This summer, Korean music will have its moment in London. A series of events showcasing Korean classical music, pop and gugak are planned throughout the city as part of the annual City of London Festival, which will take place June 22-July 17. It is a brand new project that the festival is starting since a new director ― Paul Gudgin who led the Edinburgh Festival Fringe from 1999 to 2007 ― took charge in April last year. “We are creating a strand in the 2014 City of London Festival called ‘Seoul

Special dinner package at Park Hyatt SeoulPark Hyatt Seoul’s signature restaurant The Lounge is presenting a special dinner package for couples looking for a romantic night out together. The “Special Moments at the Park” package features a three-course dinner for two and half a bottle of premium champagne prepared at a special window table decorated with flowers and candles. Upon request, a personalized letter can be placed inside the menu as a special surprise for someone. The package also incl

It’s official: Pope Francis is coming to Korea. His visit was widely predicted. In multiple news reports, sources at the Vatican and Seoul had said the papal visit was highly likely. Still, the announcement by the Vatican on Monday was a source of surprise, and of course joy, for many Catholics here because the holy man decided to commit the entire five days of his trip to Asia, his first as pontiff, to Korea. Since becoming pope a year ago, he has received invitations from a number of countries

ORLANDO, Florida ― Hans Stein is 86 years old and ― except for tennis shoes ― naked as the day he was born.Fit and looking much younger than his years, he has a simple explanation: “It’s the nudist lifestyle!”Stein and his wife, 81-year old Lisa, are part of a cadre of longtime members at Cypress Cove, a nudist resort near Kissimmee, Florida, celebrating its 50th anniversary this year.Like the Steins ― who are German-born Canadians ― a number of members are foreign-born, and they use words such

Pioneer Dominican musician Johnny Pacheco deserves recognition as cofounder of legendary salsa band Fania All Stars

‘Salome,’ ‘The Elixir of Love,’ ‘Don Giovanni’ kick off spring season

When 41-year-old housewife Kim Soo-yeon recalls the early 1990s, it is with dreamy eyes and a hint of excitement in her voice. Her hero, late singer Kim Kwang-seok still roamed the stage, job prospects were bright as Korea’s economy continued to grow, and she was ready to enjoy what the world had to offer. “Those were my golden days. Back then, I felt like I could achieve anything,” Kim said. By the time she finished college in the late 1990s, however, the Asian financial crisis had struck and s

Twenty-four-year-old college student Rho Jyong-ho has been all about retro these days.“Lately, I’ve been spending the majority of my weekends watching movies and dramas that are set in the 1990s,” said Rho. “Although I can relate to some things from when I was growing up, there are a lot more things that I can’t recall, probably because I was too young.”Rho is one of many people in Korea who are currently immersed in “retro fever.”The craze over retro products and culture that has been spreading

Classical musicLondon Symphony Orchestra: For the ninth time, the London Symphony Orchestra will be playing in Korea, this time with conductor Daniel Harding. It will hold two concerts at Seoul Arts Center, on March 10 and 11. The first concert will feature works by Mussorgsky, Stravinsky and Schubert. For the second one, the orchestra will play Prokofiev’s Piano Concerto No. 2, with soloist Kim Sun-wook, and Mahler’s Symphony No. 1, “Titan.” Ticket prices range from 60,000 won to 300,000 won. F

Expo showcases business, culture, and essence of religion

LOS ANGELES ― Dan Lawyer was on the dance floor with a woman who wasn’t his wife.Betty Lawyer would usually lend her husband out for at least one dance a night. The women outnumber the men by so much at Cowtown Square Dance Center, she had to. But tonight, she was sidelined by a knee injury and had to be satisfied with watching the other members of the Cowtown Singles dancing club weave and circle and shuffle across the hardwood floor, reclaimed from an old wooden boxcar.Many had danced for so l

ExhibitionsThe Korea Galleries Art Fair: This art fair, hosted by the Galleries Association of Korea, will be held from March 6 to 9 at Coex, presenting artworks of both emerging and established artists of each participating gallery. The art fair will be showcasing more artists than last year as each gallery may introduce its top five artists. Last year’s art fair allowed galleries to present three artists each. A total of 470 artists will participate in the 32nd art fair, displaying diverse sty