EVENTS CALENDAR

Musical

"Funky Funky": A musical directed by comedian Geong Seong-han is on an open-ended run at Funky House in Myeong-dong, downtown Seoul. Exit No. 6, Myeongdong Station on Subway Line No. 4. Tickets are 20,000 won to 100,000 won. For more information, call (02) 1588-1089 or visit www.funkyfunky.co.kr

"Brklyn, the Musical": In the original Broadway musical, a group of five street singers called "City Weeds" tell a "sidewalk fairy tale" of a girl named Brooklyn who tries to find her biological father, Taylor. Kim So-hyun and Moon Hye-young will share the title role. Lee Pil-seung will perform as Taylor. The musical`s local premiere will go on at Chungmu Art Hall, Seoul, until Aug. 13. Tickets are 35,000 to 55,000 won. Exit No. 9, Shindang Station on Subway Line No. 2 or 6. For more information, call (02) 721-7668.

"Mamma Mia!": The smash hit musical from London that had global repercussions on the music scene will revisit the Seoul Arts Center Opera House from June 18 to July 17, almost two years after its successful initial run in 2004. Produced by Judy Craymer, the musical is based on 22 hit songs by the Swedish group ABBA which rose to global stardom in 1974 by winning the Eurovision Song Contest with a song entitled "Waterloo." Tickets are 30,000 to 130,000 won. Exit No. 5, Nambu Bus Terminal Station on Subway Line No. 3. For more information, call (02) 577-1987.

"Jekyll and Hyde": The hit musical featuring Cho Seung-woo, one of the country`s top film/ musical actors, will be performed at Theater Sun of the National Theater of Korea, downtown Seoul, from June 24 to Aug. 15. The musical is regarded as one of the biggest hits in the country, with Cho revealing his powerful and versatile talent that spurred the growth of musical performances. Tickets are 30,000 won to 120,000 won. Exit No. 3, Dongguk University Station on Subway Line No. 3. For further information, call (02)1588_5212.

"Subway Line 1, 2005": A tried-and-true rock musical by the Hakchon Theatre Troupe portrays a wide range of Seoulites in the 1990s is on open-ended run at Hakchon Theater. Tickets range from 17,000 won to 28,000 won. Exit No. 2, Hyehwa Station on Subway Line No. 4. For more information, call (02) 763-8233 or visit www.hakchon.co.kr

"Dracula": The Korean rendition of the Czech musical about Count Dracula will run through July 23 at Hanjeon Art Center in Southern Seoul. Since it premiered in 1995 in Prague, "Dracula" attracted 1 million visitors in two years and 2.5 million spectators alone in the European city so far with its extravagant stage sets, exotic costumes and dance, combined with the suspenseful and highly lyrical music by Karel Sbovoboda. Its soundtrack album sold over 250,000 copies. Tickets are 10,000 to 120,000 won. Exit No. 1, Yangjae Station on Subway Line No. 3. For more information, call (02) 3141-8425.

"Musical Carmen": Corea Musical Company, a recently established sister company of the Seoul Symphony Orchestra, will stage the musical at Theater Yong in the National Museum of Korea, downtown Seoul, until July 9. Applying pop and rock gloss to the Bizet`s original opera scores, the troupe aims to expand the audience base to people in their 20s and 30s. Tickets are 30,000 to 150,000 won. Exit No. 2, Ichon Station on Subway Line No. 4. For more information, call (02) 523-8072.

