Words by Flash Parker

From lonely temples to bustling markets, Korea has its fair share of stunning vistas ready for your photographic touch. But what’s the good of taking breaktaking photography if there’s no one to share it with? For advice on how to develop as a photographer and feedback on your latest shots, get in touch with the photo groups below.

Flickr in Seoul
Flickr in Seoul (FiS), proudly celebrating its 4th birthday, is an open community for people in Korea to meet and share their love of photography. The flickr group is simply the best platform for interacting, scheduling photo walks, and more. A calendar of noteworthy events can be found on the group page, and members are welcome to propose anything they deem worth photographing, share equipment tips, inspiring photography and techniques or simply propose meeting over a cup of coffee.
FiS meets twice a month, usually on Sundays. The group is open to Koreans as well as expats. Some members have spent their entire lives in Seoul while others have been here less than a year. Camera users of all ability and experience levels are welcome to join. With more than 1,250 members and 20,000 photographs in the group archive, FiS is a rich, diverse photographic society and one of the largest of its kind in all of Asia. New members are always welcome.
No fees.
Principals: Derek Winchester and Youngdoo Moon
Contact: derekwin@hotmail.com, youngdoo@gmail.com
Online: flickr.com/groups/flickrinseoul

Derek Winchester, Seoul Dirt Track, Seoul

Derek Winchester, AT Center, Yangjae, Seoul

Seoul Photo Club
The Seoul Photo Club is a community for photography enthusiasts from all over Korea to share photos as well as critique and discuss all things photographic in the country. Club benefits include constructive advice, support, encouragement as well as a great outlet for photography. What makes the SPC unique is that the structure is designed to benefit expat photography in Korea. You can pick up tips for shooting at various places around the country from those who have done it before or advice on where to buy film or what to expect when shooting in the subway. The SPC is the only expat society in the country officially sanctioned to shoot in the Seoul subway system, and the club’s first photography book, The Metro Project, will be released later this year.
The SPC hosts weekly and monthly photo challenges. Prizes are sponsored by Hyosung Camera and images are published in media outlets including the Korea Herald. Club exhibitions run twice yearly to showcase the best images members have captured.
No fees.
President: Aaron Raisey
Contact: aaron.raisey@gmail.com
Online: flickr.com/groups/seoulphotoclub

Mario Taradan, Seongeup Village, Jeju-do

Mario Taradan, Che Oreum, Songdang-ri, Jeju-do

Aaron Raisey, The streets of Seoul

Seoul Strobist Club
The original strobist is former Baltimore Sun photographer David Hobby, a man whose pioneering work and belief in the use of off-camera lighting has helped spark a dedicated community that is more than 200,000 followers strong. Noun, verb, adjective, particle – use it however you want – strobist is the method of using small lights as a cost effective, portable and professional alternative to studio lighting.
There are currently strobist communities in more than 100 countries around the world. Though certainly not the first Seoulites to stick lights on poles and point them at one another, the Seoul Strobist Club is an attempt to organize a group of dedicated hobbyists, professionals and amateurs alike into one cohesive unit with the goal of becoming smarter, more efficient users of light and better photographers overall. Workshops, run monthly across Korea, are focused on editorial location shooting and the idea that it’s easy to craft studio-quality lighting effects anywhere, anytime. Workshops are tailored for all levels and one-on-one sessions are also available. Professional and experienced members offer beginners the opportunity to assist on magazine and newspaper shoots in and around Seoul.
No fees. Camera required, lighting gear provided.
Creative Director: Flash Parker
Contact: parker.shawn@gmail.com
Online: flickr.com/groups/seoulstrobistclub

Flash Parker, Sindorim Station, Seoul

Flash Parker, the streets of Gangnam, Seoul

Flash Parker , Hwaseong Fortress, Suwon

Here’s a review of my complimentary stay at the brand new Banyan Tree Club & Spa in Seoul for my bday (how lovely).

Two things I want to note here before I go on: 1) the primary purpose of this establishment is to be a private club for people who can afford the high  annual fees, but there is also a hotel with 50 rooms within the premises which is where we stayed and 2) the hotel is still in its soft-opening period, which means many restaurants & bars were not open, with the hard-opening set for early July.

****

Arrival – the grounds are quite large, with separate buildings for the Hotel, Club, and Festa (a dining building with restuarants, terrace and outdoor pool). The hotel building is not so impressive from the outside, but very nice with a boutique feel on the inside.

Valentino, Missoni & Vivienne Westwood getting the attention they deserve

The first (most traumatic) thing happened when we were in the lift. Soft openings can be a headache for both the hotel and guests… the power stops and we are stuck in the lift!! Thank goodness we had the front desk girl with us and she was tirelessly apologetic, and when she heard I was pregnant she continuously fanned me with her folder cos it was so hot in there. It wasn’t too long before someone came around and fixed it (probably the front desk manager, judging from his suit, perplexed expression and sweat dripping all the way down his body – poor thing), and we were promptly led out to our room, a thousand apologies in tow. Drama!!

