Unlike other Korean cookbooks which barely include desserts, Kim included tweaked versions of recipes for sujeonggwa, (cinnamon punch with dried persimmons) and patjuk (red bean puree with sweet rice balls), which enhances the flavors. ``For sujeonggwa, I soaked the semi-dried persimmons in liquor instead of soaking them in the ginger-cinnamon broth. This way, you can eat delicious dried persimmons. Otherwise the dried persimmons soaked in the ginger and cinnamon broth for several days has absolutely no taste. I consider this is an improvement in preparation,'' she said. Kim also created some desserts such as persimmons with honey and lime juice with the distinctly Korean ingredient seognyu muk (pomegranate jelly). Globalization of Korean Food Kim praised the government's campaign to promote Korean cuisine and food culture to the rest of the world. She believes this would help spur more demand for Korean products and help the country's economy. However, Kim noted there should be special attention made to presenting Korean dishes. Korean restaurants should also be clean, whether it is fancy or simple. ``To the foreigners, it is very important to have this clean look, not only the food itself but the whole restaurant including the toilet. Please do not take me wrong, there are many Korean restaurants that are doing very well in that sense, but everybody should do it that way,'' she said. Kim would love to help more with the government's efforts. ``I would love to be a goodwill ambassador for Korea to spread Korean food by teaching teenagers around the world. With government's help, I can stay at an embassy or consulate residence while I travel around and teach. Can I do it in my personal level? Yes. I plan to do it anyhow in my neighborhood and in my daughter's school. But with the government's help, it can be done much more effectively,'' she said. cathy@koreatimes.co.kr Grilled Pork Belly with Hot and Sweet Marinade ("Samgyeopsal Gui") 1 "Samgyeopsal" means three-layered meat, which describes the look of the pork belly, consisting of the skin, fat and the meat. Hot and sweet marinade is a slight variation of "yangnyeom gochujang" (seasoned chili paste). I serve this dish more often than "bulgogi" (grilled marinated beef) for my own family or for guests. Use a broiler for gas ovens or a grill (4 inches or 10 centimeters away) for electric ovens. INGREDIENTS (serves 4) 1¼ pounds/568 grams PORK BELLY, skin cut off with scissors 　　　HOT and SWEET MARINADE: 4 tablespoons GOCHUJANG (chili paste) 2 teaspoons GOCHUGARU (chili flakes) 4 teaspoons SOY SAUCE 1 tablespoon grated GINGER 2 GARLIC CLOVES, crushed 2 tablespoons HONEY or SUGAR ½ teaspoon SALT How To 1. Combine the meat with half of the marinade when you start grilling. When the meat is cooked opaque, turn it over and add more marinade, using the back of a spoon. Grill until lightly browned. 2. Cut into bite-size pieces with scissors.

weekender: Fair Trade Coffee (May 7, 2009)

Celebrate World Fair Trade Day With Coffee, Chocolates

A fair trade cacao producer sorts cacao beans in Ghana. / Courtesy of Korea Fair Trade Association By Cathy Rose A. Garcia Staff Reporter When you sip a cup of coffee or snack on a bar of chocolate, chances are you don't think about where the coffee beans are from or the farmers who grew the cacao beans. It's hard to imagine that the simple act of buying coffee or chocolate has the power to change people's lives, but thanks to ``fair trade,'' it does. Buying fair trade coffee and chocolates, which are also organically grown, helps improve the lives of coffee farmers in Guatemala and Ecuador, cacao farmers in Ghana and Dominican Republic and sugar cane producers in the Philippines. What is Fair Trade? For the last 50 years, the fair trade movement has been gaining traction around the world, changing the way people think about buying and consuming products. But it has only recently been gaining ground in Korea. Fair trade addresses the issues of inequality and injustice in traditional trade, by giving sustainable prices and providing good working conditions for farmers in developing countries. By doing this, farmers and workers are able to improve their lives. According to the World Fair Trade Organization (WFTO): ``Fair trade is a trading partnership, based on dialogue, transparency and respect that seek greater equity in international trade. It contributes to sustainable development by offering better trading conditions to, and securing the rights of marginalized producers and workers.'' Paul Myers, WFTO president, says fair trade is not just about money, but also about mutual respect between people. ``Fair trade means, transparency, and accountability and fairness in all of our dealings and those dealings are built on principle. The principles of fair trade mean that we live socially and environmentally sustainable lives; they mean we live for the next generation and not for ourselves; we invest in each other for the good of us all; they mean we enable democratic process and liberty for all people to do the best for themselves and their communities; they mean we favor prosperity for both our friends and our foes in the knowledge that equality and freedom will bring peace and quality of life and make conflict and misery increasingly irrelevant,'' Myers said, on the WFTO Web site. World Fair Trade Day 2009 Saturday (May 9) is World Fair Trade Day 2009, held every year to generate more awareness about fair trade around the world. This year's theme is ``Big Bang! Beat poverty, beat climate change, beat economic crisis!'' an acknowledgement of fair trade's impact on the economy and environment. It also serves as a wake-up call for people to start a new way of thinking and living. For World Fair Trade Day, various events, such as festivals, markets, concerts, performances and parades, are being held around the world. Leading international figures such as Sir Paul McCartney, singer Annie Lennox and South African activist Desmond Tutu are also lending their support for World Fair Trade Day 2009. In Seoul, people can celebrate World Fair Trade Day at the Fair Trade Coffee Village project in Samcheong-dong and Buk-chon, northern Seoul, and the Korea Fair Trade Festival, Deoksu Palace, downtown Seoul. Coffee Village Project ``Where is Fair Trade Coffee?'' ``Where is Fair Trade Chocolate?'' These are the questions posed by the Korea Fair Trade Association's (KFTA) posters. The answers can be found in selected cafes in Samcheong-dong and Buk-chon, northern Seoul. Six cafes will be serving fair trade coffee from Latin America and Ghana and sell fair trade chocolates from Friday through Sunday (May 8-10), as part of the Fair Trade Coffee Village Project. These are: Coffee Village Project, namely Cafe Moi, Coffee Factory, Yeondo, Cafe Chai, Kkumkkuneun Yeowoo and Jeon Gwang-su's Coffee House (See map). Park Chang-soon, president of KFTA, a non-profit organization established to raise awareness of fair trade, said this weekend's event was organized to attract more Korean consumers to join the fair trade movement. ``Through familiar medium such as chocolate and coffee, we'd like to raise public awareness on fair trade, which is yet not well known in Korea. We'd like to call on ethically minded consumers to join the fair trade movement to pay fair price to marginalized producers around the world and reduce irrational distribution and marketing costs," Park said. The picturesque neighborhoods in Samcheong-dong and Bukchon are already known for having a lot of quaint coffee shops. This weekend, the participating cafes will not just serve coffee but provide informational materials about fair trade. The coffee and cacao are from the various fair trade groups such as Honduras' Regional de Agricultores Organicos de la Sierra (RAOS); Tanzania's Kilimanjaro Native Cooperative Union; Ecuador's Federacion Regional de Asociaciones de Pequenos Cafetaleros Ecologicos del Sur del Ecuador (FAPECAFES); Guatemala's Guaya'b Asociacion Civil; and Switzerland's Claro. Aside from coffee, the cafes will also sell fair trade chocolates, which are all natural and organic. Mascao chocolates, the world's first fair trade chocolate, are made of cacao grown by small-scale farmers in Bolivia and Dominican Republic, and cane sugar from the Philippines. The chocolate is manufactured in Switzerland. It may cost a little bit more than the average chocolate bar, but the quality of the chocolate is well worth the price. ``We hope people come here with family, friends and lovers and enjoy fair trade coffee and chocolate while acting for fair trade," Park said. Fair Trade Festival The Korea Fair Trade Festival will be held Saturday at Deoksu Palace, near Seoul City Hall. Six non-government organizations, namely The Beautiful Store, Korean Women's Environmental Network, Fair Trade Korea YMCA Korea, AP-Net and iCoop (Korean Solidarity of Consumer Cooperatives), organized the one-day event. To promote fair trade among Koreans, the festival features booths selling fair trade products and energetic performances by an African drum and percussion orchestra, independent rock bands and a traditional Korean percussion children's group. There will also be a fashion show featuring organic fair trade clothing organized by the Seoul National University's Students in Free Enterprise. Where to Buy Fair Trade Goods Even after World Fair Trade Day is over, consumers can still get fair trade coffee, chocolates, cereal bars, muesli, candy, pasta and even soccer balls at the online shop www.fairtradekorea.com. Cereal bars are 1,900 won, while Mascao chocolates range from 2,700 won to 5,000 won. Coffee, chocolates and other fair trade food products are also available at the Hyundai Department Stores in Apgujeong and COEX, southern Seoul. Another Web site ecofairtrade.godo.co.kr/shop sells fair trade organic cotton clothing. The Beautiful Store, which has shops all over Seoul, sells fair trade coffee from Nepal called ``A Gift from the Himalayas.'' For more information about fair trade, visit www.fairtradekorea.net, http://cafe.naver.com/fairtradekorea (Korean) or www.worldfairtradeday09.org (English). cathy@koreatimes.co.kr