Exhibition

"Paul Klee: To draw, To Paint": Known as a "magician of lines and colors," the late Swiss artist Paul Klee (1879-1940) was an artist who drew out the deepest human emotions in simple lines and colors. Today, Klee is considered as one of the most intellectual modern painters who produced a vast range of work. With his mastery of lines and color, Klee formed a unique art world full of wit, humor and satire. The artworks Klee produced during his life numbers more than 9,100, so diverse in themes and techniques that a few words could not possibly summarize his immense talent and efforts. With his interest in music, Klee applied musical polyphony to art, as he overlapped transparent color rectangles to create a different color effect, resulting in graphic depth and the interaction of colors. The exhibition runs through July 2 at Seoul Olympic Art Museum near Mongchontoseong Station, Subway Line No. 8, Exit 1. For more information, visit www.somamuseum.org

"Rouault: The Artist Who Preserved His Spiritual Freedom": Leading many art lovers to religion with his glorious artworks including "Passion" and "Christ aux outrages (Humiliated Christ)," the late French Expressionism master Georges Rouault (1871-1958), a faithful Catholic, is among the few artists who managed to achieve artistic goals in their lifetime. As another major event celebrating the 120th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Korea and France, Daejeon Museum of Art is presenting a magnificent exhibition presenting 240 splendid artworks of the late artist. The exhibition runs through Aug. 27 at Daejeon Museum of Art near Daejeon Government Complex. For more information, visit dmma.metro.daejeon.kr

"Picasso: The Great Century": Leading a monumental art revolution through his search of forms, Pablo Picasso (1861-1973) pioneered cubism and left over 50,000 artworks during his tremendous artistic endeavor of 80 years. In this special retrospect exhibition, some of Picasso`s most precious pieces will be disclosed to Korean art fans for the very first time. Those who have been used to seeing only the prints of Picasso`s works will be given the chance to observe 140 works including his most remarkable oil paintings, works of gouache and pastel, and drawings. The total value of Picasso`s works included in this exhibition adds up to over 600 billion dollars, the number setting a new record for an art exhibition in Korea. Generally, art critics classify Picasso`s works in six periods: The blue period, the rose period, the cubism period, the classicism period, the surrealism period and his most creative period until his death. Important works from each period are included in the exhibition such as "La Famille Soler" of the blue period, " "Trois Femmes a la Fontaine (Three Women by the Fountain)" of the classicism period, and "Le Dejeuner sur l`Herbe (The Luncheon on the Grass)," one of Picasso`s most outstanding works that he produced during the last period of his life. The exhibition runs through September 3 at Seoul Museum of Art near City Hall Station, Subway No. 1 and 2, Exit 1 or 12. For more information, visit www.seoulmoa.org or www.picassokorea.com

"The Dream of Modern Korea: Images of Children": With the goal to reexamine how the concepts and images of children have changed and developed along with Korea`s history, the museum has prepared the exhibition presenting 119 paintings and drawings embracing a wide period of the past 100 years. The exhibition is divided into six parts - children in our hometown, children who were left behind, the reconstruction of the lost utopia, the absence of fathers, discovering myself and hey, kids! - in order to let viewers examine the changes of images together with the lapse of time. The exhibition runs through July 30 at the Deoksugung National Museum of Art, near City Hall Station, Subway Line No. 1 and 2, Exit 2 and 12. For more information, visit www.moca.go.kr/deoksugung.html

"Kang Hong-goo: Play with Landscape": Despite the great developments of the 21st century, physical realities of human beings and landscapes do not change so easily and still make up an important part of the reality we live in. Through his manipulated capturing of society, artist Kang Hong-goo presents kaleidoscopic images that struggle to be real. Long before digital photography became a mode of expression of our era and a main producer of visual art, Kang had begun to take a critical look at the absurd reality through the lens of his digital camera. In this exhibition, which is Kang`s fifth solo exhibition in Seoul, Kang creates a surrealistic sublime - fake-looking space and compositions - to maximize his exploitation of the speedy demolition of society. The exhibition runs through Aug. 6 at Rodin Gallery near City Hall Station, Subway Line No. 1 and 2, Exit 8 and 9. For more information, visit www.rondingallery.org

