Author’s note: There’s bound to be updates to this month’s events – keep checking back for more information and new events! If you have an event you’d like to plug, comment on this post or contact me with all the details. Please follow a few guidelines for the maximum benefit.

*** THIS MONTH’S FEATURED EVENT ***

July 2-3 (6pm-9pm): R-16 World B-boy Championships – Olympic Park (southeast Seoul). Start off Saturday with the Solo Competition: Popping, Locking, B-Boy Solo Competition, and Showcase Battle Between Jay Park & AOM Against Red Bull All Star Team. Sunday features the B-Boy Crew Battles, Special Hip-Hop Performances by Tiger JK, Yoonmirae, and Sunzoo, and Special Performance by Oneum Chamber Orchestra Collaboration with B-Boys.

Yes, you read that right – a 40-piece orchestra backing up the B-boy action. Just like this YouTube video, but better.

Tickets 20,000-50,000 won – Go for the standing-room (20,000 won) if you like the crowd energy, or the 50,000 won seats for the front-row action. Look for more information on the Facebook event page or the official event website,

*** We now return you to what’s happening the rest of the month ***

July 1 – July 3 (8pm): Home Soil Theatre presents “I am the Pilot in Command“. From the release sent my way:

An experimental dance theatre performance directed and devised by Susan Pfeffer in collaboration with Home Soil Theatre and DJ J-Path. In aircraft lingo, the one who is ultimately responsible for a flight’s operation and safety is called “Pilot in Command.” Of course, we’re each the pilot of our own lives– but are we really “in command”?

Club After in Itaewon, 15,000 won gets you in and a free drink, For reservations, e-mail homesoiltheatre AT gmail.com. More information at homesoiltheatre.com.

June 18-July 11: The Daegu Interational Musical Festival - expect plenty of music and drama, 24 musicals performed, and the downtown of Daegu lit up with stars (though they may be of the fluorescent variety). For more information, check out the slightly odd official English website.

July 5-Sept 6: Danoje festival – Gangneung, Gangwon-do. Historically a traditional Korean holiday, consider this a chance to celebrate a holiday that doesn’t get you a day off work.  Designated an Intangible Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO in 2005, this is a great chance to take in Korea’s shamans and their culture. Learn more at Visit Korea.

July 7-10: You may as well call it the hot women show – the Seoul Auto Salon comes to COEX, complete with the other photogenic bodies worth taking a look at. Plenty of car tech and other stuff related to the automotive world. Learn more at http://www.seoulautosalon.com.

July 8-9: Watch out for beer flying out noses – the stand-up expat comedy tour rolls into Roofers. Jodi Miller (USA), Ian Edwards (USA), Dharmander Singh (UK), and Rick Shapiro (USA) will headline the event, and Roofers will provide the BBQ. Very limited seating – reservations highly recommended. Check out this korea4expats page for more.

July 9-10: WhiteLies Burlesque Revue presents the Roaring 20′s: A Night at the Speakeasy! If you haven’t seen one of the burlesque shows yet, check out this post – if you’ve been, you know how much fun it is. Oh yeah, and I’ll be part of the show, swing dancing with one of the prettiest ladies there. Doors open at 10pm, show starts around 11pm, Club After in Itaewon. The Facebook event page has more – go now.

July 9 – Sept. 18 – the historic return of valuable paper – specifically, the State Rites of Joseon Dynasty, stolen by France in the 19th century. Head up to the National Museum of Korea (in Seoul) for a free chance to see the artifacts. Learn more at museum.go.kr.

July 10: KOLEED (Korean Legal Education Initiative) presents a free afternoon seminar on the Korean Labor Law. Teachers, learn about what the law is so you don’t get screwed over; businesspeople, learn what the laws are so you’re not the one screwing someone else over. Seminar starts at 2pm, but arrive at 1pm for a pre-course Q&A. More information at the Facebook event page.

July 13 (8pm): The Camarata Music Company Chamber Singers concert – say that three times fast. Seoul Arts Center, near the Nambu Bus Terminal. Check out camaratamusic.com for more information.

July 14-24 – spell it Puchon, Puchun, Buchun, or Bucheon – either way, the 15th annual Puchon International Fantastic Film Festival (PiFan) promises plenty of movies. “International” events usually mean there’s a token effort to include some waygooks, but in this case there really are people arriving from overseas solely for this event. Learn more at pifan.com/eng/index.asp.

July 16 – 24: The Boryeong Mud Festival - easily the biggest draw of the area, and the most well-known by expats. While it sometimes comes across like a Cancun spring break, it’s definitely different from most Korean festivals. Go with a group to have the most fun. I went two years ago and three years ago, and might make it again this year.

July 21-24: The Lotus Festival in Buyeo – a pretty area and some pretty flowers make a great sober alternative to the Mud Festival. Like most Korean festivals focused around a singular element, there are plenty of ways to see them, make (paper) lotus flowers, and so on. Learn more about the festival at http://www.buyeotour.net/.

July 28 – 31: Pohang International Fireworks Festival – if you like things that go BOOM, the Hyeongsangang River Sports Park and Bukbu Beach in Pohang will have plenty of BOOM for you. A fireworks contest, a parade, a fashion show, and live concerts are all around, although the English-language website dates back to 2008.

July 29-31: Jisan Valley Rock Festival – one of Korea’s better opportunities to let loose and enjoy some music you won’t hear live anywhere else on the peninsula. There are always those that complain there are no ‘big names’, but for most, The Chemical Brothers, the Arctic Monkeys, and Suede will be big enough. Besides, by the time they go on you’ll be half-drunk and half-deaf anyway, Learn more at valleyrockfestival.mnet.com.

July 30 – August 7: Gangjin Celadon Festival – considered one of the top 2 festivals in Korea by Visit Korea, and a pretty interactive festival to boot. It’s quite some distance from Seoul, so make it part of a weekend trip to the area. Last year was pretty fun.

© Chris Backe – 2011

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