Picwhoring in the lift while we were waiting – making good use of time!

As per usual, I fell asleep by 10pm due to pregnancy fatigue, and Steve snuck out to the downstairs bar to watch the Korea vs Uraguay match with the rest of the hotel. They served free beer and fries, so I guess he had a grand time, even though Korea lost.

Seoul City Improv will have a sweet comedy improv show in Haebangchon this Saturday, June 26th at 8 pm.

DATE: Saturday, June 26th
TIME: 8 pm
LOCATION: Orange Tree in Haebangchon
LENGTH: 90 minutes with 1 intermission
COST: Free!
DIRECTIONS: To get there go to Noksapyeong Stn. (line 6, next to Itaewon), go out exit 2 and walk down the hill. At the bottom of the hill there will be lots of kimchi pots on your left. Keep left and you will get to a little area with bars and restaurants with Phillies on the left and a bar/restaurant Indigo on your right. Go to the second floor of Indigo to find Orange Tree. The total walk time from the subway is about 10 mins.

The sports broadcast on Korean TV may not feature the teams that you want, the times that you want, or even the sports that you want. Unless you never get tired of seeing Kim Yuna-focused figure skating coverage, that is. For those days when you want to see the pigskin go up and down the field a few times or watch the puck get a bit of abuse on the ice, there are Korea’s sports bars. 10 Magazine will be posting the weekly sports schedules for some of the best sports bars here, updated each week. You’ll want to make this page a favorite and check back every Thursday morning to see the rundown for the next week.

Let the games begin!

Hollywood Grill

123-33 Itaewon 1Dong 3rd Flr. Yongsan, Seoul Korea Phone-82-2-749-1659/02-749-1659

Mon 17 May

NHL

5:00 P.M. NHL PLAYOFF- chi. vs sjs.

7:30 P.M. NHL PLAYOFF- mtl. vs phi.

Wed 19 May

NHL

5:00 P.M. NHL PLAYOFF- mtl. vs phi.

7:30 P.M. NHL PLAYOFF- chi vs sjs

Fri 21 May

NHL

4:00 P.M. NHL PLAYOFF- phi. vs mtl. played again at 7:30

Sat 22 May

NHL

5:00 P.M. NHL PLAYOFF- sjs. vs chi. played again at 8:00

Sun 23 May

NHL

5:00 P.M. NHL PLAYOFF- phi. vs mtl. played again at 9:00
Mon 24 May

NHL

6:00P.M. NHL PLAYOFF- sjs. vs chi.

Tues 25 May

NHL

7:00 P.M. NHL PLAYOFF- mtl. vs phi.

Wed 26 May

NHL

6:00 P.M. NHL PLAYOFF- chi. vs sjs.

All games are shown by customer consensus. For any other events, ask for Matt at the bar.

The Holy Grill

Rodeo Drive, Daegu. the.holy.grill@hotmail.com

Remind them to send us their schedule please.

Rocky Mountain Tavern

Itaewon, just up from the fire station going towards Hangangjin Station (east from Itaewon Station). 010-5775-2327

Remind them to send us their schedule please.

Sam Ryan’s Sports Bar

In the alley behind Hamilton Hotel in Itaewon. Second floor above 3 Alley Pub. 02-749-7933

Tuesday May 11th
NHL-Penguins VS Canadiens @6
NHL-Sharks VS Red Wings @9
NBA-Orlando VS Atlanta @6
NBA-Lakers VS Utah @9

Wednesday May 12th
NHL-Hawks VS Canucks @6:30
NBA-Boston VS Cleveland @9

Any questions call Chris 010-8691-5381

Through May 31st

UNESCO recognized the awe-inspiring beauty of Jeju Island by registering it as a World Natural Heritage Site in June 2007. This photo competition encourages Koreans and foreigners to capture a bit of this beauty themselves through the medium of photography. Under the theme of “Embrace Jeju Island,” contestants are asked to submit between three and five images of the landscape and ecology (plants and animal life) of Jeju. Prizes start at W200,000 with the grand prize clocking in at a whopping W10,000,000.

jeju-photo.co.kr

The 2nd Jeju World Natural Heritage International Photo Competition Guideline
1. Eligibility

Unlimited (The competition is open to both Korean citizens and foreigners)

2. Categories of Entry – Theme

‘Embrace Jeju Island’ The nature of Jeju island – landscape and ecology (flora & fauna) of Jeju island including World Natural Heritage Districts. (Portraits should be excluded)
- Subject
1) World Natural Heritage Districts inscribed by UNESCO :Jeju Volcanic Island and Lava Tubes
2) Other images of nature of Jeju island.

