2023 concert film NCT NATION : To the World in Cinemas in Pittsburgh-area theaters, December 6 and 10.

The 2023 concert film from Korean boyband NCT, NCT NATION : To the World in Cinemas, will play in Pittsburgh-area theaters on December 6 and 10.

"NCT NATION : To The World in Cinemas" marks the exciting start of NCT's journey to share their unique music and spectacular performances with the world, reaffirming their position as pioneers in the K-Pop genre. The brand-new concert film encompasses current NCT units - NCT U, NCT 127, NCT Dream, and WayV - creating an unparalleled collaborative spectacle in this must-see worldwide theatrical event. Captured from the Munhak Stadium in Incheon, Korea, and celebrating NCT's fourth full album release, 'Golden Age,' it's NCT's inaugural group show and the first film to capture the infinite charm of NCT NATION. Alongside the main concert, enjoy glimpses behind the scenes - it's all right here! Don’t miss this big-screen concert event with NCTzens across the globe!

It plays locally at the AMC Loews Waterfront and the Cinemark in Robinson, and tickets are available online.

2003 Park Chan-wook film Oldboy (올드보이) in Pittsburgh, November 24 - 30.

The 2003 Korean film Oldboy (올드보이) will play at the Row House Lawrenceville from November 24 through 30 as part of the "Masters of the Long Take" series.

In Park Chan-wook's brutal and lucid action masterpiece, a desperate businessman has no clue how he came to be imprisoned, drugged, and tortured for 15 years and seeks revenge on his captors.

Tickets are available online. The single-screen theater is located at 4115 Butler St. (map).

Korean singer BoyWithUke coming to Pittsburgh, April 27.

Korean singer BoyWithUke will perform in Pittsburgh on April 27 as part of his Lucid Dreams Tour. Ones To Watch summarized his sound in 2021:

While BoyWithUke’s music may drift toward popular indie and lo-fi sounds, incorporating his ukelele sets him apart from other artists heading down the same sonic path. In addition, his instrumental talent adds a fresh layer of artistry, blurring the line between acoustic and electronic beat sounds, often making you forget that one or the other is even there.

He will play at Stage AE and tickets for the 7:00 pm show are available online.

2019 documentary Geographies of Kinship at Pitt, November 10.

The 2019 documentary Geographies of Kinship will play at the University of Pittsburgh on November 10.

In honor of National Adoption Month, the Pitt Adoption Community for Education is screening Geographies of Kinship. The film follows four adult adoptees as they return to Korea, their country of birth, and recover the personal histories that were lost when they were adopted in the U.S. We'll have tea and cookies and open discussion after the film.

The Pitt Adoption Community for Education includes faculty from the English Department at the Oakland and Greensburg campuses.

It starts at 7:00 pm in 118E Mervis Hall (map).

Korean BBQ (코리안 바베큐) in Oakland eyes January opening.

The new all-you-can-eat Korean BBQ place coming soon to Oakland is eyeing a January opening, according to ownership. The new restaurant will be called Korean BBQ (코리안 바베큐), and it has recently put up new signage at its 414 Semple St. (map) storefront. The menu will consist of Korean-style self-grill meats, along with various Korean, Chinese, and Japanese dishes available for take-out.

Pitt's Korean Student Association hosts Michelle Zauner, October 28.

The University of Pittsburgh's Korean Student Association will host Michelle Zauner on October 28.

what’s that I hear??? 📣⁉️Michelle Zauner, lead vocalist of the band Japanese Breakfast & author of the book Crying in Hmart, is coming to Pitt campus?!?! 😱🙊😎

‼️join KSA on October 28 from 5-7 PM at the Cathedral of Learning Room G24 for a conversation with Michelle‼️ we will be discussing themes such as loss, cultural identity, familial bonds, Korean heritage, breaking out into the music industry as an Asian American artist, and the power of her dreamy, poignant, and unique music & writing to be a source of inspiration for many, whether you are of Asian descent or not 🌍

🗣️🗣️🗣️ pssst I heard she’s also doing book autograph signings towards the end of the event 🙊 feel free to bring a copy of her book, Crying in Hmart 🤭

The event is free but registration is encouraged as seating is limited.

