So far, in the three years that I've been doing this, I've shown many sides of Seoul. I've described it's history as I've come to know it. As I've walked through it's palaces, temples, and museums, you've walked with me. We've spent a great deal of time on the culinary facet of the city, from local to foreign to home-skillet. The various landscapes have been laid before you, from urban to natural. By now, you must know the transportation, noteworthy structures, and neighborhoods of the city as well as a native. We've even gone so far as to explore the cultural idiosyncrasies of Seoul, from absurd manners to the occasional lack thereof.
However, in three years of writing and photographing, I've never taken the time to show Seoul's other side: that of a modern, artistically blossoming capital with everything you need for high society, and not for my lack of experiencing this. It's time to rectify this oversight.
For months now I've been attending concerts and ballets at the expansive Seoul Arts Center, though "complex" may be a more appropriate word. SAC is a sprawling conglomeration of theatres and concert halls on the south side of the river, very near to the big-money neighbourhoods of Apgujeong and Gangnam. I've there been privilege to an excellent performance of Tchaikovsky's The Nutcracker, and an even better Cervantes' Don Quixote. I've also heard Mozart flute concertos, Beethoven symphonies, and various choral performances by international groups. This is truly the core the performing arts scene, which consists of more than simply the touristy, Stomp-rip-off Nanta. (As a side note, the SAC also has the most extensive sheet music store I've ever seen anywhere.)
The fun doesn't stop at tuning forks and pirouettes though. In a city that has been showing increasing promise in the architectural department, I've never quite pinned down any conventional art that was made by Koreans in the past 100 years. Yesterday, I made the discovery. The Leeum Samsung Museum features not only one wing with all the historical celadon pottery and calligraphy that other museums sport, but it also has a large wing of both paintings and installations, mostly by Korean artists. A third whole wing is currently dedicated to Korean art that reflects history, which is a nice touch after having been through the two separately.
Korea has consistently provided me with all manner of opportunities, no matter what I'm looking for. I'm therefore always surprised by the foreigners I meet who claim that Seoul is "boring" or that there's "nothing to do." This city is truly dynamic.
However, in three years of writing and photographing, I've never taken the time to show Seoul's other side: that of a modern, artistically blossoming capital with everything you need for high society, and not for my lack of experiencing this. It's time to rectify this oversight.
For months now I've been attending concerts and ballets at the expansive Seoul Arts Center, though "complex" may be a more appropriate word. SAC is a sprawling conglomeration of theatres and concert halls on the south side of the river, very near to the big-money neighbourhoods of Apgujeong and Gangnam. I've there been privilege to an excellent performance of Tchaikovsky's The Nutcracker, and an even better Cervantes' Don Quixote. I've also heard Mozart flute concertos, Beethoven symphonies, and various choral performances by international groups. This is truly the core the performing arts scene, which consists of more than simply the touristy, Stomp-rip-off Nanta. (As a side note, the SAC also has the most extensive sheet music store I've ever seen anywhere.)
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The fun doesn't stop at tuning forks and pirouettes though. In a city that has been showing increasing promise in the architectural department, I've never quite pinned down any conventional art that was made by Koreans in the past 100 years. Yesterday, I made the discovery. The Leeum Samsung Museum features not only one wing with all the historical celadon pottery and calligraphy that other museums sport, but it also has a large wing of both paintings and installations, mostly by Korean artists. A third whole wing is currently dedicated to Korean art that reflects history, which is a nice touch after having been through the two separately.
 |  |  |  |
 |  |  |  |
Korea has consistently provided me with all manner of opportunities, no matter what I'm looking for. I'm therefore always surprised by the foreigners I meet who claim that Seoul is "boring" or that there's "nothing to do." This city is truly dynamic.
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