The Seoul International Dance Festival

The Seoul International Dance Festival (SIDance) will launch its 12th edition with 33 innovative dance works from around the world starting next month. Dance companies from 15 countries will present some of their best works at cultural venues such as Seoul Arts Center and Goyang Aram Nuri Arts Complex from Oct. 5 to 24. `There have been many dance festivals since our first in 1998, but we still aim for the same objectives," Lee Jong-ho, the artistic director of SIDance, said during a press conference last week in central Seoul. "First, we chose works that the audience can sympathize with and connect to, and second, we try to stage performances that are not too abstract or difficult. The bottom line is that we want people to enjoy the event.'' This year boasts one of the best lineups ever, divided into four main categories: Dance Meets Music, Dance Meets Movies, Dance Meets Media Art and Dance Meets Literature.

Noonnamujip(눈나무집) in Samcheongdong

Hello everyone! I am going to introduce a recent HOT place to eat in Seoul, especially among young Koreans today. It’s located in Samcheongdong, close to Insadong(where people usually go for souvenir shopping) or Bukchon Hanok Village(where people go to see traditional houses), so you can have a lot to see by visiting this area. This area has many cool design shops, cafés, and famous restaurants-today’s one is one of them for its delicious ‘Tteokgalbi(Grilled Short Rib Patties)’ and Kimchi noodle-cold noodle soup with Kimchi. Above all, it’s really fantastic to eat Tteokgalbi at REASONABLE price. If you are interested in travelling one of the three areas, why don't you try this restaurant? You can find it easily by remembering it’s a four-storeyed building and has a big TREE inside for the interior.

                            

Seoul Groove Night & Fireworks Performance

Seoul Groove Night & Fireworks Performance 

     

-A night embracing fireworks and dance all together

[Seoul Groove Night] Date : 28th Sep 2014 

Time : 19:30-21:00 Site : ③ Seonyu Plaza 

Dance all night to the rhythms of world music and traditional Korean music!

Seoul Groove Night is a large-scale outdoor club, open to everyone in every age which will bring the Seoul Dance Festival to a close. People can dance in electronic music, world music and percussion rhythms from all around the globe. The last highlight of the Seoul Dance Festival will be accompanied by traditional Korean court music.
[HWARANG Art Pyrotechnics _ Fireworks are all yours!!] 

Do whatever you want with the fireworks 

<Fireworks are all yours!!> is the splendid fireworks show designed to the finale of Seoul Groove Night as a highlight of the Seoul Dance Festival. Dazzling fireworks decorating the night sky with ecstatic dance, unique Korean music and electronic music will give you the most unforgettable moments of the year.

Homepage: www.seouldance.or.kr 

Facebook: www.facebook.com/seouldanceproject

Cheonggwonsa Shrine and Tomb Seoul

Cheonggwonsa Shrine and Tomb Seoul Cheonggwonsa Shrine in Seoul is located right beside Bangbae station on line 2. Cheonggwonsa Shrine was built below the tombs of Prince Hyoryong (1396-1486) and his wife, Princess Jeong (1394-1470). Cheonggwonsa Shrine was built in 1736. Prince Hyoryong was the 2nd son of King Taejong and the older brother of the next King, King Sejong the Great. The first son of the King has the heir to the throne but the 1st son and Prince Hyoryong (2nd son) gave up their tittles so Sejong their younger brother could become King. They both felt Sejong suited the position best and they were right. He went on and became the most powerful ruler Korea has ever seen and was given the tittle King Sejong the Great. Prince Hyoryong went on to become a Buddhist monk. The twin tomb of Prince Hyoryong and his wife are located at the top of a hill and offers some stunning views. A bit further down the hill are some more tombs of his descendants.

                    

Opening Hours / Admission

The tombs are open Monday to Friday during normal business hours.

Admission:

Free to all.

How to get to Cheonggwonsa Shrine and Tomb:

Take line 2 to Bangbae station and leave exit 4. It is a 1 minute walk.