weekender: Women Artists' Biennale in Incheon (July 28, 2009)

Spotlight on Women Artists at Incheon Biennale

The billboard is part of New York-based artist Lee Chang-jin's "Comfort Women Wanted" mixed media installation at Incheon Art Platform, as part of the Incheon Women Artists' Biennale. / Courtesy of the artist By Cathy Rose A. Garcia Staff Reporter Incheon is already known for its international airport, its seaport, Chinatown and the Pentaport rock festival, but the port city also wants to become a contemporary art and cultural hub of Korea. For the entire month of August, Incheon is the site for a unique contemporary art biennale that shines the spotlight on women artists. Nearly 300 artists from 40 countries are participating in the second Incheon Women Artists' Biennale (IWAB), which opens Saturday. It is only timely and relevant to have a contemporary art biennale focusing on women artists. The international art world has always been criticized for being sexist and male-dominated, and Korea is no exception. Yang Eun-hee, commissioner of the Main Exhibition at the biennale, said there is a big disparity between the number of male and female artists shown in art institutions and museums in Korea. ``In the Korean art world, the museums' major collections have less than 20 percent, or even 10 percent, of artworks by female artists,'' Yang told The Korea Times. ``I also did some research at the National Museum of Contemporary Art in Gwacheon. For their new acquisitions in 2007, only 11 percent were women artists. It's very low.'' Even major contemporary art biennales around the world are traditionally seen as male-dominated events. This is one of the reasons that spurred the creation of the Incheon Women Artists Biennale. ``Other biennales in the world tend to be led by male artists. Our uniqueness is we focus on women artists and their works. It's a challenge for us. We want to overcome the male dominated art world, and that's one of the reasons why we created the biennale,'' said Kwon Kyung-ae, president of the biennale organizing committee. While the IWAB also invites male artists to participate, the biennale is focused on promoting women artists' works and acting as a bridge between the local and international art communities. The biennale's roots can be traced to the Incheon Women Artists Association, which held annual exhibitions for its members since the 1980s. The first biennale opened in 2004, and its success led to its first-ever international version in 2007. It was established ``out of the belief that femininity could be a catalyst for communication between different genders which would bring about a more accelerated parity in an equally-beneficial society.'' Main Exhibitions Since it is fairly new compared to the biennales in Gwangju and Busan, organizers admitted their budget is significantly smaller. ``Our budget is only 10 percent of the Gwangju Biennale's budget. We're definitely comparable to those biennales in terms of ideas, but not with the budget,'' Yang said. This year's biennale is divided into three sections, each dealing with various issues confronting the art world, particularly women artists, today. The Main Exhibition and Participation Exhibition both feature only women artists, although the latter only includes Korean artists. With the theme ``So Close Yet So Far Away,'' the Main Exhibition explores women artists' ``understanding and perception of space, where they reside, struggle and strive to realize their dreams.'' The Main Exhibition features works by 101 artists from 26 countries, including feminist artists Judy Chicago and Faith Ringgold. Chicago will be showing drawings of her controversial ``Dinner Party'' installation, which featured place settings for famous historical and mythical women like Sappho and Virginia Woolf. ``Somehow the biennale needs to be connected to the global audience and other feminist artists in the world. I think the goal of feminism is still being reached. … I would call this biennale as the first cooperative effort to build a sustainable institution in terms of women's art. To sustain this community in Korea, you need to build a network with the other areas,'' Yang said. 21st Century for Women Women will lead the future. The title of the Tuning Exhibition says it all ``The 21st Century, The Feminine Century, and the Century of Diversity and Hope.'' Han Heng-gil, chairman of the operating committee of the exhibition, says the project envisions the 21st century as ``feminine, diverse and free of any political, racial or sexual oppression.'' ``We are living in a time when there is no need to talk about improvement of women's status or equality. We are already there. Back in '60s and '70s, women perhaps struggled to gain independence and political and social power. During the past 40 years, that has shifted and Hillary Clinton came close to the U.S. presidency. The question now is not whether or not women's status has to be improved but the question is now that you are empowered, what are you going to do,'' Han told The Korea Times. Both male and female artists will tackle these questions through their art. There are paintings, installations, multimedia pieces, animation, catalogs, text, films, performances and discussions, as well as ceramics and calligraphy, which are both often overlooked by the contemporary art scene. Various performances will be staged on opening day, such as the hilarious critical satire by an all-female band of artists called DISBAND (1-5 p.m.) and Hong-kai Wang's ``Accept Me for What I Am If You Want Me'' (10-11 a.m.). While it may seem counterproductive to invite male artists to a women artists' biennale, organizers believe that bringing together artists of both gender will produce a vibrant artistic dialogue. New York-based artist Ma Jong-il, who created a huge bamboo installation at the Incheon Art Platform, says there should be no distinction between male and female artists. ``When we had a press meeting in New York, one of the artists said, `there are no female or male artists here.' Basically I don't care. Males and females, when they concentrate on developing their own way, eventually there is going to be harmony,'' he said. Diverse Art on Display The biennale art works will not just be seen at the main venue Incheon Art Platform, but also at historical landmarks like Incheon Korean-Chinese Cultural Center, Freedom Park, Incheon Weather Station, Incheon City Historical Data Office, Jemulpo Club, Incheon Educational and Cultural Center for Students, and the Paradise and Harbor Park Hotels. ``We are putting art in the public realm. We wanted to bring art to the daily life of people. As you know, Korean people don't care much about art, especially contemporary art. So if they don't come, you should go out to them and engage them,'' Han said. One of the attention-grabbing works is New York-based artist Lee Chang-jin's indoor and outdoor mixed media installation ``Comfort Women Wanted.'' It references the thousands of young women forced into sex slavery by the Japanese Imperial Army during World War II. One billboard shows a photograph of a young Taiwanese comfort woman at the comfort station by a Japanese soldier, surrounded with gold leaf, usually used in honoring saints. It is flanked by two billboards showing just a silhouette of an old woman standing inside her house. ``Korea is where the `comfort women' movement started, and this Biennale is the perfect site to present an artwork which acknowledges these outspoken and courageous women survivors. By creating international awareness of these women and their place in history I hope we can prevent this kind of unspeakable crime against humanity ever happening again anywhere,'' Lee said. Kim Eun-hyung, who is also based in New York, made a large-scale wall drawing ``Storyteller'' inside the Incheon Art Platform building. He gathered images from his everyday life, memories and pop culture to show how simple but bizarre life is. Kim said his works delve into questions of personal identity, which can be expanded to male and female identity. ``The women artists' biennale is not only about feminism. I think for our part, we can show some harmony between man and woman. I want this to transcend sexuality, but be something that relates to human beings,'' Kim said. Japanese artist ON Megumi Akiyoshi painted a colorful cloud of flowers on the glass facade of a building at the Incheon Art Platform. Aside from her painting, she will also wear a brightly colored costume for her ``ON Flower Gallery'' performance on Saturday. Akiyoshi said she was intrigued when she first read about the IWAB, even though she's not crazy about the feminist movement. ``But I believe in yin and yang. Yin is female, yang is male. The relationship is always moving and changing. Like in Japan, right now only males can be emperors, but a long time ago, there was female emperor. So when I heard about this women's biennale, I thought yes, it is changing. I'm not trying to be more powerful than males, but it is just a natural movement. I'm very happy there's a women's biennale confidently talking about it, and I'm a part of it,'' she said. cathy@koreatimes.co.kr Information To get to Incheon Art Platform, get off Incheon Station Subway Line 1. Cross the street, and you'll see signs for Jung-gu District Office. Walk for 5 minutes, and you'll find the Incheon Art Platform, located opposite the Jungbu Police Station. One day pass is 7,000 won for adults, 5,000 won for students (13-18 years old) and 2,000 won for children (4-12 years old). The biennale is open everyday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Daily docent tours are held at 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. Visit www.iwabiennale.org (Korean, English).

