Korean singer Wheesung will perform a mini K-pop concert in Abu Dhabi. Courtesy Korea Festival
Korean singer Wheesung will perform a mini K-pop concert in Abu Dhabi. Courtesy Korea Festival
Korean singer Wheesung will perform a mini K-pop concert in Abu Dhabi. Courtesy Korea Festival
Korean singer Wheesung will perform a mini K-pop concert in Abu Dhabi. Courtesy Korea Festival

Your guide to the UAE Korea Festival 2018: K-pop, art, food and more


Evelyn Lau
  • English
  • Arabic

Need to know

When: October 17 until November 10

Cost: Entry is free but some events require prior registration

Where: Various locations including National Theatre (Abu Dhabi), Abu Dhabi Cultural Center, Zayed University Promenade, Beach Rotana (Abu Dhabi), Vox Cinemas at Yas Mall, Sharjah Youth Center

What: The Korea Festival will feature art exhibitions, a B-boy dance show, a mini K-pop concert, traditional dance and music performances, food tastings, a beauty seminar, and more.

For more information: www.koreafestivaluae.com

The Korea Festival is back for another year. The free event is a chance to experience and learn more about Korean culture. This year, various programmes are scheduled until early November concluding with the return of Korean Film Festival. Also, as part of the Year of Zayed, there will be a special art exhibition and light show dedicated to him.

What's happening during this year's Korea Festival

Here are some of the highlights from the schedule:

Remembrance of Zayed, Lights in Consonance

This event will kick off the festival at 7pm on October 17 at the National Theatre in Abu Dhabi. The media art show celebrates the Year of Zayed by commemorating the story of Sheikh Zayed and showcasing the friendship between the UAE and Korea. The show will also feature images from both countries, including of famous landmarks the Grand Mosque and Namdaemun.

Korea-Arab Friendship Caravan

Also happening at the National Theatre on October 17 at 7pm, this event will feature activity booths and traditional Korean music and dance by the Jindo National Gugak Center. They will be coming with a repertoire that includes four performances representing different regions of Korea. The highlight of the show will be the folk dance Salpuri (which translates to 'wash away evil spirits'). There will also be a B-boy show by Expression Crew, which focuses on hip-hop inspired dance.

Traditional music by the Namwon Korean Music Orchestra

The Namwon Orchestra will bring performances of music and dance to the National Theatre on October 24 at 7pm. There will be six performances presented that celebrate the Year of Zayed. The performance 'Reign of Peace' will be aimed specifically at wishing prosperity for the royal families and for peaceful reign in the country. The festival attitude will be heightened with the performance 'Festival for Sogo (small drum)' which combines music and dance in a rapid pace.

Mini K-pop concert by Wheesung

The South Korean singer will also be performing after the orchestra on the night of October 24. The artist nicknamed the "R&B prince" broke onto the music scene as a backup dancer before transitioning to boy bands. However, it wasn't until he went solo that he found success with his first solo album Like A Movie in 2002, following that up with a successful second album It's Real. The 36-year-old is known for hits such as Heart Sore Story, Love is Dangerous and Insomnia.

The Korea Happiness Festival 2018

The three-day event will be held from November 1 to 3. The festival will be hosted at the Beach Rotana in Abu Dhabi and feature around 40 participants from well-known Korean medical institutes and cultural organisations. There will also be K-beauty stands as well as cultural activities such as glass portrait painting, traditional music, a Korean food cooking class, a Korean traditional craft workshop as well as a Kids Zone.

The Korean Film Festival 2018 along with Arab Cinema

The film festival will take place at Vox Cinemas in Yas Mall starting on November 7 to 10, featuring a mix of Korean and Arab films. The film schedule includes the 2017 Korean smash hit Along with the Gods: The Two Worlds, Palestinian drama Wajib by Annmarie Jacir, the 2018 Korean drama Little Forest, and Emirati documentary Honey, Rain & Dust. Click here to see the full schedule.

Click to watch the trailer for Along with the Gods: The Two Worlds:

Year of Zayed UAE-Korean art exhibition

The exhibition will take place at the Abu Dhabi Cultural Centre and celebrates the founder of the UAE. Through varied mediums and styles, 10 artists from Korea and the UAE will unveil various artworks dedicated to Sheikh Zayed. The event will run from October 17 until November 14.

Father Zayed 1 by Ahn Moha. Courtesy Korea Festival
Father Zayed 1 by Ahn Moha. Courtesy Korea Festival

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Read more:

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WATCH: Why do people in the UAE love K-Pop so much?

Will BTS be the most successful k-pop band ever?

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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Sun jukebox

Rufus Thomas, Bear Cat (The Answer to Hound Dog) (1953)

This rip-off of Leiber/Stoller’s early rock stomper brought a lawsuit against Phillips and necessitated Presley’s premature sale to RCA.

