Seoul Fashion Week in Korea
By Salai ThangStaff Correspondent
Oct 27, 2013
A model displayed at the Seoul Fashion Week
One of top country Asian Fashion industries, South Korea organied Seoul Fashion Week from 18-23 Oct 2013, at IFC building in Capital Seoul City. According to its statment, Seoul Fashion Week is a global fashion business event organized by Innocean Worldwide and sponsored by Seoul Metropolitan Government, which is held SS/FW seasons twice a year, in March and October.
Hopefully, South Korea can likely joins among top world's fashion industries. SFW also mentioned, with strategic business plan, we hope to become one of the top-five Fashion Weeks, following New York, Paris, London, and Milan.
A model displayed at the Seoul Fashion Week
Started from 2000, Seoul Collection has developed along with Korean Fashion Industry and emerged as the largest Fashion Collection in Korea. It is a business event of Korean top designers, and is becoming the core of fashion industry. At the event, hundred of designers and buyers are attended, including limited international medias present.
A model displayed at the Seoul Fashion Week
Global Digest media team was invited by a couple of Fashion companies and Artists, they are KYE, SHANA, CROCHE, S=YZ, LEIGH, J KOO, CANEZOU, JARRET SFW, ARCHE, JUDY AND JOSHUA, PAUL AND ALICE, AN YOON JUNG ANS, ZSAINT, MOOHONG, The Studio K, Jehee Sheen, LA FIGURA, D.GNAK by KANG.D, SOULPOT STUDIO and BIG PARK.
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Interview with Beauty Marketing Institute’s President Landy Park
By Salai ThangStaff Correspondent
Oct 09, 2013
President Landy Park at his office
Global Digest was invited to interview with Beauty Marketing Institute’s President Landy Park at his office in Seoul. Mr. Park said he started Beauty Marketing Institute (BMI) in 2002 at Bundang, Seongnam city, Kyeonggido Province. He started BMI through connection of his wife and her sister has hair salon business. Meanwhile, Mr. Park feels he wants to have his own independent business and to become a president so he started BMI. Before, he used to work at Samsung Marketing department in Jeilchaeldong group.
Right now, BMI has 22 member branchs hair salons and hundreds of Customer Relative Membership (CRM) across the country. Under BMI, it has Venuseum Beauty Academy which focusing on education and training, management and art, so on.
The unique of BMI is quality, beauty of art skill, cleanliness, a good service with reasonable price, it uses to charge per hair cut around 20000 KRW. Because its member had gone a hard training to achieve BMI’s goal for quality and customer satisfaction. Another, under BMI is Mins hair salon which provides services. At the moment, Mins hair salon staff members are under training of English language in order to improve communication with foreign customer, client, and guest. So Mins always welcomes you to visit at their hair salon for a better quality and service.
Members of BMI at the Mr. Park's book ceremonial
Actually, on September 26, 2013, Mr. Park has a small ceremonial on his book. The title of his book is called “All kinds of business’s techniques are stealing.” The book content is about hair salon management, marketing, human resource management and education, and customer service. Mr. Park said he wrote the book about 90% of his own experience and from consultation experience and used about 10% from reference books. This is his first book publication and edition on August 29, 2013 which has 450 pages and 1000 copies. He already sold out around 500 books with the price of 25,000 KRW. He has planned for publishing more books such topics related to sale promotion, small and medium business program and so on.
Mr. Park also expressed he wishes to extend his business to oversea. He wants to be a global number one beauty hair salon system, at least, to reach one third of the world’s population. Up to now, Mr. Park has 80% shareholder at BMI company, as a CEO.
Mr. Park graduated with MBA from Ajou University in 2008 and BSc Physic from Sangji University in 1994, respectively. His hometown is Bundang, Kyeonggi Province. He is living with his wife and two children, a daughter and son, 17 and 15 respectively. Both children are studying in USA.
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R16 KOREA B-BOY Competition held in Seoul
By Salai ThangStaff Correspondent
Jul 25, 2013
At the B-Boy comeptition
R16 KOREA B-BOY Competition held in Seoul on July13-14, 2013. Amazing B-boys come from 16 countries were participate for WORLD MASTERS competition. Bgirl Terra who appeared on USA's popular talk-show 'Ellen show' and Jay Park will also participate in R16. Approximately thousand of B-Boy funs were attended.