weekender: Fall Fashion (Sept 3, 2009)

What to Wear This Fall

A model wears a jacket and skinny pants from Egoist. / Courtesy of Egoist By Cathy Rose A. Garcia Staff Reporter Autumn is just around the corner, and while everyone's looking forward to the cooler weather and rich fall foliage, for fashion lovers, the change in season means new collections and styles. For early shoppers, stores are stocked with the hottest trends such as strong shouldered jackets, leopard print dresses, thigh-high boots, leather biker jackets, jewel toned sweaters and fur-trimmed accessories. It may be hard to cherry pick through the trends, so here's a quick guide to what to wear in the chilly months ahead. Rock'n'roll Chic ``I love rock'n'roll,'' sings rock icon Joan Jett, and it seems everyone in the fashion industry loves rock'n'roll style. This fall, designers seem especially enamored with the 80's rocker chick look. Sequined mini-dresses, leather miniskirts, slinky hot pants, lace tights, and skinny pants have been spotted all over the runways at Gucci, Balmain and Miss Sixty. Mass market retailers such as Forever 21 have also hopped on the bandwagon, coming out with more affordable faux leather jackets and skirts. Leather motorcycle jackets are essential for autumn. Unlike old biker jackets, this season's version has a more fitted shape. New details are studs, rivets and zippers that give it more of an edge. It can be paired with flirty tops and dresses or just black skinny jeans with booties. Strong Shoulders The sight of jackets and tops with exaggerated shoulders might make anyone who lived through the '80s (remember shoulder pads?) cringe. Have no fear, because designers have updated the trend to look sophisticated ― not like rejects from the cast of ``Dynasty.'' Flip through fashion magazines and you'll find one the biggest trends is the strong shoulder silhouette. Structured jackets, dresses and tops with a little volume at the shoulders were spotted on the runways of Balmain and Stella McCartney. Balmain's tux jacket has just the right blend of femininity and masculinity, while McCartney's wool houndstooth version will keep chic girls warm. Another key item for the androgynous look trend is the so-called boyfriend jacket. These oversized tops have a very masculine silhouette, and made with traditionally masculine fabrics houndstooth and tweeds in checks and pinstripes. An easy way to hop on this trend is to raid your father or boyfriend's closet for an oversized blazer. To avoid looking too masculine, cinch the jacket with a slim belt. When worn the right way, these boyfriend jackets can be surprisingly flattering for most shapes, since the strong shoulder gives the illusion of a smaller waist. As for men, they won't be relinquishing their suit jackets to the women. Men's styles for suits and jackets are sharp and slim for this season. 1940s Redux There's still room for the ultra-feminine and pretty styles this season. The 1940s fashion provided a strong influence among many designers. There are ladylike 40's suits with a modern twist. Shoulders are still emphasized but in a softer way, as seen in Michael Kors and Yves Saint Laurent's collections. Into the Wild Wild animal prints in leopard and zebra have been spotted on the runways of DSquared, Dolce and Gabbana, Valentino, Dries Van Noten and Blumarine. Small and big leopard prints were on figure-hugging dresses, leggings, minis and fur coats. It's always prudent to use one animal print item at a time and to pair it with something understated, so it doesn't look too costumey. Animal activists will be working overtime this season when they see the resurgence of fur in fashion. Many fur coats and stoles are temptingly gorgeous, but there are more animal-friendly, but still fashionable, options out there. Instead of buying hideously expensive animal fur, go for the funky faux fur stoles, hats or gloves that can come in various colors to help spice up your autumn wardrobe. Bright Color Don't be quick to stash the neon-colored '80s-inspired pieces from spring and summer. Neon shades are still shining bright through autumn. Marc Jacobs created cheerful looking yellow cape jackets, coral suits and green knit dresses which will help chase away winter blues. Neon colors can be tricky to wear, since some shades can be flattering on one person, while making another look horrible. Make sure the colors are suited for your skin tone, and try to avoid putting together items with clashing tones. Updated Classics Jeans are a staple for every season, but ``distressed'' jeans are ``in.'' Designer brands D&G and J Brand have come out with stylishly destroyed denim jeans, which go for hundreds of thousands of won. Skinny is still the favored silhouette. As for the denim washes, dark and black denim are always popular, but bleached denim is also gaining ground. Some might get the urge to brandish a pair of scissors and hack away at your old pair of jeans, but try not to destroy them too much. It's not fashionable to wear denim that is way too tattered. Preppy classics are always popular in any season. Korean brand ASK Enquired has even tapped Gossip Girl stars Leighton Meester and Ed Westwick, better known as their characters Blair and Chuck, as models for the fall ad campaign featuring chunky sweaters and plaid items. Banana Republic has also reintroduced classics including the perfect white shirt, chinos and coats, which will stay in your wardrobe for many seasons to come. Bags Much has been said about the so-called death of the ``it'' bag. But somehow, the pages of fashion magazines are still filled with a few lust-worthy handbags and clutches. Louis Vuitton updated the classic Monogram Canvas by introducing the Eclipse collection, which features a canvas embroidered with sequins. The bags are prominently featured in Louis Vuitton's 2009 fall ad campaign featuring pop icon Madonna. Bags with chain link straps are another hot trend. Chanel's 2.55 flap bags are always a classic in any season, but you can also go for Chloe's luxurious gold lame Elsie shoulder bag or Lanvin's velvet Happy Sac Partage bag. For those looking for functional but stylish bags, Korean brand Louis Quatorze has introduced quilted tote bags in black and beige. cathy@koreatimes.co.kr

weekender: Songpyeon (Oct. 1, 2009)

