Seoul Character & Licensing Fair 2012 Korea International Entertainment & Game Expo 2012

Seoul Character and Licensing Fair 2012
Korea International Entertainment and Game Expo 2012

Well another big weekend of events in Seoul!

I managed to visit 2 of the 3 events on at COEX this weekend namely the Korea International Entertainment and Gaming Expo and The Seoul Character and Licensing Fair 2012.

The Gaming Expo was a little bit underwhelming as I expected a lot more in terms of gaming machines people and overall energy and excitement but it was ok for a half an hour look around. There were a couple of dozen arcade type games to play but generally there was not much to look at or do there. Here is a few photos of what it looked like so you can get a better picture of what I mean.










Seoul Character and Licensing Fair 2012

This was HUGE! I didn't expect it to cover such a large area and have cues of families waiting for the event to open. There were literally hundreds of different characters to look at, purchase and watch. I don't know that much about Korean characters or cartoons so I spent some time just looking around at everything and taking some pictures. The cost for this event was I think 7 or 8,000 won but it was a well organized event. There was even a surprise appearance by some racing girls who were being photographed by racing girl paparazzi (who didn't seem interested in photographing anything of the fair...?).











Kim Ha Eum 김하음 (on the right) makes an appearance....!







Lastly the Hieneken Sensation KINTEX Seoul 2012 event was held on Saturday night 21 July 2012. An international dance party that attracted thousands of Koreans all dressed in white to spend 8 hours dancing and experiencing visually bizarre entertainment on the large water stage and DJ booth.

I was totally impressed at the sea of white that arrived at the event and true to Korean cultural conservatism there was minimal skin showing perhaps just bare arms and legs for the great majority of the party goers. This is generally in sharp contrast to foreign dance events like this where wearing the bare minimum is generally the norm.... if i could be so bold in saying so.

Everyone seemed to enjoy the show as I believe this is the first of its kind in Korea and I think the novelty of it all was enough to excite most of the audience. Definitely the biggest crowd I have ever seen at a dance event and definitely the most people wearing white I will likely ever see for the rest of my life :)



Here are a couple of videos of the event; one a walk through and the other some highlights and more walking :)





Well that's all for this week. I will be back next week with some more news but until then have a fun and fantastic time! :)

Seoul Auto Salon 2012 COEX South Korea 15 July 2012

Seoul Auto Salon 2012 
2012서울오토살롱
Seoul Auto Salon Auto Service 2012 SAAS

This weekend was the annual Seoul Auto Salon and Auto Service Exhibition at COEX. The event was on over a 4 day period from the 12th of July to the 15th.


Dare I say it?... Could the Auto Salon be better than the Motor Show?!


Well in my opinion it certainly had a different and unique style to the show. Differing from the Annual Motor Show which showcases the new models and concept cars of the major car manufacturing companies; the Auto Salon focus on aftermarket modification, something that I am familiar with. Taking factory standard vehicles and changing the suspension with air bags, repainting the body, adding larger wheels (mags), lights, stereo equipment and video screens as well as engine modification and a host of other additions the show focused on the car enthusiast.


There was a good crowd showing as always although not as many people as were in Busan for the International Motor Show this year (check the sidebar under "motor shows" for my post on the 2012 Busan show).


There was of course a large showing of photographers keen to capture the usual suspects of racing models that were accompanying the cars and products that were on show.


As per usual I had my camera at the ready and have some photos and video to share. However I am planning a larger video and have not had time to finish it so I will post it here when it is completed later and on next weeks post.... so stay tuned.


** UPDATE 20 JULY -- Here it is... in celebrations of my Youtube account having the privilege of being able to have video's longer than 15 minutes I bring you a 30 minute epic video of the racing models of the Seoul Auto Salon 2012!!! :)





The cars:























The Racing Models:
































This weekend from the 19th to the 22nd of July check out COEX again in Seoul for the International Entertainment and Game Expo 2012
http://www.k-game.co.kr/kr/index.htm

Well that's all for this week (and a little late in posting this entry too!) I had better get back to producing my epic Auto Salon video so I can share that with you soon!

Have a great week and see you again soon! I might see you at the Entertainment and Game Expo! :)

Cheongyecheon Aquatic Fashion Show Dongdaemun Seoul

Cheongyecheon Aquatic Fashion Show Dongdaemun Seoul South Korea.

from the 14th of April to the 6th of October 2012 on the first Saturday of each month Cheongyecheon will hold an outside fashion show on the river.

Each show features different fashion themes mixed with dance performances and starts at around 8pm.

Here is a Korean blog site about it:
http://blog.naver.com/fashionriver
And something from visit Seoul - http://m.visitseoul.net/en/m/article/article.do?_method=view&m=1003001003007&p=03&art_id=55828&menu=0003001006008&searchLoca=&searchMenu=&sdate=&edate=&searchDate=&page=4

So if you get a chance to mix a little food, clothes shopping and fashion show watching get out to Dongdaemun next month and watch the show. Right in the center of the main shopping street in Dongdaemun it will be hard to miss. Take exit 1 or 14 from Dongdaemun History and Culture Park Station line 2.

So Here are some pictures and a picture slideshow for your enjoyment :)

















Remember this weekend is SAAS Seoul Auto Salon and AutoService at COEX. See modified cars and racing models and performance parts all in the same weekend! :)

See you there!

Until then have a great week and see you next time for some extensive coverage of SAAS (Hope I have my home internet set up by next week :)   ! ! !

Seoul International Book Fair 2012

Seoul International Book Fair 2012

Last weekend the 22nd, 23rd and 24th of June saw the Seoul International Book Fair 2012 held at COEX in Seoul and Hosted by The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

The book fair had some great surprises for me as I expected just publishers and vendors selling books. What excited me was the book art and creative illustrators, bookmakers, paper and stationery that was all on display and for sale. There were also sections devoted to the history of Korean printed texts and a small museum of sorts showing old Korean novels, short stories and comics.

As I mentioned before the book fair was hosted by The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and they had a large exhibition space with a lounge where you could relax after a long walk around the venue an enjoy a book, perhaps even enjoy a free Koran which was being given out translated into Korean. There was also a wide variety of books on display from travel guides to mathematics as well as information about studying in Saudi Arabia.

The cost of entering the event was 3,000 won for an adult. However I have now discovered the benefit of my COEX card in that I can enter these events held at COEX for free which is quite good as I will be heading over there later this month for another exciting event.

Anyway Check out some of the photos and slideshow of the event:



















So this weekend I spent shifting my apartment... maybe next time I will show you the differences between the kinds of apartment you can expect when coming to Korea. I have had 4 apartments now and my latest is what the Koreans call an Officetel which is a great place to live in my opinion :)

This weeks attraction is R16 Korea which will be held at Platoon this year. For more information visit the link here:
http://www.r16korea.com/xe/

If you are curious about what the event and what its all about check out one of my older postings when I visited it a couple of years ago :)
http://rawrkorea.blogspot.kr/2010/07/r16-b-boy-korea-2010-success-after.html

Well until next week have a fantastic time and I hope to see you again next week! :)