At the B-Boy comeptition
R16 KOREA B-BOY winners for this year is Solo B-boy Battle, Winner is Issei (Japan), 2nd place is Blond (Australia); Solo Locking Battle Winner is Nao (Japan), 2nd place is Luna (Korea); Solo Popping Battle Winner is Hoan (Korea), 2nd place is Josh (Singapore); B-boy Crew Performance Battle Winner is Body Carnival (Japan); and B-boy Crew Battle Winner is Morning of Owl (Korea).
The Winer Issei(R)
It was said the winners were judge on some standard and universal criteria, 1. FUNDAMENTALS: Were these proper pictures taken? Was time taken to work on the R16 signs they made? Was Bboying actually implemented into the picture? 2. ORIGINALITY: How original was the freeze? How original was the sign? How original was the concept as a whole? 3. DYNAMICS: How flashy was the freeze? How flashy is the sign? Was it just a simple easy to do baby freeze? 4. EXECUTION: How clean is the picture? Is it good quality? Is it framed properly? How clean is the freeze? How clean is the sign that was made? 5. PHOTO: Is it overall a good photo? Was it taken just for the contest? Is it easy to tell if it's photo shopped? Can the audience connect with the person in the Photo?
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The 46th Korea Foundation Forum held in Seoul
By Salai ThangStaff Correspondent
Jul 9, 2013
Professor Chang-rae Lee
The 46th Korea Foundation (KF) Forum was held at the Lotte Hotel, Seoul, on June 28, 2013. Approximately hundreds of scholars, activists, novelists and writers are attended.
At the 46th KF Forum, the award-winning Korean-American novelist Professor Chang-rae Lee was the Distinguished Speaker to share his personal experiences on an interesting theme: “Rough Starts On Writing My (First) First Novel.” Professor Chang-rae Lee is the esteemed author of the novels Native Speaker (1995), A Gesture Life (1999), Aloft (2004), and most recently, The Surrendered, which in 2011 earned the Dayton Literary Peace Prize and was a Pulitzer Prize finalist. His latest work, On Such A Full Sea, is stated for publication in January 2014. His other notable awards and citations include the Hemingway Foundation/PEN Award, American Book Award, Barnes & Noble Discover Award, ALA Notable Book of the Year Award, Anisfield-Wolf Book Award, Gustavus Myers Outstanding Book Award, and NAIBA Book Award for Fiction.
Welcoming speech by the Foundation's president
The foundation was launched in 2008, and the KF Forum program purposes is to enhanced its status as a significant venue for leading figures from Korea and abroad to share their ideas and insights with relevant audiences in Korea. Breakfast was served for all participants.
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Myeongdong International Art Festival 2013 held in Seoul
By Salai ThangStaff Correspondent
Jun 5, 2013
Artist Lee Byunghun's product picture
MIAF - Myeongdong International Art Festival 2013 opening ceremonial held in downtown Seoul city, on June 5, 2013. This event has special focus on nude art collection. The presenters of artists in the event are poets, painters, and musicians, stated by Kwon Daeha, Director of MIAF.
Cutting the red ribbon for opening of the event
The event is combination of both Korean and International artist. Koren artists are KANG JONG-OK, GU JA-SUNG, KWON DAE-HA, KIM JIN-HO, NO-GWANG, RYU JI-SOO, PARK DONG-CHOON, SEO MYEONG-DEOK, YU YEON-SON, YOON WOL-SOON, LEE BYEONG-HEON, IM MIN-SEONG, JO AN-SEOK, JO YOUNG-CHEOL, and HA JEONG-MIN. The International artists are COREY LAJEUNESSE, STEPHEN WESTBURY, RICK SAINT, WILFRED LEE, JOSEPH TETRICK, OLLIE WALKER, MARTYN THOMPSON, COURTNEY ZACH and SVETLANA ANDREEVA.
Artist Youn Woulsoon's product picture
The opening ceremonial was ended with Indian sexy dancer, at the same time, artists showed their drawing skill by drawing the dancer picture for a couple of minutes.