Enjoy Flavors of Songpyeon

The five colors of “osaek” songpyeon represents the harmony of nature, as shown in this photo taken at the Institute of Traditional Korean Food, Waryong-dong, Jongno, Seoul, Tuesday. / Korea Times Photo by Shim Hyun-chul By Cathy Rose A. Garcia Staff Reporter Dining tables throughout the country will be laden with many delicious dishes for the ``Chuseok'' thanksgiving holiday, which starts Friday and lasts through Sunday. Chuseok is also known as ``Hangawi,'' which falls on the 15th day of the 8th month in the Lunar Calendar. It also marks the day when Koreans would thank their ancestors for the bountiful harvest and share the blessings with family members. Koreans usually celebrate the holiday with a big feast at home. But if there's one particular dish that is a must for any Chuseok celebration, it is ``songpyeon.'' Songpyeon are half-moon shaped rice cakes specially made by Korean families during Chuseok. The rice cakes were traditionally made using freshly harvested rice, and then offered by family members to their ancestors during ``charye'' or ancestral memorial ritual on the morning of Chuseok. In his book ``Seasonal Customs of Korea,'' David E. Shaffer said families always prepare rice from the freshly harvested grains, as well as fruits like persimmons, apples, dates, pears and chestnuts, for the holiday. ``As always, no Chuseok would be complete without the half-moon-shaped songpyeon rice cakes, which could be filled with soybeans, cowpeas, chestnuts, jujubes, bean powder, sesame or honey. Originally, songpyeon was steamed over pine needles, which gave the rice cake its distinctive taste and name, which means `pine cakes','' he said. Chuseok is also a time when people make wishes, usually for wealth, health, love and success, as they gaze at the full moon. Dr. Yoon Sook-ja, director of the Institute of Traditional Korean Food, said songpyeon represents the wishes of people. ``Songpyeon represents the moon. Many people also say their wishes while making and eating songpyeon during Chuseok. We wish for good health and success,'' Yoon told The Korea Times, at the institute's office, Waryong-dong, Jongno, Seoul, Tuesday. How to Make Songpyeon Many families make their own songpyeon on the eve of Chuseok. It is a labor of love, as people strive to make the songpyeon as delicious and beautiful as possible. ``Koreans believe that if you make beautiful songpyeon, you will have very attractive daughters,'' Yoon said, adding that many young women practice to perfect the half-moon shape. The recipe for songpyeon is fairly simple: rice flour, salt and boiling water to make the dough. The filling can consist of sesame seeds, jujubes, dates, red beans, chestnuts, and honey, depending on one's tastes. The dough is cut out in circles, and a teaspoon of filling is placed inside the hollow center, and closed. Yoon demonstrated how to shape the dough into a perfect crescent shape, pressing the dough lightly. The rice cakes are steamed over a bed of pine needles. The practice of steaming the rice cakes dates back hundreds of years, but there are recent findings that pine needles have health benefits. The pine trees produce large amounts of phytoncide, which kills various germs and viruses in the air. After steaming for about 20-30 minutes, the rice cakes are rinsed with cold water. The pieces are blotted dry, and finally brushed with sesame oil to keep them fresh and moist. The final result is songpyeon with a delicious flavor, chewy texture and the fragrant scent of pine needles. Songpyeon from Different Regions While the half-moon shaped songpyeon is perhaps the most popular one, it also comes in a variety of colors and shapes depending on the region. There are rice cakes in shellfish, dumpling and flower shapes in different areas. Even the thickness of the rice dough varies, as the ones in Gyeongsang and Gangwon areas appear to be thicker. Yoon said the songpyeon ingredients usually differ among the provinces, and people usually incorporate the most abundant crops into the recipe. Chungcheon Provinces are known for pumpkin songpyeon, since pumpkin is widely grown in the region. The pumpkin is sliced, dried and turned into powder, and then mixed with the rice flour to make the dough. The result is not just a deliciously sweet rice cake, but also a very appealing one because of the bright yellow-orange hue. Gangwon Province is plentiful in potato, corn and bean crops, as well as oak trees. It is famous for potato songpyeon and acorn songpyeon. Acorns may have a bitter taste, but once they are mixed with the rice cake, it turns out to be quite tasty. ``Mosi'' or ramie songpyeon is distinct to the Gyeongsang Provinces. There are many ramie plants in the area, and the leaves are added to make the rice cakes healthier. ``Chik'' or arrowroot songpyeon is usually made in the Jeolla Provinces. Arrowroot starch is extracted from the herbal plant, and then mixed in with the rice dough. In Seoul, the ``osaek'' or five color songpyeon is commonly made. The five colors represent the harmony of nature. The rice cakes are made in five different flavors, and people use natural ingredients to create the brilliant colors. White is simply the plain songpyeon, while cinnamon powder gives a brownish hue to the rice cake. To create the pink color, syrups made of either strawberries or ``omija'' schizandra berries are used. Mugwort creates a deep green color, and gardenia seeds create a nice yellow shade for the songpyeon. North Korea also has its own distinctive songpyeon. In Pyeongan Province, the rice cake is shaped into ``jogae'' or shellfish and clams. With the wide variety of flavors, colors and shapes, Yoon assures that there's songpyeon to satisfy everyone's tastes. ``Koreans love songpyeon. These are all very, very delicious. And they are all very pleasing to the eye,'' Yoon said, as she offered a pretty pink songpyeon decorated with a tiny flower. So just before you pop a songpyeon in your month, take a moment to make a wish, and to appreciate the hundreds of years' tradition and the hard work that goes into each piece. cathy@koreatimes.co.kr

weekender: Seoul Fashion (Oct 29, 2009)