3. Requirements & How to Enter

1) All kinds of photos are acceptable; color, black & white, digital and analog photo etc.
2) Number of entries: minimum 3 ~ maximum 5 (Sequences and series are considered as one entry)
3) Photos taken with digital camera – recommend at least 2,200 X 2,800 pixel and submit in jpg format
4) Photos taken with analog camera – scan the original print with at least 300 dpi, save and submit in jpg format
5) Computer-composed photos are not allowed (Simple Photoshop work for color correction is allowed. However, it should be stated clearly when Photoshop is used. If the photo is determined not be an original, the entry will be disadvantaged at the judgement)
6) Entrant should fill up a downloaded entry form and submit it with his/her entries. (Entry form can be downloaded from the official website)
7) Applications are accepted from 1 March to 31 May (Due at 6 PM).
(Works arrived after 31 May cannot be accepted for the selections and should be uploaded with the entry form)
How to enter: All entries must be submitted by (postal submission is not accepted).
※ After uploading, please send a confirmation email to the email address on the entry form. (When there is no reply from the organizer after 3 days of submission, reconfirmation is required. The organizer does not have any responsibility for any disadvantage arisen from the entrant’s carelessness)

4. Entry Fee

Free

5. Registration A. Required Document

Entry form: Only completed and confirmed entry form will be accepted.
B. Only winner should submit the original film(for film photo) or the original file(for digital photo) within 10days after individual announcement.
C. For Further Information & Enquiries
Please contact The 1st Jeju World Natural Heritage International Photo Competition Office by any of the followings;
■ E-mail: unescophoto@hanmail.net
■ Official website: www.jeju-photo.co.kr

6. Prizes

Total: 32,000,000 KRW
■ Grand Prize (1): Testimonial and 10,000,000 KRW (incl. tax)
■ Gold Prize (1): Testimonial and 5,000,000 KRW (incl. tax)
■ Silver Prize (2): Testimonial and 2,000,000 KRW (incl. tax)
■ Bronze Prize (3): Testimonial and 1,000,000 KRW (incl. tax)
■ Fine Work Prize (50): Testimonial and 200,000 KRW (incl. tax)

7. Process

■ Registration: 1 March ~ 31 May, 2010
■ Selection: 4 June, 2010 (The best authoritative photographers (domestic & international) selected by the organizer will judge this competition)
■ Announcement of Prize Winners: 11 June, 2010 (Winners will be announced on the official website and contacted in person by e-mail & phone.)
■ Ceremony of Awarding Prizes: 1 July, 2009
■ Exhibition: Around July, 2009 (Online Exhibition)
※ The details of the exhibition will be announced on the official website later. According to the circumstances of the organizer, the above process can be changeable.

8. Exclusive on Selection and Annulment of Award Decision

A. An entry will not be considered for selection when:
- The entry form is not completed and the entrant’s information is not clearly written. – What is written in the entry form is different from what really is. – The entrant is not the copyright holder of the work.
B. Award-winning decision will be annulled when:
- The entrant is not the copyright holder of the work. – The winning work has been awarded or selected at any previous competition. – The winning work is found to be a plagiarism of, or closely similar to other works
※ Any of three mentioned above could be the reason of annulment of award decision even though the work has been already awarded, and could be prosecuted for the interference in the execution of dudy.

9. Copyright

■ All rights of prize-winning works – such as copyright, property right and the right of use etc. -
belong to the organizer.

10. Others

■ All the works submitted for selection will not be returned.
■ Matters not mentioned in these regulations will be decided by the organizer.
■ By submitting the entry form and participation in the competition implies agreement by entrants to all conditions and regulations of this article.

“All the world’s a stage,” said Shakespeare, “And all the expats in Korea are merely players.” Well, perhaps those aren’t the Bard’s original words, but you might be surprised at how many dramatic opportunities there are today for foreigners in Korea. Groups centered in Seoul and Daegu offer English-language opportunities for you to hone your writing, directing, or acting skills with other folks who got over their stage fright around the same time they stopped being afraid of the dark. See below for plenty of ways to get on stage, work behind the scenes, or sit in the crowd (“as you like it,” Shakespeare might have added).
Edited by David Carruth

Daegu Theater Troupe – Words by Kristin Myers

Daegu Theater Troupe: Cabaret

The Daegu Theater Troupe was formed in September 2008 by Canadian Kristin Myers, an English teacher in Daegu. Kristin soon noticed a lack of performing arts in local expat clubs. With a university degree in theater, she hosted a meeting for interested artists and was amazed at the turnout.
The group immediately planned its first event, in which participants created and performed original works in 24 hours. In March 2009, Kristin registered the Troupe in the International Women’s V-Day event, performing the famous Vagina Monologues and raising money for the Korean House of Sharing. The most recent event held this February, Comedy Cabaret Night, was a comical take on Valentine’s Day with clowning, juggling, and musical acts. The Troupe has performed all of its events in packed venues to supportive audiences and sponsors.
Aside from large events, the Troupe also hosts monthly workshops at Buy the Book Café in downtown Daegu. Kristin hopes to continue performing and helping local charities with the Troupe and is organizing an upcoming spring event. Anyone interested in acting, writing, or directing are welcome to join, with no experience necessary.  Search for “Daegu Theater Troupe” on Facebook or contact Kristin at daegutheater@hotmail.com.