Artist Ryu Jisu's product picture
Indian sexy dancer
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EVERY DAY GOOD DAY FESTIVAL
By Salai ThangStaff Correspondent
Apr 28, 2013
K-pop girl band SISTAR
Everyday good day festival was held in Seoul city, on Sunday, the 28th of April, 2013. The event was tried to attract and experience to the visitors. The highlight of the festival included hip-hop contest, OX Quiz, Baking session, Buddhism-related Quiz, Korean traditional drum performance, PLUS, the celebrated K-pop girl band SISTAR's performance.
Solo singer between announcers
Thousand of Koreans were attended and a few foreigners were also there. The event was organized by Happy Parami(called in Korean) and Buddhism groups.
Korean tradition drum music
K-pop girl band SISTAR
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SOUTH KOREANS OBSERVE LUNAR NEW YEAR’S DAY 2013
By Neil Paul ValentinoStaff Correspondent
Feb 12, 2013
Korean Gyeong Bok Gung Palace covered by Snow
ANSAN, South Korea – February 10, 2013 is Korean New Year’s Day or commonly known as “Seollal” in Korean language, is significantly celebrated by the Korean people across the nation every year amid snowing in every corner of the country. Mountains, seas and rivers are blanketed with snow, most especially, it’s raining with snow during New Year’s Eve on Saturday and New Year’s Day was Sunday. In fact, Lunar New year is more important than the solar new year for Koreans as it generally observes every year for family holidays which lasts for three days. Extraordinarily, this year is the snowiest winter, as roads, sidewalks, alley or lanes in cities are covering with snow everywhere. So what Koreans do during New Year Day? Since the Feast lasted three-day, it would be a meaningful memories to each family as they come back to their hometowns to visit their immediate families and relatives where they gather and perform ancestral rituals or called “Jesa” as part of their customary tradition and beliefs. South Koreans also commemorate solar New Year’s Day every 1st day of January, based on Gregorian calendar.
Many Koreans adult and children, on the other hand, are wearing multicolored and customary dress called “Hanbok” during the feastivity which shows that wearing hanbok shows a respectful way to appreaciate ancestors and elders. What then Korean people eat during New Year’s Day? Some Koreans likewise prepare traditional Koreans foods like soup and sliced rice cakes or called “Tteokguk” as they believe that eating these foods expressing that you become one year older. According to other observers, nowadays, some families opted to wear less formal clothing instead of hanbok which is more expensive. Other traditional ritual is “Sebae” which means that children wish their elders like grandparents, aunts, uncles, parents by greeting them a happy new year and performing traditional bow and saying the words “have a blessed new Year” in return the elders or parents usually reward the children by giving their children new year’s money in luck bags with beautiful silk design attached with it are words of wisdom or “Deokdam”. According to Korean history, Parents traditionally gave rice cakes and fruits to their children every lunar New Year instead.
Aside from South Korea, Lunar New Year is celebrated also by Mongolias, Chinese, Japanese, Tibetans and Vietnamese. According to study, the Korean New Year commonly falls on the day of the second moon after winter solstice or the distance from the celestial equator. What about the foreigners do during Korean New Year? They do not celebrate generally but they give respect and join together, hence they gather with each other and prepare special foods according to their expertise since there are three non-working holidays. According to a Filipina immigrant, a Korean wife and mother of two, she used to visit to her husband’s parents every year and there she has to do household works for the whole holidays, She said the work is difficult, washing dishes the whole day is not easy but she has to endure it for the sake of traditional ways of her Korean husband and parents-in-law. Some Korean people celebrated holidays by visiting wonderful places such as Ever-land, Seoul Land, Grand Park Zoo, and the most beautiful and amazing resort in Korea, Caribbean Bay. Migrant workers in several different countries are doing parties in their designated places by exchanging gifts and sharing special foods with their friends and countrymen. Foreign workers also received gifts and bonuses or in cash from their employers during this holiday season and some of them staying on their own dormitory due to harsh winter these days.
The celebration of Korean New year started on Saturday until Monday, this year’s new year was February 10, 2013 and that day the Year of the Snake began. Blatantly, most establishments and factories are closed for three days except the transportation run by the government. It was observed by many people that this year is the worst winter in years which reached to negative -17 in temperature.
