The other day, I was asked what comes to mind when I think of Seoul. I thought for a moment and answered: coffee. Great coffee is everywhere. Judging by the number of cafes, variety of flavors and level of consumption, Seoul has become one of the world’s biggest coffee capitals. How and why did Seoul become a great coffee city? Coffee arrived in Korea with imperialism in the late 19th century. Emperor Gojong lo.
The other day, I was asked what comes to mind when I think of Seoul. I thought for a moment and answered: coffee. Great coffee is everywhere. Judging by the number of cafes, variety of flavors and level of consumption, Seoul has become one of the world’s biggest coffee capitals. How and why did Seoul become a great coffee city? Coffee arrived in Korea with imperialism in the late 19th century. Emperor Gojong lo.
An annual festival marking the birthday of one of Korea s leading indie musicians will be held in February, with a wide range of offline concerts and events planned around the Hongik University area, known as Hongdae, after three years of scaled-down editions due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Han Kyung-rock, a member of the legendary 1995-formed punk rock band Crying Nut, will hold the 2023 Kyungrockjeol Mapo Renaissance at various venues around Hongdae and other places in Seoul s Mapo District from Feb. 8 to 12.
Staying safe at live music events
Posted : 2021-01-26 17:54
Updated : 2021-01-26 17:54
A member of the hardcore punk band Polluter plays guitar at GBN Live House last Aug. 15. / Korea Times photo by Jon Dunbar
By Jon Dunbar
It s inevitable that the drop in new COVID-19 cases will lead the government to lower the social distancing measures, in an attempt to reward or placate voters, and most likely cases will soon shoot up again.
But it s possible Korea s struggling live music scene will get a chance to come out of hibernation again, even if only for a few weeks. And that s irresistible to anyone who knows what they re missing. The venues that have had to stay closed for the last couple of months deserve support, but caution is needed. While it s heartbreaking to see venues closing one after another, the worst-case scenario would be an outbreak at a show.