ACF 830: Korea In-Depth Lecture Series

The Korea Society, NY, will be presenting six of the world’s top experts in Korean studies in a new lecture series called Korea In-Depth. Dive deep into the history, politics, and arts of a dynamic country, close ally, and important trading partner of the United States.

Each lecture in the six-week series will feature a different scholar who will address thought-provoking developments in contemporary issues, literature, history, art, music, and architecture.

Anyone fascinated by the explosive growth of East Asia in world affairs and culture will benefit from this first-ever lecture series. Come and take in all six lectures—or however many you’d like—to deepen your awareness of Korea and its impact on Asia and the world.

The Korea In-Depth lectures will be held from 6:30 - 8:30 PM on Thursdays, from February 10th to March 17th, 2011.

For full info about all six lectures and to register in advance, click here.

The Korea Society is located at:
950 Third Ave @ 57th Street, 8th Floor
(The entrance is on 57th, the South-West corner of the intersection)
New York, NY 10022

ACF 829: Korean New Year Family Day

I can't imagine a better way for AsianCineFest to start off the "Western" New Year than by announcing this sure to be enjoyable and informative event for all.

The Korea Society, NY, will be hosting a celebration of Korean New Year’s Day (Sŏllal). Children, parents, and grandparents are welcome to sample traditional rice cakes (ttŏk), practice the New Year's bow (sebae), and watch a short film screening on the traditional ancestral ceremony, ch'arye.

The day will be filled with games and activities, such as yut nori, a Korean board game traditionally played on New Year’s Day; chegi ch'agi, a Korean version of the popular hacky-sack; and craft activities such as kite-making ( yŏn mandŭlgi).

Family Day: Korean New Year
Saturday, January 22, 2011 2:00-5:00 PM

Tickets:
Family: $30 family of 3-5 ($5 each additional family member)
Individual: $10 members; $15 nonmembers; $5 children

Register in advance by clicking here, or call 212.759.7525, ext. 309

The Korea Society is located at:
950 Third Ave @ 57th Street, 8th Floor
(The entrance is on 57th, the South-West corner of the intersection)
New York, NY 10022

ACF 675: Resting Stones, Standing Stones exhibition at The Korea Society, NY

Resting Stones, Standing Stones
The Korea Society
Exhibition runs September 16 - October 8

Gallery Opening and Reception
Thursday, September 16th, 2010
5:00 PM Members Preview
6:00 PM Gallery Opening
Free and open to the public

Renowned sculptor Jerry Wingren harnesses light and texture with the grace of a master and spirit of a monk. Residing on a mountaintop, this child of the North Pacific finds inspiration in 3-5-9 Korean numerology, and casts his resting stones in a manner sure to win admirers of contemporary Korean design.

The stones’ inner square allows the viewer to see within and beyond—employing both the Japanese ma, or negative space, and the Korean mieum, a character of basic sound and life's essence. Inclined to naturalism, Wingren creates bold, contemplative, contemporary—yet timeless—works.

To RSVP for the Gallery Opening Reception, click here.

The Korea Society is located at 3rd Avenue @ 57th Street, 8th Floor, New York, NY. The entrance is on 57th Street near the South-West corner of the intersection.

ACF 666: Day-long Conference on Korean War at The Korea Society on Sept. 10th

The Korea Society and the Center for Korean Research at Columbia University will host a day-long conference entitled “The Korean War Today” to mark the 60th anniversary of the start of the conflict. Leading scholars and policy observers will address the causes and consequences of the Korean War, and examine its lasting impact on Korea, the United States, Northeast Asia, and international relations; the roles of the United Nations; and prospects for an end to hostilities and a peace regime in Korea.

This event concludes The Korea Society’s summer 2010 War and Remembrance series, and is a last chance to see Steel Helmets: U.S. Korean War Graphics and Korean War in Color, exhibitions on view at The Korea Society Gallery.