Spotlight on Seoul Fashion

Lee Doii created a collection of beautifully illustrated dresses for her show at Seoul Fashion Week. / Courtesy of Seoul Fashion Week By Cathy Rose A. Garcia Staff Reporter Seoul fashion was in the spotlight last week, as Korea's top designers unveiled their collections for spring/summer next year. Seoul Fashion Week (SFW) brought together 43 designers for eight days of fashion shows at the Seoul Trade Exhibition Center (SETEC), Daechi-dong, southern Seoul. This season's line-up was leaner but stronger, since the SFW organizers sought to pick more globally competitive Korean designers. Korea Fashion Association chairman Won Dae-yun, who was also the chairman of the SFW organizing committee, emphasized the importance of global competitiveness for Korea's fashion designers and industry. ``The fashion industry must be globalized or else it will not survive. Since this fashion week started nine years ago, our event was mainly a local festival, without any global focus. But since I took over as the chairman of the committee handling SFW, I made global competitiveness the main priority of fashion week,'' Won told The Korea Times. Won, a former CEO of Cheil Industries, sought to bring a global mindset to Korean designers who usually focus on the local market. This was why the SFW picked only Korean designers who are expanding abroad and whose design, quality and price were competitive, over designers who merely focused on the local market. As a result, Seoul Fashion Week featured designers who are making inroads in foreign markets, including Andy & Debb, Lee Young-hee, Han Song, Song Zio, Song Jain and Lee Doii. Renowned foreign designers Phillip Lim, Damir Doma and Richard Nicoll were invited to stage their shows, not just to bring more glamour and international flair to fashion week but also inspire local designers to pursue global markets. Edgy but Classic Men's Fashion As always, Korean menswear designers kicked off two days of shows at Seoul Fashion Week. The menswear designs were a mix of classic, edgy and even comfortable. Spotted on the runway were suits updated with trendy details, deconstructed jackets and resort-style pieces such as cuffed pants and tailored shorts paired with easy jackets. Han Sang-huk unveiled his ``Tattoo Collection'' for MVIO, with a live jazz performance. Models wore resort suits and vests, with tattoo print undershirts and leggings peeking from underneath. One of the most anticipated collections was from Andy & Debb designer Seo-kwon Andy Kim, who presented his first men's wear collection in Korea. He brought the Andy & Debb brand's sensibility of romantic minimalism to well-cut jackets and pants, matched with attention-grabbing red leather shoes. In an interview with The Korea Times, Kim said he was inspired by colors from Marc Rothko's paintings, and sought to express this through different fabrics and materials. ``We had the same theme in 2003 (for Andy & Debb women's wear collection), and at that time I wanted to also have a men's collection. So we decided to have that theme again for this collection… We can now make a real Andy & Debb couple,'' Kim said. While the collection will be initially available in Korea, Kim and his wife Won-jeong Debbie Yoon hoped to also be able to bring the collection to New York, like their women's wear line. A distinctly European atmosphere pervaded Ko Tae-young's ``Beyond Closet'' show, from the street lamps on the runway to the collection inspired by ordinary people. There was an ``ordinary'' denim jacket paired with a checkered suit, as well as tailored denim suits, and sleeveless jackets. At Kang Dong Jun's D.GNAK of KANG.D fashion show, barefoot models splashed on the water-filled runway as they wore rolled up pants and wet-looking linen shirts. Park He-rin sent down a collection of crisp suits, edgy tuxedo suits and strong shouldered jackets with a rebellious British vintage style for her second line ``I AM A BLUE BY HERIN.'' For ``Line or Circle,'' Park Sung-chul chose to put a spin on classics, resulting in tailored sleeveless jackets with shorts and sporty knit vests. Song Zio, who presented in Paris last June, once again showed the Songzio Homme collection characterized by soft masculinity with hooded short jumpsuits, pleated pants and deconstructed T-shirts. Chang Kwang-hyo's collection also featured classic suits with rolled up pants and tucked-out shirts, and easy-going pieces like cropped jackets, linen suits and pajama-style satin shirts. Most pieces were black-and-white with a touch of pastel colors. Diverse Styles for Women While there was a rich diversity in design, it seemed most designers focused on a few key trends like the easy-going style, loose silhouettes, edgy street fashion and masculine touches on feminine pieces. Black remained a dominant color, but designers also played with vibrant colors and natural earth tones in their clothes. High profile designer Ha Sang-beg presented an edgy collection for his Ha:Sang:Beg line. Models wore outfits in red, green, acid pink and orange and adorned with frills, fringes, studs, patchwork and lace. The style of 40's pin-up girls was revived in Cho Sung-kyong's sexy, glamorous collection. Strong shouldered jackets, which seemed to be a staple at several collections, also made an appearance at the Latulle show, along with satin dresses and lingerie-inspired pieces With the somewhat macabre funeral theme for her collection, Im Seon-oc presented an almost performance art-like show with a mask-wearing model throwing fabric flowers with wet paint on the runway. The artsy element almost took away attention from Im's black and white designs adorned with zippers, sequins and lace. In an interview with The Korea Times, Im said that she was inspired by the Shim museum, which has beautiful images of funerals. ``I took the idea that `death is scary but the funeral itself must be fun','' she said. Lee Doii designed her Doii Paris collection with the theme ``Invincible Energy,'' combining futuristic elements with traditional Japanese ones. Her dresses were exquisitely feminine with pleats, ruffles, lace, ribbons and intricate beading, but with fabrics printed with Japanese-inspired illustrations Lee had made herself. ``I was inspired by a lot of Japanese artists who combine traditional art with their own originality which is modern, very urban and cutting edge. I wanted to try the same thing,'' Lee told The Korea Times, after the show. Forget about favorite Korean animated character Pucca's cute side. Kwak Hyun-joo was inspired by a tough but sexy Pucca (think Angelina Jolie in ``Wanted'') when making her Gissen collection. The popular Pucca image was found on hot pants, cleavage-baring tunics, bikini tops and mini-dresses, which are geared towards trendy young women. Han Song presented a very polished Troa collection, with pointy shouldered tailored dresses and jackets. Han said he was inspired by a mummy, and appropriately, a mummy-looking model covered in an all-white bandage outfit and jacket walked the catwalk. Song Jain transformed everyone's spring essential, the khaki trench coat, into tube dresses, tops, skirts and shorts. This season, Song said, she focused on form and volume for her brand ``Jain by Jain Song.'' The honor of giving the closing show at Seoul Fashion Week went to Gee Choon-hee. The Miss Gee Collection fashion show attracted a bevy of celebrities, who adored Gee's utterly feminine and pretty designs. SFAA Collection Prior to Seoul Fashion Week, the Seoul Fashion Artists Association (SFAA) staged a separate, much smaller event featuring established designers such as Jinteok, Rubina and Sul Yun-hyoung. With the theme of modern natural, SFAA member designers stuck to eco-friendly designs and light fabrics in muted colors. Jinteok interpreted this theme in her typically minimalist style with dresses in cocoon shapes and strong shoulders. Sul Yun-hyoung goes for a free, easy but extremely feminine look for her mini-dresses and shirt dresses in silk, cotton and silk jersey fabrics. While the SFAA designers' collections were interesting and innovative, the SFAA shows were overshadowed by the bigger and better organized Seoul Fashion Week. cathy@koreatimes.co.kr