English Korean Language Social Hour, November 1 at Pitt.

via @VisitSeoul 

The University of Pittsburgh's Asian Studies Center and the English Language Institute will present an Korean-English Language Social Hour on November 1.

A language and cultural exchange between Pitt language learners and international speakers..

The event runs from 12:00 to 1:00 pm in the Global Hub on the first floor of Posvar Hall, and is open to members of the Pitt community. Registration is required.

Moving closer to new Korean BBQ place in Oakland.

More signage is up at the all-you-can-eat Korean BBQ place under development in Oakland, this time featuring new photos of menu items and new blue lighting on the windows. The yet-unnamed restaurant will be in the spot formerly occupied by Korea Garden at 414 Semple St. (map). The menu advertises $27.99 for adults with over 30 types of meats; Korean dishes like bibimbap, jjajangmyeon, ramyeon, and bulgogi; Korean appetizers like mandu, japchae, and gaeranjim; and a selection of other Asian items like sichuan noodles, Chinese-style jajangmen, orange chicken, and fried rice.

Korea Garden closed in June in preparation for a new restaurant at Novo Asian Food Hall in the Strip District Terminal, which is set to open any week now according to social media posts today. Signage for this new BBQ place went up in September, after the building was bought by Jiyan An of Dormont in March.

Pittsburgh's Tous Les Jours now hiring.

A "Now Hiring" sign went up at the Tous Les Jours coming soon to East Liberty. The Korean bakery chain is opening its first Pittsburgh location in Eastside Bond Building C, across the street from Target (map). Those interested in employment opportunities should email TLJEastbond@gmail.com or phone 724-553-8223.

Signage first went up in June, though it will likely be a few more months before it's close to ready to open.  Tous Les Jours is the first of the big Korean bakery chains to announce a Pittsburgh spot (though it was followed about two months later by another one), and will complement Sumi's Cakery, which has been Pittsburgh's lone Korean bakery since it opened in 2012.  Tous Les Jours, says its US website, "has developed into a reputable neighborhood bakery specializing in French-Asian inspired baked goods, hand crafted beverages and bold, flavorful coffee and espresso made with the finest ingredients."
via @TousLesJoursUSA

2022 documentary Beyond Utopia, about families attempting to escape North Korea, in Pittsburgh October 23 and 24.

The 2022 documentary Beyond Utopia will play in Pittsburgh on October 23 and 24. A summary, from the Sundance Film Festival where the documentary made its premiere earlier this year:

A suspenseful look at the lengths people will go to gain freedom, Beyond Utopia follows various individuals as they attempt to flee North Korea, one of the most oppressive places on Earth, a land they grew up believing was a paradise. At the film’s core are a mother desperate to reunite with the child she was forced to leave behind, a family of five — including small children and an elderly grandmother — embarking on a treacherous journey across the Yalu River and into the hostile mountains of China, and a man of God on a mission to help these desperate souls. Leaving their homeland is fraught with danger — severe punishment if caught and possibly even execution — as well as potential exploitation by unscrupulous brokers. Family members who remain behind also may face retribution. Yet these individuals are driven to take the risk.

Gripping, visceral, and urgent, Madeleine Gavin’s film embeds the viewer with these family members as they attempt their perilous escape, palpably conveying life-or-death stakes. The result is a singular, illuminating, and unforgettable experience.

It plays locally at the AMC Loews Waterfront, the AMC Classic in Greensburg, and the Cinemark theaters in Monroeville and Robinson, and tickets are available online.

University of Pittsburgh hiring Teaching Professor of Korean Studies.

The University of Pittsburgh is hiring a Teaching Professor of Korean Studies (Open Rank) to support its new Korean major.  An excerpt from the job posting:

The Department of East Asian Languages and Literatures at the University of Pittsburgh invites applications for a Teaching Professor (of any rank) position in Korean culture and visual culture, pending budgetary approval. The successful candidate should possess a primary disciplinary training in Korean literature and culture and strong competence in film and media studies, performance studies, or a closely related discipline. A Ph.D. in Korean Studies or related field is required by the time of appointment. 