Berlin Wall in Seoul

Like Germany in the past is divided. Germany was divided from East to West and Korea is divided from North to South.

In 2004 the Seoul Metropolitan Governmentannounced they would make an open plaza area near Cheonggyecheon river in Seoul. The Plaza would be later dubbed “Berlin Square“. In October, 2005 the plaza was opened.  The plaza has 3 divides from the Berlin wall. There are also Berlin street lights, benches from Berlin and German tress planted in this area. The Plaza was built with hopes of the reunification of Korea in the future and to improve relations between the two cities. The city of Berlin have financially supported the establishment of the square. People can stop by the Plaza anytime, relax and pray for the unification of Korea.

How to get to the Berlin Wall Seoul:
The Berlin Square is located along the Cheonggyecheon river adjacent to Samilgyo Bridge.
There are 3 stations nearby.
Line 1 Jonggak Station exit 5
Line 2 Euljiro 3(Sam)-ga Station exit 1
Line 3 Euljiro 3(Sam)-ga Station exit 3

Seoul Drum Festival

*Seoul Drum Festival*

The popular Seoul Drum Festival is held once a year around the city. Since the first festival in 1999, the festival has continued to provide great opportunities for people to learn about Korean culture through Korean percussive art. In addition to popular indie Korean bands, performances by world-class musicians from around the world add to the excitement.

Venue : Seoul Plaza, Shinchon 

Phone : +82-2-120 

Date :2014-09-12 ~ 2014-09-13 

Website : www.seouldrum.go.kr(Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese)

Water-powered phone chargers are coming to downtown Seoul !!

                      Water-powered phone chargers are coming to downtown Seoul !!

                   

Welcome to the first week of Autumn for 2014 in Seoul, the city that just keeps on getting smarter, as demonstrated by the recent news that citizens will soon be able to recharge their cell phones at the Cheonggyecheon via hydroelectric turbines installed in the urban stream's flowing waters.

Unless you've made a habit of carrying around a solar charger, topping off your phone outdoors can be a bit of a challenge. Well, unless you're living in South Korea. The city of Seoul just announced that it's building a series of outdoor recharging stations along the Cheonggyecheon, a manmade stream in the city's downtown area. The chargers won't draw from the city's power grid, however -- they'll draw current from a collection of hydroelectric turbines embedded in the stream. The project's developer says the stations will be able to fully charge most devices in 2-3 hours. If the five stations currently in production turn out to be a hit, the city says it will consider expanding the network. See? Low battery life is no excuse for avoiding the great outdoors.

The 12th Seoul International Walking Festival

The 12th Seoul International Walking Festival

                                           

Date: September 20 ~ 21, 2014 (Saturday & Sunday)

Location: Namsangol Traditional Korean Village (남산골한옥마을)

Directions: Subway Line No.3, No.4, Chungmuro Station(충무로역), Exit 3,4, within 1-minute walking distance. 

Walking Course: 

Sep. 20, Saturday, From 17:30, Walking in the Moonlight(달빛걷기),8km

Sep 21, Sunday, From 9:30, 5km, 10km, 25km.

After the walking, prizes will be given out to people randomly chosen. (Asics Walking Shoes, Asics back pack, hats etc.)

Register Participation: Registration Fee 10,000KRW. 

Deadline for Registration: September 16th, 2014.

● Part of the registration fee will be used as scholarship fund for youth of Jung-gu Office.

● Asics T-shirts will be given to every participant as souveniors. 

● All participants will receive: event participation certificate, souveniors, course map, a player’s uniform, badge, walking record, gift card. 

Student participants: No Registration Fee. 

1. All student participants will receive event participation certificate, couse map, a player’s uniform, badge, gift card.

2. Certificate to recognize this event as volunteer work hours. 

Sep. 20, Saturday, Walking in the Moonlight(달빛걷기),3 hours

Sep 21, Sunday, From 9:30, 5km(2 hours) , 10km(3 hours), 25km(5 hours)

How To Apply: Korea Athletic Promotion Association Homepage: www.walking.or.kr, to apply online.