weekender: Twilight

Welcome to the 'Twilight' Zone

Forks, a small town with a population of 3,175 in Washington state, has become one of the fastest growing tourist spots in the U.S. due to the popularity of "The Twilight Saga" books. / Korea Times Photos by Cathy Rose A. Garcia By Cathy Rose A. Garcia Staff Reporter If you haven't read the "Twilight" books or watched the movies, then it might be safe to say you've never heard of Forks, Wash. "The Twilight Saga," a series of books by Stephenie Meyer, is about a teenage girl Bella Swan who falls for a vampire Edward Cullen. Their love unfolds in Forks, a murky, overcast town surrounded by lush forests that Meyer thought would be a perfect place for vampires to thrive. The phenomenal success of the books and two blockbuster films ``Twilight'' and ``New Moon'' has helped spur tourism in Forks, a town with a population of 3,175. Never mind if Forks is at least a three-and-a-half-hour drive from Seattle, or that the two films were not even shot here (they were filmed in Portland and Vancouver respectively) or there are no actual vampires or werewolves in the area. It hasn't seemed to stop thousands of Twilighters, as fans like to call themselves, from making a pilgrimage to Forks. Forks, described as the former logging capital of the world, only attracted as few as 50 tourists annually in the late 1990s. Thanks to Twilight, the number of tourists spiked dramatically. In 2008, 18,000 tourists visited the town, and in the first eight months of 2009, there were more than 60,000. What exactly is the allure of this town with its ``gloomy, omnipresent shade'' that keeps tourists coming in droves? This reporter headed to Forks over the summer to find out. `Twilight' Zone Going to Forks involves a three-and-a-half hour drive plus ferry ride from Seattle. It may be time-consuming, but it is also a chance to appreciate the scenic views of the Olympic Peninsula. Along the way, there's Port Gamble with its quaint traditional American-style houses and Port Angeles, a ``beautiful little tourist trap'' where Edward rescues Bella from a bunch of riff-raff. Port Angeles is also the gateway to the Olympic National Park, home to the Hoh Rain Forest. It is a charming drive, with endless forests, sometimes covered in fog, and the spectacular glacier fed Lake Crescent. Upon arriving in Forks, the weather was cloudy but not a drop of rain in sight, contrary to its reputation as the rainiest place in the continental U.S. (annually, it gets an average of 10 to 12 feet of rain). The wooden ``Welcome to Forks'' sign greets visitors, exactly the same as the one seen in the film. No wonder it is the most photographed spot in town, according to locals. Tourists who prefer to explore on their own should pick up a self-guided tour map with key book locations from the Forks Chamber of Commerce Visitor Center. Inside, there's various memorabilia from the books and film, including a note from Meyer. Incidentally, Forks celebrates Stephenie Meyer Day on Sept. 13, Bella's birthday. Outside the center, there's a replica of Bella's beat-up red truck, another good photo op. The Timber Museum, devoted to Forks' logging history, is right next door but is often overlooked by the Twilighters. Going through the streets, it's obvious how much Twilight is defining Forks. The main street has five or six shops selling Twilight-related merchandise such as books, shirts, jewelry, sunglasses, coffee mugs, posters and dolls. There's even Forks High School Spartans gym uniforms, Native American dream catchers and even ``vampire killing'' wooden stakes. Even restaurants have jumped on the bandwagon: Smokehouse Restaurant boasts of Bella Berry Pie; Pacific Pizza offers the pasta dish Bellasange; while Three Rivers Resort has a special Twilight menu. A `Dazzling' Tour For fans who want the ultimate Twilight experience, the Dazzled by Twilight store offers daily tours of key book locations in Forks and nearby La Push. For only $39, tourists are treated to an entertaining, photo op-filled three-hour tour on a black shuttle bus. Rianilee Belles, the vivacious tour guide, keeps Twilighters pumped up with excitement by telling stories about Forks and giving pop quizzes about the books. While Forks Police Station might be an unusual place to start any tour elsewhere, this spot holds special significance for Twilighters, since Bella's father Charlie Swan is supposed to be the town's chief of police. This is probably the only police station in the world with a mini-shrine devoted to Twilight in the lobby. Belles says there are some die-hard fans who would deliberately try to get a speeding ticket from the Forks Police, just to get proof they were in Forks. Even crazier is how some students who would try to transfer to Forks High School, to get bragging rights that they went to the same school as Bella and Edward. The school, a cluster of low buildings, looks like any other ordinary high school, but Twilight has turned it into a landmark. Not everyone is happy with Twilight's popularity however, and there was an incident earlier this year when some pranksters tried to burn down the school sign. The arson attempt was thwarted, and the sign, save for a few burn marks at the back, remains intact. The tour also makes special stops at some local residents' houses, which were simply designated as Bella's or Jacob's house, due to similarities to Meyer's descriptions in the books. Bella's modest home has a sign that proclaims ``Home of the Swans,'' while Jacob's red-painted house has motorcycles parked outside. The Cullen House, described in the books as ``timeless, graceful and probably a hundred years old,'' is actually the Miller Tree Inn Bed & Breakfast. The quaint house, surrounded by a small garden, is small in contrast to the film's ultra-modern version. There's a mix of fiction and reality that fans seem to be perfectly comfortable with. Belles, the tour guide, would often talk about the book's fictional characters as if they were real. Even at the Cullen house, there's a note written by Edward's mother Esme. It reads: ``The Cullens are off to the Amazon to learn more about wildlife in a tropical rainforest. We expect to be away for an extended period.'' There's also an empty parking space reserved for Edward's father Dr. Carlisle Cullen at the Forks Community Hospital. Werewolves in La Push With the song ``Werewolves of London'' playing in the background, the tour bus heads out to La Push, a Quileute Native American reservation along the Pacific Ocean. Located 15 miles from Forks, La Push is where Bella's friend Jacob and his tribe of werewolf descendants live. There's a ``Treaty Line'' sign that is supposed to keep vampires, the werewolves' enemies, out of La Push. However, it's only part of Meyer's lore, since there's no actual werewolf connection to the Quileute tribe. First Beach, where Jacob first tells Bella about vampires and werewolves, is a magnificent sight. Strewn with driftwood, the beach is constantly pounded by strong waves, making it a favorite for surfers. Misty fog surrounds the rocky cliffs, where Bella would go cliff-diving in New Moon, adding more mystery to La Push's wild beauty. Taking a trip to Forks and La Push is a rare chance for Twilight fans to lose themselves in a world where they believe, at least for a few hours, that vampires and werewolves do exist. cathy@koreatimes.co.kr

music stories in May 2009

Album Reviews

Green Day `21st Century Breakdown' (Warner Korea) After the massive success of ``American Idiot,'' it has taken Grammy winning rockers Green Day four years to release a new album. ``21st Century Breakdown'' is worth the wait. An ambitious rock opera, the album is divided into three acts and filled with power riffs, ballads and lots of angst. ``My generation is zero, I never made it as a working class hero,'' Billie Joe Armstrong sings in the title track. Green Day pushes their post-punk rock sound to the next level, with songs like ``East Jesus Nowhere,'' ``Murder City,'' ``American Eulogy,'' and even ballads like ``Last Night on Earth.'' A strong album like this only solidifies Green Day's position as one of the top rock bands of today. -Cathy Rose A. Garcia Various Artists `Cyborg She' (SonyBMG) If you watched the Japanese comedy film ``Cyborg She,'' directed by Kwak Jae-young and starring actress Haruka Ayase, then you'll probably like the soundtrack. Japanese pop diva Misia sings the moving ballad ``Yakusoku No Tsubasa,'' which was the film's theme song. New four-member group Hi-fi Camp sings a fun, upbeat track ``Kizuna,'' which is their debut single. Most of the songs are instrumental pieces that added charm to the film about a young man falling for a cute cyborg girl. -Cathy Rose A. Garcia