Root Experience – Words by Simon Magnus

Root Experience, Shot by Kym Mills

There are talented actors, directors, writers, musicians and dancers all over Korea. All they need is a forum where their talents can shine.
Here to provide that forum is Root Experience, established in the UK four years ago. This group organizes The Melting Pot, a night for Seoulites with passion or an interest in performance to spend the evening chatting together. This is your chance to find people to help with a performance idea or find a creative outlet for your talent. It’s not just for theatre in the traditional sense: dance, opera, performance arts, musical theatre, puppetry, performance poetry, multimedia, improv, physical theatre and plenty more are welcome. Add your creativity to the pot at Roofers in Itaewon the 2nd Tuesday of the month starting at 7 pm.
Let’s say you have an idea, people to work with, and enthusiasm exploding from your ears: what next?
Put together a snippet and perform it in front of an audience at the Shorts Show, an opportunity for individuals or groups to showcase or try out new work, with each performance under 20 minutes. The next Shorts Show will be on May 22nd. Applications accepted now! To get involved, simply check out the website at rootexperience.com or send an email to
roots.korea@gmail.com.

Seoul Players Words by Margaret Whittum

Seoul Players: Shakespeare, shot by Michele Farley

Seoul Players is an English-speaking community theater company established in 2001. This non-profit organization consists of expats and Koreans who delight in bringing English-language theatre to audiences in Seoul. Recent shows have included Black Comedy by Peter Schaffer, An Evening of Christmas Readings, and A Night of Shakespeare.
On April 16th – 17th, Seoul Players will produce its 3rd annual 24-Hour Theatre at Roofers in Itaewon. This event is open to all, and the company encourages everyone to attend, regardless of experience. Everyone will assemble on Friday night at 9 pm, when teams will be formed randomly, with each group having a director, writer and several actors. Teams will draw a few “inspirations” from buckets—first lines, occupations, props, and locations. Teams will then have 12 hours to formulate and write an original script and 12 hours to rehearse it. The curtain goes up at 9 pm Saturday evening. Last year’s show was a grand success, with nearly 70 people participating in 13 short 5-7 minute plays.
Seoul Players will also mount its first musical this May. The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee will run May 29th – June 13th at Roofers in Itaewon.
Interested in joining? Seoul Players is always looking for new talent and volunteers! Send an email to seoulplayers@gmail.com.

The Workshop Division – Words by Song Kim

The Workshop Division: Scene Cael Anton and Rob King in One of Three rehearsal

The Workshop Division is a cooperative of writers, directors and actors with the purpose of helping to develop original work through scene study. The Workshop also encourages people to experiment in theatrical mediums that have not been their primary focus, with actors directing, writers acting, and so on.
The Workshop Division was started to give theater artisans an outlet outside of the setting of a full production. Normally, actors and directors must find a company that is producing a show then hope that they may become attached to the production. Further, there are few if any opportunities for writers to see their drafts performed until they are well within the later stages. In either case, the freedom to experiment and explore are greatly limited. The ideal of the Workshop Division is for actors, directors and writers to stay busy and hone their crafts in an exploratory setting. The end goal of the Workshop is to develop these drafts into performance-ready productions.
The Workshop Division welcomes people of any performance background and experience level. For information on how to get involved, contact songisgreat@gmail.com or visit “The Workshop Division” on Facebook.

To inquire about getting your club or group introduced in the 10 Magazine community section, email David at comments@10magazine.asia

The good folks at Sanirang Alpine Networks are offering you some fun ways to get back on the mountain slopes after the last few months of nasty weather.
FREE Wednesday Climbing Clinic

From March ~ June, 2010

Daechi Dong Outdoor Physical Fitness Facility

From 9 am ~ 12 pm

Sanirang Alpine Networks is offering free top-rope artificial wall climbing clinics to anyone interested in learning the very basics of rock climbing or just want to hang out and have a little fun. Although instruction is limited to the basics, the ropes will be up and ready for anyone to tie-into and climb. Beginners and above are welcome to join!
Climbing harness, shoes and helmet set can be rented for the very reasonable price of FREE. FREE Sanirang Alpine Network t-shirts will be handed out to those who come to participate; however, you must at least try and climb in order to get one. There is a limit of one shirt per person or until out of stock for that day.

Dropping in is fine; however, it would be very helpful to know who is interested by first contacting info@sanirang.net.