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Interview with a Korean film director Lee Sang-woo
By Salai ThangStaff Reporter
Jan 20, 2013
Lee Sang-woo
Lee Sang-woo graduated with a degree in film from UC Berkeley and worked at the San Francisco Korean Film Festival and Student Film Festivals in the U.S. He returned to Korea and worked on the camera crew of
Film making is his pleasure, no any other thing, he confessed. Right now, he is working in Nomad Film Studio for a year. He also has his own company called Lee-Sang-woo studio. At the company studio, making film takes 2 to 3 years, 1 year for pre-production, at least 6 months for shooting, and 6 months for post-production such as editing color, sound, music and so on. But it takes just 3 or 4 months in independent film making, said Mr. Lee. A director can have many assistant producers in film making.
One of South Korean famous film makers is Pong Junho, example of his popular movie title is “the memory of mother”. Mr. Lee explained at the acting, appearance is not the main important, but an acting character skill. His favorites Korean movie stars are Kim Tae-hee and Won Bin.
International viewers respond is positive on Mr. Lee's films, he was appreciated as the best director from Spain, and his film was rated as the best in Italy, that movie title is known “Barbie”. As well as, “Barbie” got award as the best film from Giffoni Film Festive (2012) and announced as Korean Cinema Today – Vision from Busan International Film Festival (2011). A budget for “Barbie” film is approximately 100 million KRW, the film portrayed ‘the American Dream’.
Story is like that an American physician came to South Korea to adopt a Korean girl for a heart transplant to save his youngest daughter who has a heart disease. A Korean girl name called Soon Young, who takes care her mentally retarded father and a younger sister. Mang-taek, her father’s brother eager to send her off in exchange for money. It was so sad story, a kind of organ trafficking story.
Apart from “Barbie”, “Mother is a Whore” is very popular among Mr. Lee’s films. His new three films will release in this year. His movie was screen approximately 2100 times at the theaters in South Korea. His films were also shown in Japan, U.S., Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Poland, Brazil, Thailand, Philippine and so on. Apart from film making, he used to teach film making class at Daegu and Gyeonggi Universities. He also travels a lot and meets many people in order to get more idea and experience through such activities.
He hopes one day he can join at Hollywood, at the moment, there are more Korean actors than actresses in Hollywood. He said South Korea is the best film making in Asia. Many people know Hong Kong/Chinese and Bollywood films from India are popular in the world.
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Nabi Art Center held an opening ceremonial on Digital art
By Salai ThangStaff Reporter
Dec 29, 2012
Artist creates Robot
Nabi Art Center held an opening ceremonial of a transition from Analogue to Digital art on December 28, 2012 in Seoul. The different between Analogue and Digital are, for example, Analogue has only one click and Digital has multi-clicks or digital can copy many times and so on.
Audience look at the Digital Cartoon
At the center, also shows that the art in the screen picture changes when you stand in front of it, it is called an art of sensation, said Mr. Kim Yong Min. Another thing, cartoon picture will appear on the screen when you write just a related meaning word on the box. Eventually, you can make a story through this technology.
The picture on the screen is changing when a person stand infornt of it
Nabi Art center has a record, among them, Dreaming Butterfly 2004: Digital Playground, Digital Media Seminar 2004-1: digital aesthetics, Digital Media Seminar 2004-2: Urban, Media, Space; Nabi Digital Storytelling: international competition in 2003; Digital Media Seminar 2002: storytelling in art & culture 2002~2000; Korea Japan Network Art 2002; Digital Media Seminar 2001 and so on.
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South Korea
GLOBAL DIGEST TEAM TOURS TO GYEONGGI MODERN ART MUSEUM
By Neil Paul ValentinoStaff Correspondent
Nov 21, 2012
Drawing picture of Korean refugees during Korean war
Ansan City – Visiting in several museums in South Korea is quite relaxing and enjoyable moment for visitors, for example in Ansan City itself, Global digest team had seen unique exhibits of modern museum and experienced the modern and art design of Kyeonggi Museum of Modern Art located in Ansan City, province of Kyeonggi. The architectural designed modern art museum has exhibited meaningful arts of many unpopular artists which composed of regular people, including children and disabled persons as well, whereas lots of variety arts and designs will be seen inside of the modern art museum. Moreover, the team also had experienced seeing contemporary art displays and creations of typical artists wherein the museum was far different from among the places of ancient and historical museums we had toured earlier.