The conference will take place on Friday, September 10th from 8:30 AM-3:30 PM at The Korea Society, which is located on the 8th Floor at 950 Third Avenue @ 57th Street, New York, NY 10022. The entrance is on 57th Street, near the south-west corner of the intersection.

For the conference schedule and to buy tickets, click here.

$30 for Members, UN and Columbia University Staff and Students
$40 for Non-Members

For more information, contact Natalee Newcombe at 212-759-7525, ext. 328.

ACF 663: 15th Annual Pusan International Film Festival coming October 7-15, 2010

Recently received this info about this important upcoming festival:

From October 7th to 15th, 2010 the 15th Pusan International Film Festival will be held in Haeundae-gu, in eastern Busan, formerly spelled Pusan and the second largest metropolitan area in South Korea. It is one of the most significant film festivals in Asia. Started in 1996, for past 15 years the festival has become an enchanting window to the magnificent world of Asian cinema.

It is not just a film festival where many movies are introduced to the audience, but it is the film festival where Asian countries and others tie their cultural, artistic, and filmic relations; people from all over the world enjoy festivity through films; promising prospective directors come together to show their talents; and many producers and buyers find jewels to invest and sponsor. Various programs within the festival such as Asian Film Market and Pusan Promotion Plan build up the popularity and nobility of the festival.

More info at the official website: www.piff.org.

ACF 629: Sneak preview of Resilience at The Korea Society NY this Thursday

Tomorrow, Thursday, July 15th, The Korea Society NY will present a sneak preview of Resilience, a documentary film that takes a unique look at international adoption from the perspective of a Korean birth mother and her American son.

From an emotional first reunion on national television to subsequent meetings and departures, the two struggle with 30 years of separation, and two countries, families, languages, and cultures. Resilience touches on issues about birth mothers, adoptees, and adoptive families everywhere.

The screening will be followed by a discussion with director and producer Tammy Chu and co-producer Jessica Windt.

Thursday, July 15, 2010
6:00 PM Registration and Reception
6:30 PM Screening
7:45 PM Q&A with Producers

BUY TICKETS

The Korea Society
950 Third Avenue @ 57th Street (South-West corner), 8th Floor
- entrance is on Third Avenue

$5 for members ($10 non-members)

Walk-in registration will incur an additional charge of $5.

For more information or to register for the program, please contact Natalee Newcombe or call 212-759-7525, ext. 328

ACF 577: Chairman of South Korea's Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission to speak at The Korean Society Thursday

What:
The Hon. Lee Jae Oh, Chairman of South Korea's Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission (ACRC), will address the membership of The Korea Society on the good-governance reforms he believes will help place the Republic of Korea among the advanced economies of the world and provide a safer, more just society for Korean citizens. The Chairman will also lead a discussion on the importance of Korea as the chair and host of the 2010 G20 economic summit.

A distinguished and longtime politician, Chairman Lee joined the ACRC in 2008. Far from tolerating corruption in the name of rapid economic development, Chairman Lee advocates tightened standards, the introduction of an "Integrity Assessment" for high-ranking officials, and the establishment of Korea as a model for developing countries looking to acquire anti-corruption capabilities.

When:
Thursday, May 27 at 8:30 AM

Where:
The Korea Society
950 Third Avenue (@57th Street)
Eighth Floor
New York City, NY 10022
(212) 759-7525
http://www.koreasociety.org

ACF 551: Northeast Asia New (York) exhibition coming to The Korea Society

Northeast Asia New (York) Gallery Opening
Thursday, April 29 at 6:00 PM

I'm pleased to pass on this information and invitation from The Korea Society about an interesting upcoming exhibition and gallery opening.