Elvis Presley, Mystery Train (1955)

The B-side of Presley’s final single for Sun bops with a drummer-less groove.

Johnny Cash and the Tennessee Two, Folsom Prison Blues (1955)

Originally recorded for Sun, Cash’s signature tune was performed for inmates of the titular prison 13 years later.

Carl Perkins, Blue Suede Shoes (1956)

Within a month of Sun’s February release Elvis had his version out on RCA.

Roy Orbison, Ooby Dooby (1956)

An essential piece of irreverent juvenilia from Orbison.

Jerry Lee Lewis, Great Balls of Fire (1957)

Lee’s trademark anthem is one of the era’s best-remembered – and best-selling – songs.

How to donate

Send “thenational” to the following numbers or call the hotline on: 0502955999
2289 – Dh10
2252 – Dh 50
6025 – Dh20
6027 – Dh 100
6026 – Dh 200

In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe

Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010

Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille

Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm

Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year

Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”

Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners

TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013 

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GAC GS8 Specs

Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo

Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm

Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm

Transmission: 8-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km

On sale: Now

Price: From Dh149,900

The specs
 
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
The specs
  • Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
  • Power: 640hp
  • Torque: 760nm
  • On sale: 2026
  • Price: Not announced yet
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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The Rub of Time: Bellow, Nabokov, Hitchens, Travolta, Trump and Other Pieces 1986-2016
Martin Amis,
Jonathan Cape

ONCE UPON A TIME IN GAZA

Starring: Nader Abd Alhay, Majd Eid, Ramzi Maqdisi

Directors: Tarzan and Arab Nasser

Rating: 4.5/5

The biog

Name: Mariam Ketait

Emirate: Dubai

Hobbies: I enjoy travelling, experiencing new things, painting, reading, flying, and the French language

Favourite quote: "Be the change you wish to see" - unknown

Favourite activity: Connecting with different cultures

Fund-raising tips for start-ups

Develop an innovative business concept

Have the ability to differentiate yourself from competitors

Put in place a business continuity plan after Covid-19

Prepare for the worst-case scenario (further lockdowns, long wait for a vaccine, etc.) 

Have enough cash to stay afloat for the next 12 to 18 months

Be creative and innovative to reduce expenses

Be prepared to use Covid-19 as an opportunity for your business

* Tips from Jassim Al Marzooqi and Walid Hanna

Recent winners

2002 Giselle Khoury (Colombia)

2004 Nathalie Nasralla (France)

2005 Catherine Abboud (Oceania)

2007 Grace Bijjani  (Mexico)

2008 Carina El-Keddissi (Brazil)

2009 Sara Mansour (Brazil)

2010 Daniella Rahme (Australia)

2011 Maria Farah (Canada)

2012 Cynthia Moukarzel (Kuwait)

2013 Layla Yarak (Australia)              

2014 Lia Saad  (UAE)

2015 Cynthia Farah (Australia)

2016 Yosmely Massaad (Venezuela)

2017 Dima Safi (Ivory Coast)

2018 Rachel Younan (Australia)

Five expert hiking tips
    Always check the weather forecast before setting off Make sure you have plenty of water Set off early to avoid sudden weather changes in the afternoon Wear appropriate clothing and footwear Take your litter home with you
COMPANY PROFILE

Name: Qyubic
Started: October 2023
Founder: Namrata Raina
Based: Dubai
Sector: E-commerce
Current number of staff: 10
Investment stage: Pre-seed
Initial investment: Undisclosed 

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UAE jiu-jitsu squad

Men: Hamad Nawad and Khalid Al Balushi (56kg), Omar Al Fadhli and Saeed Al Mazroui (62kg), Taleb Al Kirbi and Humaid Al Kaabi (69kg), Mohammed Al Qubaisi and Saud Al Hammadi (70kg), Khalfan Belhol and Mohammad Haitham Radhi (85kg), Faisal Al Ketbi and Zayed Al Kaabi (94kg)

Women: Wadima Al Yafei and Mahra Al Hanaei (49kg), Bashayer Al Matrooshi and Hessa Al Shamsi (62kg)

Need to know

When: October 17 until November 10

Cost: Entry is free but some events require prior registration

Where: Various locations including National Theatre (Abu Dhabi), Abu Dhabi Cultural Center, Zayed University Promenade, Beach Rotana (Abu Dhabi), Vox Cinemas at Yas Mall, Sharjah Youth Center

What: The Korea Festival will feature art exhibitions, a B-boy dance show, a mini K-pop concert, traditional dance and music performances, food tastings, a beauty seminar, and more.

For more information: www.koreafestivaluae.com