Please bring water, wear loose-fitting clothing that won’t constrict movement and an enthusiastic frame of mind.

For directions, please refer to the posted map image or contact info@sanirang.net

Six Week Rock Climbing School

Sanirang Alpine Networks‚ in association with the Bukhansan Climbing School‚ will begin this six week climbing clinic this Sunday March 21st‚ 2010. The clinics meet in Uidong at the Edelweiss Ui Sports climbing shop from 8 am to 4 pm every Sunday. Clinics are designed for beginners and intermediate climbers alike. All are welcome to join.

All clinics are typcially taught alongside the students of the Bukhansan Climbing School. After every Sunday climbing clinic‚ all are welcome to join together for delicious Korean food and beer. This is an excellent opportunity to get acquainted with Korean climbing culture and make friends with your fellow Korean climbing students.

SAN Beginner School Tentative Itinerary
March 21 – SeolgyoByeok: Intro to gear‚ safety‚ ropework‚ basic top-rope belaying‚ abseiling & slab climbing.
March 28 – Big Slab(Oasis): Review above‚ multi-pitch climb & abseiling.
April 04 – BaekEunDae: Skills review, crack climbing & overhang abseil practice.
April 11 – Insu Peak Summit climb & Abseil
April 18 – Insu Peak Summit climb & Abseil
April 25 – Insu Peak Summit climb & Abseil.

SAN Intermediate School Tentative Itinerary
March 21 – Beginner Skills Review and a lot of top-roping.
March 28 – Multi Pitch technical skills, Abseil Prep & Management skills.
April 04 – Hidden Wall Ridge
April 11 – Haystack Peak Summit
April 18- Insu Peak Summit Climb
April 25 – Insu Peak Summit Climb

Location and routes are tentative and subject to change depending on weather conditions‚ climbing traffic and other factors. Clinics are never cancelled; however‚ if there are poor weather conditions and SAN deems it to be unsafe‚ a pleasant day hike along one of the many hiking tracks in the Bukhansan National Park or a technical skills workshop indoors will be held.

This six week clinic costs only W350‚000 per client. The deadline for payment and registration is on March 17th. The schools requires a minimum of six clients to commence. For more information on this‚ please contact SAN directly at info@sanirang.net.

Maybe it was watching the Super Bowl last month or perhaps it was a football match of the European kind. Whatever the game, it set you thinking that it’s starting to get a little warmer outside, and it’s high time to engage in a little healthy athletic competition. In other words, it’s game time.

If your idea of fun is getting on the field, getting fit, and getting to know a few good mates (or femates), take a look at one of the sports-based groups and clubs listed below. Wanna go for a jog but don’t have the discipline to hold down a running schedule alone?  Hoping to tackle someone on the rugby pitch? Curious to find out just what Gaelic football is all about? Read on for an intro to some of the coolest athletic clubs around.
Edited by David Carruth

Seoul Survivors: Men’s Rugby Club
You, Too, Can Tackle and Scrum  by Kurt Taogaga

The Seoul Survivors Rugby Football Club is the largest and oldest expatriate rugby club on the Korean peninsula. Based out of Itaewon’s Scrooge Sports Bar, the club has served the Seoul foreign community’s rugby needs since its inception in 1978. As of this year, the team’s home ground is the Jamwon rugby pitch in Apgujeong on the banks of the Han River.

In 2009, the senior team performed admirably to finish runners-up in the Yellow Sea Cup, the premier expatriate rugby trophy in East Asia. The Survivors regularly host international touring teams and also journey all over the continent, including annual trips to China, the Philippines and Cambodia. Off the field, the club raised more than 4 million won for the Sundeokwon Girls Orphanage and started a Colts team aimed at teenagers.

Although, strictly speaking, the Seoul Survivors is an “expat” organization, Koreans play a significant role in the club as players, management and supporters. English teachers, Korea-based military personnel, embassy staff and expatriate businessmen round out the club’s burgeoning roster.

Looking forward, the Survivors will continue to strengthen ties with rugby teams in Korea and abroad with tours to Busan and Manila this month. To get involved with the Survivors as a player or supporter, contact Kurt at kurt@survivorsrfc.com. survivorsrfc.com

Seoul Flyers: Running Club
Land of the Morning Run  words and shot provided by the Seoul Flyers

The Seoul Flyers are the oldest and biggest international running club based in Seoul, Korea. It was started five years ago by a few expat running enthusiasts to provide the international community with a comfortable environment to run and exercise. In addition, they have frequent cultural and social events for those members who live far away from their home countries. Slow runners and fast runners, young runners and those that are young at heart—all are welcome at the Seoul Flyers’ weekly and monthly events.