WHAT:
From winning gold at the Winter Olympics to hosting November's G-20 summit, Korea has emerged as a vibrant leader in sports, policy, and the arts. The Korea Society is celebrating the run-up to the G-20 by showcasing new artists from Northeast Asia in an exhibition of their latest works titled Northeast Asia New (York). New York residents all, these young visionaries share their images of the City, reflecting on the challenges of urbanization and the search for the contemplative. With styles distinctly Asian and cosmopolitan, Hao Chang (China), Maki Teshima (Japan), and Zola Nyambuu (Mongolia) explore the image in modern society, recollecting the work of late contemporary great Nam June Paik (Korea), whom the exhibition honors.

Dr. Stephen Noerper, Senior Vice President of The Korea Society praises the selected artists as "visionaries and nomads, who through their photography and printmaking, remind us of the vibrancy of this metropolis and, in tribute to the late Nam June Paik, of the power of the image in modern society. As Korea brings the G-20 nations to Seoul this fall, so too The Korea Society is proud to gather together such talent from Northeast Asia. Chang shows us grand cityscapes in a toy-like montage, Teshima employs printmaking technique—a global contribution of ancient Korea—with modern photographic overlay, and Nyambuu wields a powerful lens in capturing both the majestic and contemplative."

Join us as The Korea Society launches its Young Professionals Month and Asian Pacific American Heritage Month festivities. The opening will feature a soju and sake tasting.

WHEN:
Thursday, April 29 from 6-9pm (comments at 7pm)

WHERE:
The Korea Society
950 Third Avenue @ 57th Street, 8th Floor
(Building entrance on SW corner of Third Avenue and 57th Street)

The Korea Society is dedicated to the promotion of greater awareness, understanding and cooperation between the people of the United States and Korea. Please visit www.koreasociety.org.

ACF 471: Last Witness screening at The Korea Society (NY) on Feb 18th

Last Witness / 최후의 증인
Directed by Lee Doo-yong
Starring Choi Bool-am, Han Hye-sook, Hah Myung-joong and Jeong yun-hui
1980, 158 minutes

The 2010 season of The Korea Society's Classic Movie Night series will continue on Thursday, February 18, 2010 at 6:30. To commemorate the sixtieth anniversary of the outbreak of the Korean War in 1950, The Korea Society has selected a schedule of classics that examine the conflict, and the deep, sometimes unexpected scars it has left on the Korean people. The series is entitled Facing the War: Six Decades of Film Since the Korean War

Synopsis of Last Witness:

Detective Oh Byeong-ho investigates a murder at a local brewery and uncovers the secret history of violence, and tragedy, between the communist guerrillas and right-wing militias that fought in the area during the Korean War. The film’s exploration of communism made it controversial in South Korea during the 1980s. Government censors cut 40 minutes from the theatrical release.

Guest Speaker (via video interview): Cho Jun-hyoung, researcher, Korean Film Archive; Lee Sang-joon, adjunct professor of cinema studies, New York University

The screening will take place at:

The Korea Society
950 Third Avenue @ 57th Street, 8th Floor
(Building entrance on SW corner of Third Avenue and 57th Street)

Tickets to each screening are available for $5 (members) or $10 (nonmembers).

For further info or to buy tickets, click here.

ACF 299: Missionary Photography in Korea

"Soongsil Christian Academy's Football Team"
P'yongyang, 1925
The Moffett Korea Collection
Special Collections of the Princeton Theological Seminary

The arrival of the first Western missionaries in Korea at the end of the 19th century coincided with the advent of photography. Pictures taken by the missionaries captured a country in the process of profound transformation.

The Korea Society will be hosting the photo exhibition Missionary Photography In Korea: Encountering The West Through Christianity from May 19 through August 14, 2009.

An Opening Reception will be held Tuesday, May 19, 2009, from 6:00-8:30 PM. It is free and open to the public. Please RSVP to Heewon Kim at 212.759.7525, ext. 355 or heewon.ny@koreasociety.org.

The Korea Society is located at 950 Third Avenue @ 57th Street, Eighth Floo, NY, NY. The building is on the SW corner and the entrance is on 57th Street.