"Kim Sang-soo: City of Color - Seoul, Tokyo, Paris": As he works from theatrical directing to screenwriting, installation art to photography, defining artist Kim Sang-soo with a single distinctive term is near impossible. In his photography works, Kim creates mere "images" rather than the frank reflections of the real world. As the artist often explains, he believes that the ideal kind of art is capturing the harmony between nature and humans, and the situations and the objects. Expressing such belief through a minimalist expression of light, speed and color, Kim`s photos lead people to sense not the mere sceneries but representations of entity and existence. In this exhibition, Kim presents a colorful collection of digital photographs which were shot during his stay in the three cities from 2005 to 2006. Presumed to visually shock the audience and smash the conventional way of thinking, the colorful yet vague pictures lead viewers to a bigger world of imagination and meditation. The exhibition will run through July 16 at Gallery Kong near Anguk Station, Subway Line No. 3, Exit 1. For more information, visit www.gallerykong.com and to learn more about the artist, visit www.kimsangsoo.com

"The Art of Mark Rothko": Mark Rothko (1903-1970) belongs to a generation of American artists who completely revolutionized the essence of abstract painting. Responding to the ravage of war abroad and the chaos it generated, Rothko became a protagonist in the movement of American painters who became known as the abstract expressionists. Formed in New York City during the inter-war years, the group was also called the New York School. In all the history of art, they became the first American artists to receive international recognition as a significant movement. For the first time, the soul of this genius master has visited Korea, offering a precious chance for Korean art devotees to observe Rothko`s aesthetic and intellectual evolution over five decades from the late 1920s through 1970. With the help from the National Gallery of Art, Washington, 27 of his works including drawings, watercolors, gouaches and paintings on canvas and paper in oil and acrylic are exhibited in Seoul. The exhibition will run through Sept. 10 at Leeum Samsung Museum of Art near Hangangjin Station, Subway Line No. 6, Exit 1. For more information, visit www.leeum.org

"Homage to Paik Nam-june": Commemorating Korea`s beloved video art master Paik Nam-june who passed away in January at the age of 74, Leeum Samsung Museum of Art gathered up its own collection of 14 works by Paik for an exhibition. Paik was an artist who was keenly interested in the cutting-edge media of the day while never ceasing to reflect on human civilization. While his main stage was New York, Paik always maintained Eastern philosophies at the core of his thinking, considering both machines and human beings as part of nature, and believing that life and death are in a continuum. After his musical studies in Korea, Paik moved to Germany in 1956 and joined a group of Western intellectuals who started the Fluxus movement. Unveiling his revolutionary experiments utilizing TV and video as artistic media in his first solo exhibition "Exposition of Music - Electronic Television," Paik made a critical contribution to the breathtaking development of video art. The exhibition will run through Sept. 10 at Leeum Samsung Museum of Art near Hangangjin Station, Subway Line No. 6, Exit 1. For more information, visit www.leeum.org

"Yun Lee exhibition": Understanding that a photographic portrait can speak volumes - above all about the person it portrays - artist Yun Lee exceeds the limitation of portrait photography, creating an effect that even the subjects of the portraits may have been unaware of until Lee`s capture. While "Private World" series shows portraits of women juxtaposed with all manner of objects drawn from everyday life, she captures faces of beautiful women while they are sleeping, and adds upon them scenes of a river, clouds and trees, creating mysteriously enchanting images in the "Sleeping Woman" series. With her Korean name Lee Yoon-kyung, this talented artist was born in 1967 in Tokyo and studied under renowned photo-masters Jannis Kounellis and Thomas Ruff in Germany. Recognized as one of the most talented emerging photo-artists in Germany, she won Aachen City`s 2005 Young Artists on the Road Award and was picked as the first winner of Lumiere International Photography Award. Lee`s exhibition in Seoul will run through July 9 at Gallery Lumiere, near Apgujeong Station, Subway Line No. 3, Exit 2. It travels to Austria from July 13 through Aug. 11. For more information, visit www.gallerylumiere.com