Serious running enthusiasts may want to join the Seoul Flyers for some big upcoming runs. On March 21st, around 30 members will be running in the Seoul International Marathon, the 81st Donga Marathon and on March 27th – 28th they’ll join in the Jeju Ultramarathon. To get in touch with the Seoul Flyers, visit seoulflyers.com or find them on Facebook. seoulflyers@gmail.com

Seoul Sisters: Women’s Rugby Club
One Big Rugby Family     by Bridget Tunnicliffe

The Seoul Sisters’ rugby club is heading into its fifth season, and it’s the time of year the club looks for an influx of fresh faces.

The beauty of the Seoul Sisters’ outfit is that no experience is required. While the thought of scrimmaging and tackling might scare the uninitiated, the ethos of the club is about learning and having fun. Come March, practices will resume and coaching and advice on technique will be offered.

But what happens off the field is just as important, says Natalie Hallemans, a stalwart of the club. “Great friendships and memories have been built around the Sisters, and for foreign women in Korea who are looking for some company, it’s a great source for that.”

Liz Poustie was one of those new faces last year. As a recent arrival in the country, she decided to give it a go and says it was one of the best moves she made: “It’s like I found an instant group of friends. I can’t imagine not being involved now.”

The club also has a touch rugby team, which offers a great alternative for those not keen on the contact aspect of the sport.

Email Mel Cherry at mcherry80@gmail.com about contact rugby and Bridget Tunnicliffe at bridgettunnicliffe@hotmail.com about touch rugby. ssrfc.com

Seoul Gaels: Gaelic Football Club
The Gaelic Football Miracle of the Han River
by Kevin Tobin

Seoul Gaels, Korea’s first Gaelic football club, was born in the heady days of the 2002 World Cup, when throngs of Irish supporters made their way to Korea to cheer on the “boys in green.”  Of course, many Irish crossed paths in one or another of Seoul’s many hostelries, and the Seoul Gaels was formed, bringing Ireland’s national games to the “Land of the Morning Calm.”
Gaelic Football can be best described as a mix between soccer, rugby, and basketball. That may sound like an awful mess, but it’s actually a fast-paced, highly skilled, and clean sport that is fun to watch and even more fun to play.
Seoul Gaels has about 60 playing members with separate men’s and women’s teams. The “Gael” in the club’s name is usually associated with the Irish, but you don’t have to be from Ireland to join the club. Of course there is a strong core of Irish players, but they are complemented by a diverse bunch of members from countries including New Zealand, Colombia, and Mongolia.
The highlight of the Seoul Gaels calendar is the Asian Gaelic Games, an annual tournament for all of Asia’s twenty Gaelic football clubs. In addition to tournaments, both teams meet each week to train and play football. The club plays matches with clubs in Daegu and Gwangju to test their skills, along with joining in the North Asian Games, the Korean Gaelic Games, and other tours. Football games usually run from March to November, and during the winter months all adjourn to the warmth of Seoul’s bars. In fact, Seoul Gaels is as much a social club as it is a football club.
All are welcome, and new members are shown the ropes (and skills!) before they are brought into games. Learn a new sport, rediscover an old one, or pick up where you left off playing before. For further information, contact Joe Trolan at seoulgaels@gmail.com. seoulgaels.com

2009 March, Special Feature

Words by Dann Gaymer Shots by David Smith

Dr. Fish

Coffee is a big deal in Korea. Period.
Angel In Us, Coffee Bean, Davinci and a host of other coffee chains quench the Korean thirst for a strong black cup of ﾒjoeﾓ. Yet there exists an undercurrent of coffee houses that take an idea or gimmick and truly run with it and the surreal results make ordering a cup of coffee a tad more adventurous to say the least. We took it upon ourselves to travel the length of the nation in order to showcase a few special places, yet this is by no means a comprehensive guide to ﾒfar outﾓ cafes. Instead it is intended to inspire you, the reader, to go out and search for such places of your own accord. Such establishments exist all over the country; you just have to look a little further than your local Starbucks to see them.

Cat Tree (고양이가 열리는 나무) , Daegu

At first glance the Cat Café is just another café with modest furniture and a typical menu. Yet… ye gods! The floor is moving! It｡ｯs alive! Swarming with small furry creatures, clambering over the furniture straight towards us! Then it becomes apparent that the flurry of movement is in fact two dozen cats that happen to call this café home. Set up with the intent of showing Korean people, who are very cautious of cats, that felines can actually make pretty good companions, it is every cat lover’s haven, every table is filled with customers giggling over the unintentional entertainment going on all around them. Like Alice falling through the looking glass, entering the Cat Café is like stumbling into another world where cats seemingly materialise from nowhere. Upon entering guests are presented a toy-mouse-tipped plastic wand with which to entertain the feline inhabitants, while later in the day guests can observe a feeding frenzy over cat food or cat nip if the occasion calls. Aside from a few house rules it’s a free and easy environment where cats and humans can relax in each other’s company. 010-2435-0792 or 011-9493-2423

Chess, Busan

Board game cafes were some what of a craze in Korea that died off a few years ago, yet a few have endured on and Chess is an excellent example. The basic premise is that customers pay for the time they spend in the café playing one of the numerous board games on offer while consuming as much tea and coffee as they like. Located a stone’s throw from Pusan National University, Chess is unsurprisingly done out in sober black and white, and is a favoured haunt of students sporting plaid jackets, chequered scarves and Morrissey specs, waited upon by employees wearing V neck Ivy League sweaters who run to and fro, delivering games and steaming refills of green tea as well as explaining and verifying game rules.

