Korea Society Podcast

On August 4, 2008, Dr. Charles Armstrong, director of the Center for Korean Research at Columbia University, presented a two-part overview of Korean history at The Korea Society in New York. In this first lecture, he provides a general introduction to contemporary Korea before delving into Korean history, starting with the founding myth of Tangun and progressing up to the late nineteenth century when Korea opened up to modern diplomatic relations with Japan and the West.

This November and December, The Korea Society is screening episodes from Korean Ghost Stories, KBS' popular and long-running television series. Known in Korea as Hometown of Legend, the series has thrilled Korean audiences with tales of the supernatural since it began airing in 1977. Often drawn from ancient folklore, these tales of tortured ghosts and supernatural curses have a uniquely Korean feel, and as such, provide a look into how Korean culture views issues of justice, revenge, and the role of women in a Confucian society. As part of our screening program, Yuni Cho, senior program officer for film, prepared questions for Lee Min-hong, who directed several episodes of Korean Ghost Stories, including The Reincarnated Princess, which will be screened at The Korea Society on Thursday, December 17th. Director Lee discusses the popularity of the series, as well as what sets it apart from other Asian horror films and TV. This podcast is also available as a video on http://www.youtube.com/user/TheKoreaSociety

On September 30, 2009, Minji Kim, traditional percussionist, dancer, and a Republic of Korea 2009 Korean Traditional Artist-in-Residence, performed an evening of folk music on the changgo, an hourglass drum at the heart of traditional Korean music. The night's program began with an introduction by Dr. Ju-Yong Ha, composer and ethnomusicologist, who also provided commentary before each of the three musical selections: a kayagum sanjo, a duet for haegum and changgo, and a solo percussion piece for changgo. Minji Kim was accompanied by Gee Sook Baek on the kayagum and Lee Kyung Kang on the haegum.

On September 9, 2009, Don Southerton, author, Korean business expert, and president and CEO of Bridging Culture Worldwide, shared his insights into the Korean car industry with the members of The Korea Society, and explained how Hyundai and Kia Motors made their amazing drive to the top of the market.