Another highlight of the exhibits was “Community Art” which Gyeonggi Museum of Modern Art presented, and that exhibits contemporary artists shared their new forms of art making designs instead of paintings and sculptures. This kind of exhibits designed in the modern art museum are art designs of community artists who participated and showed their extraordinary imaginations as unpopular and ordinary artists wherein it represents as arts of their every lives. Despite, the artists are not well-known and not highly recognized in society, the modern arts made by ordinary artists are surely made the visitors more surprising and significant, for example the long-sized inner wall designed of square shape seemed as brick type wall made by children is one of the best indoor views which made the interior wall impressive in looks from ground up to second floor.
Global Digest Team members
Significantly, the modern art museum devotes to current arts design which make people and visitors easily understand what is exhibited inside of the museum and also most part of the art areas has its own friendly staff who can explain what the exhibitive arts are all about, Kim Na Rae explained to Global Digest Team some insights concerning the creative hall for children and offered a group photo with her lady Korean associate. It took almost two- hour to walk around the two-storey modern and architectural designed museum and importantly, it is more educational museum for families and art lovers and especially for children which has its room for kids to see and do some arts at the same time and offers program for children to learn and experience in modern arts on weekends. Thus, Gyeonggi Museum of Modern Art is also presenting special exhibits and experiences of different and disabled artists consisted of women and children.
The Gyeonnggi Museum of Modern Arts is located near Hwarang Park and near Choji Subway Station and one of the beautiful sightseeing places in Ansan City, Gyeonggi province, South Korea.
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GLOBAL DIGEST TEAM TOUR- AT SILHAK ANCIENT AND HISTORICAL MUSEUM
By Reynaldo RealinStaff Reporter
November 08, 2012
Ancient Korean Astronomy study
Namyangju, South Korea- It's a very interesting time and great event to have an adventure tour to visit one of the most South Korean's historical ancient museum --THE MUSEUM OF SILHAK, located at Namyangju, Gyeonggido Province. It's a beautiful Sunday morning at Ansan Train station- from there, we've travelled going to Seoul City to Paldang Station, Gyeonggido Province. From Paldang station, we rode a bus no.8, going to the near area for another transfer to bus no.56. While waiting at no.56 bus at the bus stop, we have witnessed immediately the beautiful scenery of the autumn view at the riverside and it's a great experience to be part of this great adventure tour!
It's more than 30 minutes that we're waiting for bus no.56 so we have decided to walk to the main target location- and finally we have reached the place in just 15 to 20 minutes’ walk from that river-point bus stop. Everyone was excited and I was amazed that many people are visiting the beautiful historical Ancient Silhak Museum. We have decided to eat our lunch at one of the delicious restaurant inside the park village. We enjoyed our wonderful and very delicious lunch with the generosity of the servers. Then we decided to enter immediately at Silhak Ancient Museum.
Ancient Korean map
As we have discovered, the Museum of SILHAK collects data, conducts research, provides education, and holds exhibitions on Silhak—a Confucian social reform movement in late Joseon Dynasty (17th-18th), in order to further the development of Korean studies. And we have read some of the scriptures inside the museum and it unfold the great history of one of the most prominent thinkers in the late Joseon Kingdom, Jeong Yak-yong (1762-1836, penname Dasan), earned several epithets. He was known as the renowned theorist of Silhak (practical learning), author of Mongminsimseo (The Mind of Governing the People), architect of the UNESCO-designated World Cultural Heritage site Suwon Hwaseong Fortress, and inventor of the geojunggi (heavy stone lifter), among many others.
On view at the Museum of Silhak located in Namyangju, the hometown and birthplace of Named Dasan His Life and ideal at Han River, the exhibition displays a rich selection of Dasan’s books, pictures, drawings, and relics, portraying his thoughts and studies and tracking the scholar’s achievements and footprints along the Han River, where he was born and buried. Visitors may enjoy a number of hands-on activities tailored for families and children. Meanwhile as i realized, the relay of commemorative events of our tour will continue through this autumn and the great contribution of Silhak was truly precious in history.