The Plastic Day Rises in Hongdae

New indie band The Plastic Day talks to The Korea Times about their debut album “30 Seconds Between the Dreamer and the Realist.” / Courtesy of the artists By Cathy Rose A. Garcia Staff Reporter The Plastic Day, one of the rising bands in the Hongdae indie scene, jokingly refers to themselves as ``loser musicians.'' But there's nothing at all ``loser-like'' about their impressive self-produced debut album ``30 Seconds Between the Dreamer and the Realist.'' The Korea Times met with members of The Plastic Day in a cafe in Hongdae last Friday evening, where they talked about their music. Vocalist/guitarist Sun-ho, bassist Ho-seong and drummer Yun Beom initially met when they were high school students studying at the Ahyeon Polytechnic School. A few years later, Sun-ho and Ho-seong formed a band, and were playing a gig one night when Yun Beom approached them. ``After I finished my military service (Air Force), I went to one of their gigs, where they had a different drummer. (Sun-ho) asked me what I thought of their performance. I told him they would sound better if they change the drummer,'' Yun Beom said, with a smile. Sun-ho replied by promptly asking him to join the band as the drummer. ``(Yun Beom) was always an excellent drummer when we were in high school, so we were happy to have him,'' he said. It was late 2006 when The Plastic Day was formed. They played various gigs, including the 2007 Ssamzie Sound Festival, where they impressed audiences with their intense performances. In December 2007, they released their first EP ``Lady,'' which they recorded in only seven hours. Their budding music career hit a snag when Sun-ho and Ho-seong entered the military for their mandatory service. But somehow the band still managed to meet once or twice a week to practice, and to play gigs in clubs around Hongdae. The Plastic Day also found time to record, produce and release their promising debut album ``30 Seconds Between the Dreamer and the Realist.'' The album contains post-grunge, punk rock songs, such as ``It's A Government's Land'' which reflect the band's critical views against the government; and ``The Cocore and The Mustangs,'' an homage to their favorite Korean rock bands. Interestingly enough, The Plastic Day's songs are all written in English. Sun-ho says he writes the songs in English because he feels he can express his thoughts and emotions more easily in that language. ``When I write in English, I can convey the meaning more simply than in Korean. English is simpler, and comes out smoother when I sing the songs,'' he said. The Plastic Day cites various musical influences including The Beatles, Nirvana, The Doors, Bob Marley and Jeff Buckley. ``I think it's a lie when people say they're not influenced by anything. When I write and play, I never think of playing like The Doors or Nirvana. But I like to think of it as a goal, we want to be artists like them,'' Ho-seong said. When asked about their plans for the future, The Plastic Day dream of making it big in the music industry, but they know it's going to be hard. The members, who are all 26 years old, appear uncertain about their future as musicians. ``We have no plans. We just want to play our gigs, smoke and get drunk,'' Sun-ho laughingly said. But these self-described ``loser musicians'' are serious and dedicated to their music. Whatever happens with their rock career, whether they become successful or not, music will always be a part of their lives. ``I'm not a good talker. I communicate through music. If I don't play music, I can't say anything. Music is like words for me,'' Yun Beom said. The Plastic Day performs at Club FF, Hongdae, at 11 p.m., Friday. cathy@koreatimes.co.kr Pentaport, Jisan Valley Rock Festivals in July By Cathy Rose A. Garcia Staff Reporter Rock fans in Korea will have not just one, but two rock music festivals to look forward to this summer. This year, the Pentaport Rock Festival in Incheon faces stiff competition from the new Jisan Valley Rock Festival in Icheon, Gyeonggi Province. Both festivals will be going head to head on the same three-day weekend, July 24-26. Pentaport's organizer Iyescom is engaged in a public fight with Jisan Valley's organizer Yellow Entertainment, which co-organized Pentaport with Iyescom until last year. However, the squabbling between organizers will unlikely be of any concern among fans. Fans will be more concerned which rock festival in Korea will be offering the better line-up of bands and performers. Pentaport Pentaport Rock Festival will feature 60 foreign and Korean rock bands and performers over three days at the Songdo Daewoo Motor Fields, Incheon. Iyescom, organizers of the event, announced the initial line-up, which includes foreign acts like Deftones, Eskimo Joe and Lenka. The line-up is dominated by Korean indie bands like No Brain, Cocore, Galaxy Express, Sogyumo Acacia Band, Crystal Rain and 99 Anger. Pentaport is the pioneer in rock festivals in Korea, having staged wildly successful events since 2006. The Pentaport festival in 2006 included The Strokes, Placebo, The Black Eyed Peas, Franz Ferdinand, Snow Patrol, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Jason Mraz, Dragon Ash and Miyavi. The following year featured Muse, Chemical Brothers, L'Arc~en~ciel, Ok Go!, Ash and Damien Rice. Top acts at last year's Pentaport included Travis, Underworld, Kasabian, Feeder. The Gossip, Ellegarden, The Go! Team and Crying Nut. Tickets for Pentaport go on sale Thursday. Visit www.pentaportrock.com. Jisan Valley Jisan Valley Rock Festival, which will be held at Jisan Forest Resort, Icheon, is challenging Pentaport for the title of biggest rock festival in Korea. So far, it's getting a lot more buzz, especially since it has snagged British rockers Oasis as the headline act. Oasis remains popular among Korean fans, and had just performed in Seoul last April before sell-out crowds. Yellow Entertainment, which used to be the co-organizer for Pentaport, has also gotten other big names like American rock bands Fall Out Boy, Jimmy Eat World, Weezer, Japanese group Asian Kung-fu Generation and singer-songwriters Patti Smith and Priscilla Ahn. Korean performers include Dr. Core 911, Vassline, Vodka Rain, Yozoh, Lee Han-choul, Zitten, Tacopy and Sister's Barbershop. Many of the foreign acts at the Jisan Valley Rock Festival will also be performing at the Fuji Rock Festival, also held on the same days, at the Naeba Ski Resort, Japan. Oasis and Weezer are the co-headliners at Fuji Rock, which will also have Franz Ferdinand as the headliner. Tickets will go on sale 2 p.m., May 25 at ticket.auction.co.kr (1566-1369) or ticket.yes24.com (1544-6399). The three-day pass is 165,000 won, two-day pass is 132,000 won and one-day pass is 88,000 won. Visit www.valleyrockfestival.com. For bookings in English, call (02) 3444-9969. Visit www.valleyrockfestival.com. cathy@koreatimes.co.kr Album Reviews Ciara ``Fantasy Ride'' (SonyBMG) R&B singer Ciara turns up the heat in her new album ``Fantasy Ride,'' and sizzles with Justin Timberlake in the first single ``Love Sex Magic.'' With a sexier new image, Ciara is inevitably compared to pop's reigning diva Beyonce. She tries to move away from the Beyonce comparisons, by showing off her diverse musical styles in the album. Top tunes include the slow jam ``Keep Dancin' on Me,'' and the futuristic dance beats of ``Pucker Up'' and ``Echo.'' Ciara also gets some help from the hottest R&B acts including Ludacris, Young Jeezy, Missy Elliot, The Dream and Chris Brown (before the Rihanna scandal). -Cathy Rose A. Garcia The Plastic Day `30 Seconds Between The Dreamer and The Realist' (Cub/Music) Korean indie band The Plastic Day has just released their first album, filled with raw post-punk rock songs. Comprised of guitarist/vocalist Sun Ho, bassist Ho Seong and drummer Yun Beom, the band was formed in 2006, and has been performing in the underground scene around Korea since then. The Plastic Day hits the nail with pumping rock tunes ``Sweet Girl,'' ``Sunshine Kiss,'' ``It's a Government Land,'' and rock ballad ``To My Every Journey.'' A strong debut album like this shows why The Plastic Day is one of the Korean rock bands to watch. -Cathy Rose A. Garcia Various Artists ``1 TV CF'' (Universal) The ubiquitous nature of TV commercials (or CF as it is referred to in Korea) has helped boost the popularity of certain songs. ``1 TV CF'' is a two-disc compilation of some of the most popular songs to be used in TV commercials for coffee, electronics, department stores and credit cards. Among the songs feature are Duffy's ``Mercy,'' The Pussycat Dolls' ``Buttons,'' and James Morrison's ``You Give Me Something.'' But it's not all pop music, there's classic songs such as Sarah Vaughn's ``A Lover's Concerto,'' Louis Armstrong's ``La Vie En Rose,'' and Nana Mouskouri's ``Der Lindenbaum.'' -Cathy Rose A. Garcia Album Reviews Ben Folds `Ben Folds Presents: University A Cappella' (SonyBMG) When rock musician Ben Folds found some You Tube videos of student vocal groups singing his songs a cappella, he had this great idea to make an album of a cappella versions of his songs. He invited college vocal groups to submit a cappella tracks on You Tube, and out of 250, he chose 15 groups from University of Rochester, Sacramento State, Washington University and University of North Carolina, to participate on the album. College students create beautiful harmonies, without any instruments, and give fresh interpretations to Folds' hit songs such as ``Landed,'' ``Magic,'' ``Brick'' and ``Evaporated.'' Folds also tries his hand at a cappella by recording ``Effington'' and ``Boxing,'' but his efforts pale in comparison. -Cathy Rose A. Garcia Various Artists `Hip-Hop: The 2009 Collection' (Universal Music) Some of the most popular hip-hop songs in recent months are compiled in this album ``Hip Hop: The 2009 Collection.'' The line-up