From the kids selection like ‘Pop Up Pirate’ to medium range games such as  ‘Amazing Labyrinth’ to serious tabletop action such as ‘Risk’, ‘Settlers of Catan’ and rare items such as ‘Star Wars: Epic Duels’, there is something for everyone, all acquired from specialty auctions and numbering over a thousand on the heaving shelves at chess.

Bizarre rituals such as losers subjugating themselves with giant toy mallets make for scenes otherwise found only in ethnographies of shaman ceremonies from the early 20th century. Nevertheles, Chess is more akin to a gourmet restaurant than anything else, where it is games that are on the menu, quite literally, with patrons relaxing in their chairs as they savour the flavours and intricacies of the tabletop serving laid out before them. 051-583-9632

Restree (나무그늘) Dr. Fish Cafe

Restree Dr. Fish

What appears at first glance to be a pretty standard cafe turns out to be something completely different once the raised platform in the centre of the room is given closer inspection. After customers remove shoes and wash their feet they are allowed to sit up on this platform around glass tables and dip their feet into the pools of water below, in which hundreds of tiny fish swim. Dr. Fish are a ‘parasitic’ species that feed on the dead skin found on the bottom of human feet. The process is a cross between chiropody and a therapeutic massage, this co-evolution of fish and people being combined into a café/wine bar environment. The fish themselves come in two varieties, the Turkish Garraruta, which are a smaller variety and their larger Chinese cousins, the chinchin.

The moment your feet enter the water dozens of fish swim over and start nibbling away, the immediate sensation being somewhat akin to a consistent electric shock, like an electro massage. However the Chinese variety are a lot stronger and less consistent, the process more akin to a dozen tiny chisels chipping away than a piece of sand paper being gently rubbed over your feet.

There are always a few shrieks resonating around as Dr. Fish virgins dip their feet in for the first time, yet regulars sit at perfect ease and let the fish get on with it, comfortable with the process of reverse sushi that is being undertaken; that is fish eating raw human.

Locations can be found all over the country, but only if you can read the Korean on the site. Look under 매장안내.  restree.net

Bau House (바우하우스) Dog Cafe, Seoul

The Dog Café was opened when the owner realised that there was nowhere for coffee drinking dog lovers to take their pets. While customers can sure enough bring their own four legged companions the café it is also home to 28 well-trained resident dogs, as well as serving as a pet store and ｡ｮhotel｡ｯ. The actual scene on the shop floor of the café is like some wild fantasy come true; big and little, from wolves to sausage dogs, canine versions of Winston Churchill and Marilyn Monroe, attired in bandannas and t-shirts, running in packs all over the furniture.

Customers are openly confronted by their canine hosts in the nicest way possible as they trot around the window sills and scamper across the wide open floor. Every dog has an angle and a few party tricks with which to get some attention, while the resident photographer is on hand to capture customers treasured moments with their new found canine friends. The real show starts when a new dog is brought in and the entire canine populous erupts into a chorus and barks and squeals, scurrying hurriedly to the front door whilst owners and staff alike run to try and quell the pandemonium. Yet within a few minutes relative calm is restored and the dogs once again settle into making friends with the visiting human and canine customers alike. 02-334-5152

2009 March, Cover Story

Words and artwork contributed by Seoul Art Collective

Hot Porrage - Annabel Fenn

After working in their studios for 6 months and filling their apartment walls with their art, Travis Lee Street and Annabel Fenn decided it was time to get back in touch with their social lives. “We wanted to meet other foreign artists and, most importantly, get our work out there,” says Annabel, an English teacher and artist living in Suwon.  The couple took over the management of the Seoul Art Collective this year from artist Ron L. Saunders and are overwhelmed with the amount of interest they have received from foreign artists, galleries and media services alike.  The Collective aims to connect artists with each other and to organize shows and events around Seoul.  Currently involving 19 active members such as sculptor Tammy Kim, print maker Mike Stewart, fight therapist Melissa Wyman and video artist Ryan McLay, the Collective is fast developing into a diverse and dynamic group.