Members of Global Digest team
Although, we have stayed around for quite a while moving around, we can feel the true spirit of the heart Korean people on how they really value every precious evidence of historical artifacts, great people in history, and I believe, Silhak scholars encouraged human equality and moved toward a more Korean-centric view of Korean history. The Silhak School is credited with helping to create a modern Korea. They truly promote a better cultural understanding of East Asia, and the event helps us to understand and love the culture and traditions of Korea and East Asian Nations.
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GLOBAL DIGEST TEAM GOES TO JEONGOK PREHISTORY MUSEUM
By Neil Paul ValentinoStaff Correspondent
October 15, 2012
A statue of Korean woman at Jeongok Prehistory museum
South Korea – A great moment and great chance for the Global Digest team to see the impressive Jeongok Prehistory Museum which is located along Soyosan Station Line 1, Gyeonggi-Do, Seoul City, Saturday afternoon. Travelling to Jeongok Prehistory Museum took at least 3 hours from Seoul Station thus the said museum was just nearby of Hantangang River. At first glance, at the entrance you would see a worm-shape structure and made up of chrome stainless building that had been built between the top of the hills. Moments later, the most significant to see inside is the various exhibits and objects of prehistoric people and animals which visitors will experience to learn and see the fossils of man and animals and the evolution of man as well.
Jeongok Prehistory Museum was also a prehistoric learning place for children, adult and families to visit because it has a lot of things to remember and to experience the process of humanity through a model of bone fossils, by this a modern human-beings came from this kind of stone age Era. Moreover, behind- the-scenes of the Prehistoric Museum, visitors can see the human bone fossils, reproduction of cave paintings, Otzi Mummy, children’s cave painting activities, archeological experience, interesting medieval objects and the prehistoric relics excavated from Jeongok site and many others. Hence, Museum’s building has been called "The door to the prehistoric age".
Global Digest members at Jeongok Prehistory museum
Significantly, visitors can see the whole museums for than an hour and can take a lot of pictures with the preserved fossils of dinosaurs and bones and outdated human being in a very colorful display rooms and inside display would also be seen different images of out-of-date but meaningful objects located at the oldest and largest stone age period site in South Korea. Highlights of the museum, aside from its amazing interior design, was its structure design that made of rounded and silver chrome snakeline shape which during at night its lights move the outside walls and give the electromagnetic waves like a living creatures and such like a liquid metal according to its displayed photos.
Despite of very far and long hour of travel, the penman together with the Global Digest writers have seemed that the trip was very significant that this is one of a kind and great national museums which has been built not only to give the visitors the chance to see the importance of prehistoric materials but most especially to enhance and promote the significance of archeological materials and events in the past Era. It is therefore, a must to see prehistoric museum located at Jeongok area not only for the native but also for foreigners who love to see national history of the past.
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A visit to the amazing Art Center of Nam June Paik in South Korea
By Neil Paul ValentinoStaff Correspondent
Sep 30, 2012
So called TV garden
Suwon City – Some people are fond to see museums so that they discover new creativity and masterpiece of art experts and artists. The penman of this story amazed this kind of dimmed art center of Nam June Paik located in Suwon City, South Korea. Unexpectedly, the place of art where objects exhibited were lightless and visitors can stare at the items displayed in a three-storey art center.
Most of the things you would see in this art center were amazingly extraordinary that made in handmade electronic devices. Surely, one will be amazed and get a chance to believe the existence of electronic art and anyone would experience the unbelievable art made of human electronic expert, Mr. Paik mentioned.
According to study, this Art Center was opened to the public in 2008, and it aspired to fulfill Mr. Paik’s wish by informing its activities through the development of creative and critical research into his thinking and practice and likewise inspired by generosity and interdisciplinary nature characteristic of both Nam June Paik’s life and work.
Inside buidling of Nam June Park center
Moreover, the Museum’s goal was to preserve, collect and provide access to all historical documentation related to Nam June Paik for the purpose of historical research and this center has become “ the house where the Spirit of Nam June Paik lives on.” Hence, Nam June Park center is committed to develop the following such as; A permanent exhibition that contextualizes the artist’s practice, A yearly program of temporary exhibitions exploring the said issues, an education program offering workshops seminars talks and events and many more.