"Korea International Jewelry & Watch Fair 2006": Take pulse of international trend in jewellery at Korea International Jewelry & Watch Fair 2006 at COEX in southern Seoul, that runs through tomorrow. Over 400 exhibitors from about 20 countries showcase their precious creations while 70 pieces of prize-winning designs from an international jewelry design contest 2006 are displayed along with special exhibitions of antique jewelry of 19th century and rare gems and jewelries. Jewelry presentations with fashion show and design award ceremony are also scheduled during the fair. For more information, call (02)6000-5549 or visit the web site at www.jewelfair.com

Festival

"Puchon International Fantastic Film Festival": The 10th Puchon (Bucheon) International Fantastic Festival will screen a wide array of alternative films in the science fiction, thriller, fantasy and horror genres from all over the world, July 13-22. A total of 251 films from 35 countries will be screened in auditoriums of Citizens Hall and Bucheon City Hall, Boksagol Culture Center and multiplex theaters in Bucheon, Gyeonggi Province, a city west well-known as a center for films and the animation industry. For more information, call (032)345-6313 or visit the web site at www.pifan.com

"Boryeong Mud Festival": The ninth Boryeong Mud Festival will be held at Daecheon Beach on the west coast of South Korea, July 15-21. Boryeong, South Chungcheong province, is famous for its abundant natural resources and beautiful scenery. Daecheon Beach is one of the largest and best swimming beaches in South Korea and is visited by over 10 million people annually. The programs will include bathing in a massive mud tub, mud massages and a mud photo contest. For more information, call (041)930-3541 or visit the web site at www.mudfestival.or.kr

"Goheung Space Festival": Goheung, which will be Korea`s space center, is holding a space festival for the third time at Public Stadium and other venues in Goheung, South Jeolla Province, from July 28 to Aug. 1. Visitors will be able to experience outer space by riding in a simulation vehicle in a three-dimensional theater, touch and examine a model of the Russian space ship Mir, fly high in balloons and observe constellations and solar spots. For more information, call (061)830-5905 or visit the web site at www.spacegoheung.co.kr.

"Keochang International Festival of Theatre" Forty-seven plays from 10 countries will entertain theatergoers at 12 theaters in Wicheon-myeon, Geochang-gun, South Gyeongsang Province during the 17th Keochang International Festival of Theatre, from July 28 to Aug. 16. Aiming to become the Avignon of Asia, Geochang will offer a large repertoire of domestic and foreign theater groups. This festival has played an important role in globalizing local plays and developing South Korea`s dramatic arts industry since 1989. Surrounded by the nation`s famous Jiri, Deogyu and Gaya mountains, Geochang also boasts beautiful scenery. For more information, call (055)943-4152 or visit the web site at www.kift.or.kr

Drama

"Poverty and Nobility": Theater Jayu will stage "Poverty of Nobility" at Arko Arts Theater, downtown Seoul, from June 28 to July 9, to celebrate the 40th anniversary of its foundation. The Korean rendition tells of the love between Eugenio, a nobleman and Gemma, a daughter of a nouveau riche. Eugenio`s father opposes the couple`s marriage and the comedy portrays the couple`s efforts to tie the knot in a series of episodes. Tickets are 30,000 to 50,000 won. Exit No. 2 Hyehwa Station on Subway Line No. 4. For more information, call (02) 3141-1345.

"Encore Happy Together": This comedy about two armed robbers storming into the house of a rich old woman will run through Aug. 31 at Small Theater Happy Together in Seoul. Tickets are 10,000 won and 20,000 won. Exit No. 2, Hyehwa Station on Subway Line No. 4. For further information, call (02) 742-7262 or visit www.artpama.co.kr.

Concert

"2006 BUZZ Live Concert": Five-man Rock group Buzz will hold a special concert to promote their third regular album "Perfect" at the Outdoor Theater of Yonsei University, western Seoul, from July 15 to 16. Since the band released its second album in March this year, Buzz has been enjoying its heydays with hits starting with their title song "Coward" to tracks like "Thorns" and "A Journey to Myself." Tickets are 55,000 to 66,000 won. Exit No.3, Shinchon Station on Subway Line No. 2. For further detail of the concerts, call (02) 3446-3225.