of artists reads like a virtual who's who in hip-hop music, with superstars like Kanye West, Rihanna, Jay-Z, Ne-Yo and Akon. Many of the songs will have people grooving on the dance floor, like Akon's ``Right Now (Na na na),'' Baby Bash's ``Suga Suga,'' Nelly's ``Body on Me,'' and Lady Gaga's ``Just Dance.'' It also comes with DVD of 12 music videos, such as Will.i.am's ``It's a New Day,'' and N.E.R.D.'s ``Everyone Nose.'' -Cathy Rose A. Garcia Album Reviews Diana Krall `Quiet Nights' Universal Music Jazz diva Diana Krall mixes jazz and bossa nova in her latest album ``Quiet Nights.'' Her sultry voice is well suited for this romantic album, which Krall described as ``very womanly, like you're lying next to your lover in bed whispering this in their ear.'' Krall enthralls listeners with her sensual versions of bossa nova classics such as ``The Boy from Ipanema'' (the original title ``The Girl from Ipanema''), and ``Quiet Nights,'' based on ``Corcovado.'' Fans can see how much Krall's vocal style has matured in songs like ``You're My Thrill,'' ``Where or When'' and the cover version of ``Walk on By.'' -Cathy Rose A. Garcia Omar Sosa to Bring Latin Jazz to Seoul Omar Sosa will perform at the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts, downtown Seoul, May 14, as part of Seoul Jazz Festival. / Courtesy of Private Curve By Cathy Rose A. Garcia Staff Reporter Every day life serves as the inspiration for musician Omar Sosa's exciting and inspiring brand of Latin jazz music. ``I find my inspiration in everyday life, as I try to live life, feel each moment and each place I pass by. I then try to transmit all these experiences that touch me,'' Sosa said, in an email interview with The Korea Times. Sosa is considered one of the most versatile jazz artists around. He is a composer, arranger, producer, pianist, percussionist, bandleader, and not to mention, charismatic performer. The Cuban-born artist is known for creating a unique Latin jazz sound that combines elements of world music, electronic beats and Afro-Cuban rhythms. A New York Times reviewer once described Sosa's music as ``the unifying sort, yoking together Africa and jazz and Latin America and hip-hop.'' There is something truly special about Sosa's music that resonates with people from different countries and cultures. ``The base of our music comes from our roots, from where we are. There is a total honesty when it comes to what we are feeling. I have always said that if you give love and authenticity there is no reason to not receive back the same thing,'' he said. Only 44, Sosa has recorded 19 albums, reaped critical acclaim and received Grammy Award nominations and other awards. In 2003, he received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Smithsonian Institution for his contribution in promoting Latin music in the United States. With all these achievements, Sosa is far from resting on his laurels: continuing to perform and still working hard to see some of his dreams come true. ``You always have dreams you would like to pursue, and the one that keeps my mind busy these days is to record (his latest album) `Afreecanos' with a symphony orchestra, which I believe I'll get to do someday. I live with my feet on the earth, which helps me see things as they are. My expectations aren't as high as they were when I was 20. Now, I try to take it more easily, in a more relaxed and peaceful manner, which is in fact quite hard, since I'm quite an impatient person when it comes to this kind of things,'' he said. With his years of experience and success in the music industry, Sosa offers a few words of advice for aspiring musicians. ``The path I know and recommend is just one: listen to your inner voice, which is what marks your path. Then, it's your turn to work hard every day, every second, looking forward to achieving your goal. This way, you will make your reality your truth. Listen to as much music as possible from all over the world ― this will make you see clearer what you really want to say,'' he said. Sosa says he would love to collaborate with Korean artists, although he admitted not having listened to a lot of Korean music. For his upcoming concert in Seoul, he hopes to make a musical and emotional connection with Korean fans. Sosa will perform May 14 for ``Stylish Jazz Night,'' at the Seoul Jazz Festival, Sejong Center for the Performing Arts, downtown Seoul. To get there, get off Gwanghwamun Subway Station Line 5 and take exit 1 or 8. Tickets cost from 44,000 won to 110,000 won. For ticket information in English, send e-mail to info@privatecurve.com or call (02) 563-0595. Visit www.seouljazz.co.kr or ticket.interpark.com. cathy@koreatimes.co.kr Epik High Gets Serious About Music Epik High talks to The Korea Times about starting their new company, their music and their upcoming concert tour in the United States, Japan and Korea, as well as their enduring friendship. / Korea Times By Cathy Rose A. Garcia Staff Reporter ``Expect the unexpected.'' That's what Tablo, frontman of popular hip-hop group Epik High, says fans can expect from their upcoming concert tour in the United States, Japan and Korea. But he might as well have been talking about Epik High's career. The trio, composed of Tablo, Mithra Jin and DJ Tukutz, burst onto the Korean music scene six years ago, armed with catchy hip-hop tunes with socially relevant lyrics and a positive message. After five studio albums and numerous hit songs and awards under their belt, Epik High members surprised everyone with their decision to break from a major record label and go independent. The band met with The Korea Times last week at a studio in Hongdae, where members were in the middle of rehearsals for their upcoming concert tour and candidly talked about the ups and downs of starting their own company. ``When our contract ended, we had a lot of offers. The hardest thing about this project was deciding that money is not important and what was more important for us was music,'' Tablo said. Epik High recently launched its own bilingual Web site (www.mapthesoul.com) where fans can watch their videos and live performances, read members' blogs and buy their albums and merchandise from an online shop. In fact, the band's latest album, ``Hon: Map the Soul,'' can't be bought in any conventional or online stores in Korea at all. The decision to deviate from established distribution services stemmed from Epik High's desire to make its music more affordable to fans. While some called Epik High's new venture ``groundbreaking,'' the group didn't exactly plan on redefining the music industry's business model. They just simply wanted to ``do things that are fun.'' ``We realized at some point… the entire money making machine, if we're part of that, its not going to be fun. … Most of the stuff we do right now, it doesn't make money. We're spending money to do things like managing the site, creating it, doing online shows. But if it helps us to feel satisfied to the point that we make better music then it is worth it. It's a lot more work than before, honestly. We barely get any sleep, but it's good stress,'' Tablo said. Their album "Hon: Map The Soul" is all about making music the Epik High way, even if it won't do well commercially. ``We know that and we don't care. Just because it is not a hit, it doesn't mean it isn't a musical success. We prefer the latter,'' Mithra said. However, their lyrics have gotten them in trouble with censors, leading to some songs being banned from the airwaves. ``We're talking about the value of believing in yourself and the song gets banned. When that happens, its like what are we supposed to talk about? … Our stand is: if you want to ban us, ban us. We don't care. The people who support us and listen to us will still like us anyway,'' Tablo said. More Foreign Fans Since the album is only sold through the band's Web site, sales in Korea have been lower than in previous ventures, but sales to overseas fans have increased ten-fold. The songs are also available for downloading on iTunes online shops worldwide. ``We found out we had more foreign fans than we realized. There are fans in Europe, like Norway, and around Asia. Many of the fans don't understand Korean, but they love our music,'' Tukutz said. This only served to push Epik High to work harder. Whenever members post videos or write blog entries in Korean, they make efforts to include English translations. Epik High will be holding concerts in Kobe and Tokyo this week, and San Francisco, Seattle, New York and Los Angeles next month. They hope to hold concerts in other countries in the future. Mithra says Epik High wants fans to have a ``chill time'' at their concerts, featuring mostly Korean songs because the band wants to show the beauty of the Korean language to an international crowd. Throughout the interview, the Epik High members ― who consider themselves dorks ― proved to be as funny as they seem on the videos they posted on YouTube. While talking about the members' responsibilities in the new company, it was revealed that Tukutz was in charge of public relations and producing the music, while Mithra was in charge of creating merchandise and writing songs. ``And I just hang out with my girlfriend (actress Kang Hye-jung) and take their money,'' Tablo joked. Of course, it's not true that Tablo, rapper and lyricist, does nothing: He proudly admitted he cooks meals for the band and company employees, which prompted Tukutz to quip that they're served with just ``cup noodles.'' Amid all the joking and teasing, it was almost too hard to figure out whether or not they were serious. But one thing's for sure: Epik High is nothing but serious when it comes to having fun. ``Even if we fail, it's going to be fun because we're with people that we love ... We take care of each other. That's more important than music, money or this entire industry,'' Tablo said. cathy@koreatimes.co.kr