Inside the Art Center are objects made of variuos handcrafted electronics and humanities display like magnet TV, Three Camera Participation,, TV garden, TV fish, Highway Hacker, The Rehabilitation of Genghis Khan, Robot camp, and many others . As Nam June Paik celebrated its 80th called “ Nostalgia is an Extended Feedback”. To Him, this exhibition begins with his way of thinking in terms of his vision and foresight. He also puts technological developments to enthusiastic use for his art, and created works of art providing prescience for the media environment of the future.
In Three Camera Participation, one of the exhibits displayed in the museum, invites the audience to find his image divided into numerous ones and another is TV Garden in which the monitors positioned over green foliage play music and dance from all around the world, in which electronic stimuli and natural greens converge into organic “Techno-Ecology.” Furthermore, Nam June Paik was the pioneer of development of electronic techniques to transform the video image from a literal representation of objects and events into an expression of the artist’s view. Paik’s work question time and memory, the nature and music and art, even the source of sensor and most importantly, his work gave the people understanding and definitions of television.
Nam June Paik Art Center opens from Monday to Sunday from 10:00 am until 8:00 pm but closes every second and fourth Monday of the month and last admission is one hour before it closes. Adults admission fee is 4,000 won while students fee cost 2,000 won . Visitors who are under 6 year old, over 66 year old and disabled persons are admission free.
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Lee Kang Un hair salon held a mid-year meeting in its headquarter office
By Salai ThangStaff Reporter
Sep 7, 2012
Lee Kang Un hair salon staffs at the gathering
Approximately 50 Lee Kang Un hair salon staff members attended the gathering at their headquarter office in Seoul on August 31, 2012. Several new staff members were introduced at the meeting and all attendees were given special counselling and training.
Two designers from the R&D department gave a demonstration of new hair styling and cutting techniques. The two designers displayed and presented two hair styles each. One of the styles is called the ‘Janus’ hair style; it has two distinct characteristics contained in one style. It is the first time this hair style has been introduced in the Lee Kang Un hair salon.
The other hair style is two block hair cuts for women. Each has a disconnection line; one side is short and the other side is long. Nowadays this hair style is popular among ladies. For example, K-pop singer from 2NE1 Sandara Park has similar hair style to this.
Janus hair style
The mid-year meeting is a formal gathering held one of two a year. At the end of the meeting a special gift of flowers and cake was given to the designers. The two designers learned their hair cutting and styling skills from former senior staff members, advised Mr Charlie, vice president of Lee Kang Un hair salon.
R&D department’s future project
The salon has a new staff member, Vincine Ban, who had been in London for about 2 years studying and researching in the field of art and hair salons. He had been researching in Toni & Guy’s London based hair salon for one year. Toni & Guy is a celebrated and successful international franchise with 400 branches located around the world. He also spent another 7 months in London in a Vidal Sassoon hair salon. Before that, he studied the subject of personal styling at the Saint Martin University of Art. He is now the R&D department’s director and Academic coordinator at Lee Kang Un’s hair salon.
Two block hair cuts style
The R&D department has a plan to do more creative design. However, the problem is that their clients are a little bit afraid to risk a new design, said Ban. He wants to teach and develop staff members’ skills, according to their own strengths, from senior down to junior staff members. According to his observations, in terms of cutting skill in a technical way, Korean stylists are the best, Ban said.
Moreover, he wants to make new trends and focus on artist designing. The aforementioned two hair styles are popular among clients but they want to persuade more clients to be adventurous. Lee Kang Un hair salon is still focusing on foreign customers to fulfil their needs and interests.
The Global Digest editor Barry Welsh edited to this story.
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Benefit concert for North Korean Refugees was held in Seoul
By Salai ThangStaff Reporter
Jul 24, 2012
Live music at the event
Benefit concert for North Korean Refugees was held in the eastern part of Seoul at the Traveller’s bar and grill on Jul 21, 2012. The concert was as fundraising to provide new books for North Korean defectors’ freedom association outreach program.