The Child - Annabel Fenn

One such artist who found the Collective on Facebook is Surya Gied, a German painter and multi-media artist who came to Seoul in January through the German Academic Exchange Service, DAAD.  Gied’s work is depicted through oil painting, marker drawings, installation objects and accessible rooms. “The correlation of these three medias contains a very important aspect; each media stands alone yet by combining them a new context opens up to the recipient.” Gied develops forms and creates her own visual vocabulary which moves at the edge of association and abstraction. She calls it the “zone in between”, where through tension of the non-definable, new ways of seeing and perceiving are possible. “Overlapping levels create new structures and open up new dimensions in my paintings as well as in my objects,” she says.

Korean-American artist Jean Rim was introduced to the Collective by her friend and group member Katherine Oh.  Rim exhibited as an artist for nearly ten years in New York where she painted about being a Korean woman in the United States, and now she is living the flip-side of being an American woman in Korea.  Rim expresses her views and experiences through her characters, which look like penguins, Hello Kitty characters and Asian human-esque creatures. Their juxtaposition to each other creates a psychological edge that questions reality. The penguins are cute but you are not sure of their intentions and the faceless creatures dance around eerily in the paintings. There is a moment when one wants to find a happy place within the colors; however the surreal narrative questions that glee. There seems to be an ominous silence to her work though which Rim paints from an emotive point of view.

The Collective features on TBS radio, 101.3 FM (tbsefm.seoul.kr), with a new artist speaking about their work every Thursday at 3 pm on the Steve Hatherly Show. Members also visit each other’s studios for art critique sessions, which are really important, especially for those who have been working in seclusion and need feedback. “The New Year has gotten started with a bang and we have at least 6 shows lined up for 2009,” says Travis. “All our members are keen to get exposure around the Korean art scene and help it grow.”

The first group show of 2009, titled “Seoul: the City Structures” is being held at Television 12 (www.theartagency.co.kr) in Hongdae from March 1st -15th. It features paintings and installations by artists including Travis Lee Street, Mike Stewart and Ryan McLay, who have been inspired by the city of Seoul. Mike Hern, also a featured artist in the March show, depicts a city where the fast paced lives of the occupants are reflected onto the buildings they pass, like scenes from a high-speed train. Hern seeks to make the viewer so absorbed in the image that they envision it flowing off the canvas and on to the walls and ceiling surrounding it. “Intricate patterns alter the eye as to what elevates forward, and what at the same time can be pushed back,” says Hern. The show also includes Jeffrey Morabito, a New York painter who depicts scenes such as subway journeys and busy streets.  He describes his work as “an excavation of hidden appetites and emotions designed to construct a window through which conscious reality melts into repressed illusions.” Through this portal, the viewer is free to explore his inner world and to make contact with a subjective example of our humanism their Like a mountain in the mists, memories change shape, and with each change they grow fainter.

Luna - Travis Lee Street

Search - Katherine Oh

10 Tips on Being an Artist in Korea

1) Visit Homi Art Shop (homi.co.kr). The best art supplies shop, is in front of Hongik University and the staff are really helpful. They also deliver if you spend over W200,000. The site is only in Korean, but you can also order online. Ask for a point card.

2) Subscribe to 10 Magazine to find out about all the exhibitions and art-related events all over Korea every month. (W29,000 per year, W15,000 for six months – subscribe@10magazine.asia) Submit information on exhibitions to 10 Magazine to make sure they don’t miss your event (calendar@10magazine.asia).

3) Visit Penelope Thompsonﾕs blog art-n-about.blogspot.com. It is the number one site for information about art happenings exhibitions and festivals in Korea. You can sign up to receive e-mails about upcoming events.

4) Visit the Leeum Museum of Art near Hangangjin Station. It consists of two elegantly designed buildings that house permanent exhibitions of both traditional and modern Korean art, as well as contemporary foreign art including Giacometti, Bacon, Rothko and Hirst.

5) Pick up a free copy of Seoul Art Guide from most galleries. Inside there is an index of all the galleries in Seoul and maps showing where they are located.

6) For serious artists looking to apply for studio programs, try Ssamzie Space. They offer 3 month programs and provide 400 sq. ft. studio spaces and networking opportunities. The National Art Studio also has facilities in two locations; Changdong and Goyang Art Studio (www.artstudio.or.kr/eng/eindex.jsp).

7) Flickr.com is a hive of activity for waeguk photographers.  If you have a digital camera, join a group, upload your photos and get involved in the discussions.

3C World, (expatartsnetwork.ning.com), is a website that encourages cross cultural activity and connects musicians, digital artists and gallery owners all over the world. You can join diverse networking groups and discuss stimulating topics concerning all types of art.

9) Work every day. Remember to take your camera and sketch book everywhere. Itﾕs obvious, but we’ve all kicked ourselves for missing opportunities because we left our tools at home.

10) Join the Seoul Art Collective via the Facebook or Yahoo group, or visit seoulartcollective.tk. The group always welcomes new members and has many exhibition opportunities open to all artists.

Sunhee - Jeffrey Morabito