The Korea Herald

Expat comics to descend on Korea for stand-up contest

Aug 19, 2015

Expat comedians based across Asia will battle it out in the Korea International Comedy Competition next weekend.A follow-up of last summer’s Seoul International Comedy Competition, this year’s event will feature 13 performers based across Asia, including Thailand, Hong Kong, Japan and Vietnam.In line with the name change, the contest has also moved location ― from Seoul to O’ Lounge in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province, Korea’s first expat comedy club.“My original plan was to always hold it in Seoul
PSCORE to host rock show in aid of N.K. defectors

Aug 19, 2015

A rock concert in Itaewon will raise money for North Korean defectors Saturday. The concert is part of the Rock Out series of shows to raise money for People for Successful Corean Reunification (PSCORE)’s North Korean Defector Education Fund. The fund pays for free tutoring for defectors.The lineup includes Wasted Johnny’s Luidistelo and Magna Fall. The show starts at 9 p.m. at Thunderhorse Tavern in Itaewon. There is a cover charge of 10,000 won, to go toward the PSCORE fund.(paulkerry@heraldco
Camarata seeks young singers for kids’ choir

Aug 19, 2015

The Camarata Children's Choir performs at the Chungdong First Methodist Church in central SeoulCamarata Music Company is seeking young singers for its children’s choir in the fall session to begin at the end of this month.The Camarata Children’s Choir had over 40 children in the choir from more than 10 different countries for its spring session, and is seeking to grow in number and diversity.“It is a wonderful way for children to be exposed to music in a fun, stress-free setting, meet new friend
Seoul Players seeks actors for 10 Minute Play Festival

Aug 19, 2015

The Seoul Players are holding auditions next weekend for the 5th Annual 10 Minute Play Festival, in November. The festival features 16 previously unperformed plays by writers inside and out of Korea, each lasting 10 minutes.Seoul Players is looking for actors of all types and there is no need to prepare an audition piece. “The festival provides an excellent performance opportunity without the extreme time commitments of other projects, and is a great time to try something new,” the troupe said i
Free labor law seminar offered in Itaewon

Aug 19, 2015

Itaewon Global Village Center will host a free seminar on labor law for people on teaching, professional and entertainment visas on Aug. 29.Labor counsellor Song Jae-ho, who works at YIO Labor Law Office and offers labor law counseling for the center, will lead the seminar for those on E-2, E-6 and E-7 visas. The session will include an introduction on labor law in Korea, examples of frequent labor issues, and options for remedy.“The seminar will focus on basic labor rights and common complaints
National Gugak Center offers traditional music classes

Aug 19, 2015

The National Gugak Center is offering a program of traditional music classes for foreigners this fall.There are courses available for three instruments: janggu, an hourglass shaped drum; haegum, a simple fiddle-like instrument; and gayageum, a 12-stringed zither. Beginner and intermediate level classes are offered for gayageum.Classes run at the center, near Bangbae Subway Station, on Saturday mornings from Aug. 19 to Nov. 28, Courses cost 70,000 won in total, with instruments provided for the c
U.S. stand-up Sean Patton to perform in Korea

Aug 13, 2015

U.S. comedian Sean Patton will be performing this weekend at expat comedy shows in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province, and Busan.Patton, who has made various TV appearances in the U.S. and released his first comedy album, “Standard Operating Procedure,” in 2012, combines observational humor and storytelling with a touch of the absurd.Patton came to Korea after sharing a bill with former Stand Up Seoul performer Adam Palmeter.“I’ve heard so many great things about South Korea that when the opportunity
Start-up demo session to be held in Seoul

Aug 12, 2015

The Seoul Global Center is planning a start-up demonstration event next month to allow expat entrepreneurs to show off their ideas in tech-related fields.At the event, run jointly with Kookmin University, teams will be invited to show off their ideas in information and communications technology-related manufacturing or services at the Seoul Global Center on Sept. 16. A panel of professionals invited by the organizers will select 10 teams to present at the event and pick two winners from among th
Bracket art magazine reopens in Daegu

Aug 12, 2015

Daegu-based art magazine Bracket has reopened six months after stopping production after acquiring a new editor and new funding.The first edition of the relaunched magazine came out in July, featuring work in various genres and media from Anton Maxwell, Mesh Printing, Lee Gyu-ri, Jung So-hyun, Lee Sang-bong and Martyn Thompson.The staff of the magazine, which was started in 2012 by expats Jess Hinshaw and Chris Cote, will remain largely similar, but will be led this time by new editor-in-chief C
Gwangju center runs tour to beach island

Aug 12, 2015

The Gwangju International Center will run a beach tour to Imjado Island, part of the Sinan County archipelago off the southwestern coast. The tour will visit the Muan Ecological Tidal Flat Center on the way to step out onto the mud flats and learn about the animals that inhabit them. Also at the center, each participant will have the chance to cook skewers of octopus caught nearby for a snack before moving on to Sinan County itself.Before catching the ferry to Imjado Island there will be a stop
Free tax advice offered in Gangnam

Aug 12, 2015

Tax counselors from Yeoksam District Tax Office in southern Seoul will visit Yeoksam Global Village Center on Tuesday to provide free one-on-one advice for foreign residents who have tax issues.The sessions will run from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the center building near Gangnam Station.To apply for an appointment, email yeoksam@sba.seoul.kr with your basic personal information and preferred time or call (02) 3453-9038~9.For more information and directions to the center, visit global.seoul.go.k
Yongsan center to host Filipino cultural event

Aug 12, 2015

Yongsan Global Village Center will be hosting a Filipino culture event next week, run by Filipino women’s organization 601 Habit.Participants at the event will get to partake in games, dancing and food to experience Filipino culture Scheduled to coincide with Filipino Language Month, the event will be in English but the group will introduce some Filipino words.The 601 Habit is a group of Filipino women in Korea involved in cultural and charitable projects, most notably the Life Boat Project, a c
Geoje International Center brings together expats and locals

Aug 9, 2015

While the island of Geojedo in South Gyeongsang Province has long attracted international residents, largely due to its shipbuilding industry, it was only in November 2013 that the Geoje International Center was founded as a nonprofit organization, to provide a social network for expats and foster international community spirit.After some difficulty getting off the ground, the center has flourished, now boasting 400 members from 40 different countries. The bulk of the membership is made up of ex
The long commute from Tokyo to Cape Town

Aug 9, 2015

South African expat Albert Retief had four years of savings from English teaching under his belt and a keenness for travel when he settled on a plan to travel overland from Tokyo to his home in Cape Town. “I wanted to experience ‘the real world’ that marches at you head on, and where you realize how small you really are,” he said. “I’ve always dreamed of going on a big mission like this and decided to put all my chips on the table and go.”Retief embarked on the mission last year, using only publ
‘Christmas in July’ event kicks off orphanage gift campaign

Jul 22, 2015

Showing contempt for the calendar, expats in Gwangju are holding a Christmas-themed family event at the height of summer in aid of disadvantaged children. Saturday’s “Christmas in July” event will raise money for Adopt a Child for Christmas, a campaign that provides gifts to children each Christmas at orphanages in the Gwangju area.Christmas in July will include a Hawaiian shirt contest, paper snowflake lessons, Christmas card making, and a water balloon toss and other party games, while a conce