The concert’s organizers are Justice for North Korea, NGO based in Seoul, and English teachers volunteered for the event, said Jordan Groh. The special program was presented with live music in support of NKDAF, the bands were playing include: PICNIC, the Infinite thing and so on.
The donation for the concert attendees are minimum 5000 won, drink and food specials all night, extra charges. Approximately 100 people were turned out, most of them were foreigners. The group also interested for organizing similar concert for Myanmar’s refugees, said Jordan Groh.
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2012 World B-Boy Masters Championships held in South Korea
By Salai ThangStaff Reporter
Jul 12, 2012
World B-Boy Masters Championships's poster
R-16 Korea 2012 World B-Boy Masters Championships held in Olympic Hall, Olympic Park, Seoul, from 7 ~ 8 July , 2012.
Approximately 300 artists, musicians, grassroots-content creators, promoters, producers, urban enthusiasts, hip-hop heads and b-boys from around the world gathered in South Korea, for R-16 Korea’s World B-Boy Masters Championship.
This a world-championship-level b-boy tournament is part of a massive annual festival in South Korea, which seeks to encompass all aspects of urban youth cultures, as the festival draws visitors and spectators from around the World.
B-Boy dance competition inside the stadium in Seoul
The R, stands for RESPECT! The R16 World B-Boy Championships & Urban Arts Festival was launched in 2007 with the support of the S. Korean government, in-order to become professional and a profitable for grassroot, youth-based cultures like hip-hop and b-boying.
This year event was supported by the Korea Tourism Organization, the Korean Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, and the city of Incheon.
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CRENOVA Digital Entertainment: Dance Core Game
By Salai ThangStaff Reporter
Jul 6, 2012
CRENOVA President Lee Sang-chul
The Global Digest talked with CRENOVA CEO Lee Sang-chul at his office. He explained that CRENOVA stands for the creation (Cre-) of a new star (NOVA) shining in the night sky. Crenova Corporation is a specialized total digital entertainment company. They are currently producing entertainment software and hardware for games across all platforms including on-line, arcade, mobile, console etc., They are also involved in various related businesses such as publishing, and licensing etc.
Crenova Corporation was established in May 2009 and was Certified as a Venture Company (Evaluation of Technology is guaranteed / Technology Guaranty Fund) in March 2010. CEO Lee Sang-chul explained that he has four types of registered patents. Crenova Corporation became a Member of Korea International Trade Association, and was certified as a company attached laboratory in July 2011. They went on to participate in Dance Core - GTI Asia at the China Expo in 2011.
Mr Lee is an engineer and he has been actively involved in the development of entertainment and amusement IT technology since 1987. He developed an amusement machine called the Dance Core game. The Dance Core game comes installed with 30 songs, 20 of which are mostly Korean kpop songs. One song by Lady Gaga is also included and the rest are Chinese songs. Due to music copy rights fees he was not able to install many songs in other languages.
Mr Lee claims that the Dance Core game machine is the first invention of its kind in the world. Although the Japanese developed a music animation game 10 years ago, it is a quite different program. The Dance Core game involves participants activating their physical body. Body movement is recognized by cell sensors in a panel in the machine. Four players can play at the same time.
Dance Core game machine
Furthermore, the machine can play any language or music by inserting a USB. The machine can be upgraded every year by installing new songs. The machine can also link with network systems. This means a person in Korea can play with a person in US.
It costs approximately $15,000 and they have sold approximately 500 units of the machines, some of which were exported to China. Mr. Lee’s expected target is to sell is up to 5000 units of the machines.
The company’s next project is a mobile game. Mr Lee wants to attach sensors to a mobile device such as a smart phone which will be able to test air quality. When there is bad air quality the smart phone will sound an alarm. It will also provide an air quality database. The Mobile game element is that it will display images of pets – the size of the image being displayed will depends on the level of the quality of air. It will be ready to be used by next year, Mr. Lee said.
Mr. Lee has 12 employees and 1 consultant. The corporation has KRW 0.1 billion capital. He and his wife have a son and a daughter. He is always trying to create new things and think of new ideas.
The Global Digest editor Barry Welsh edited to this story.
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Jan 2011 - Jun 2012
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