The appointment starts immediately. The teaching load is six courses per year. The appointee will teach current undergraduate courses, develop new courses in the area of their specialization, help develop a new Korean major, and participate in the department’s interdisciplinary MA program. The successful candidate must demonstrate strengths as a teacher at all levels. The candidate must have native or near-native user of Korean and English in all language skill areas. In addition, the new hire should be willing to take an active leadership role for a vigorous growth of the Korean program and to collaborate closely with the established Korean language program. Besides working closely with other Korea studies faculty, the individual hired for this position is expected to collaborate with Asianists in other units to promote Korea studies and visual studies. 

"We Learn" Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced Korean classes resume at Carnegie Library in Oakland, Saturdays from October 14.

via the Republic of Korea's Flickr page.

The Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh branch in Oakland will resume its free "We Learn" Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced Korean classes Saturdays from October 14. The beginner classes run from 12:45 to 1:30 pm in Classroom A of the Oakland (Main) branch; a summary:

In this beginner-level class, we will use the textbook published by the Korean government for foreigners who learn Korean as a secondary language.

To get the most out of the class, it is recommended that you have a basic understanding of how to read and write Korean characters, known as 'Hangul'. Throughout the course, you will have the opportunity to expand your vocabulary and gain a deeper understanding of how to effectively organize sentence structures.

The Intermediate classes start at 12:00 pm, and the Advanced class runs from 10:30 am to 12:00 pm:

In our advanced-level Korean class, we will delve into the official textbook sanctioned by the Korean government for non-native Korean learners. Prior to enrolling, we expect you to possess a foundational grasp of conversational Korean. Throughout this course, we will explore intricate aspects of Korean grammar and expand your vocabulary, enabling you to engage in more sophisticated oral and written communication based on the topics covered in each lesson.

Registration is required to participate and can be completed at the links above. The classes run six Saturdays in October and November: 14, 21, 28, November 4, 11, 18. The Oakland branch of the Carneige Library of Pittsburgh is located at 4400 Forbes Ave. (map), accessible by numerous city bus lines.

Work underway on Pittsburgh's first Paris Baguette.

In mid-August Pittsburgh's first Paris Baguette was announced for The Block Northway, and work is underway on the space it will occupy on the lower leven next to Blaze Pizza. The Block Northway is a shopping center on McKnight Road that emerged from the remnants of the old Northway Mall.
via @parisbaguetteus

Paris Baguette is a chain of Korean bakeries ubiquitous throughout South Korea that has over 150 locations across the United States. The menu boasts a wide variety of cakes, baked goods, sandwiches, juices, and coffees, in addition its eponymous French bread. It has several spots in Philadelphia already, and had a Youngstown location listed as "coming soon" though mention of it was removed from the website earlier this month. Paris Baguette's arrival is part of a boom in new Asian restaurants, particularly chain restaurants, making their way to Pittsburgh.

2022 Korean film Hail to Hell (지옥만세) in Pittsburgh October 6 as part of SCREENSHOT:Asia Film Festival.

The 2022 Korean film Hail to Hell (지옥만세) will play in Pittsburgh on October 6 as part of this year's SCREENSHOT: Asia Film Festival.

In this black comedy from Na Mi and Sun Woo, who have been suffering from bullying and school violence throughout their school days, attempt suicide while their classmates go on a school trip. After the silly yet ridiculous suicide failure, the two try to take revenge on Chae Rin, who bullied them most and now lives happily in Seoul. However, their plans go awry. Ridiculously, Chae Rin, the worst bully ever, has found religion and has turned into a genuinely good person. What should they do now?

The festival posts viewer warnings about violence, language, and suicidal ideation. The movie plays at 5:30 pm in the Harris Theater, in Pittsburgh's Cultural District (map), and tickets are available online. SCREENSHOT: Asia screenings are free to those with Pitt IDs, so those guests may show them at the door to gain entrance, space permitting.

University of Pittsburgh hiring Mellon Chair in Korean Studies.

The Department of East Asian Languages & Literatures at the University of Pittsburgh is hiring a Mellon Chair in Korean Studies. An excerpt from the job ad:

The Department of East Asian Languages and Literatures at the University of Pittsburgh invites applications from nationally prominent scholars to fill the A. W. Mellon Endowed Chair at the tenured Associate Professor or Professor level in Korean Studies, with the appointment to begin in the 2024-2025 academic year, pending budgetary approval. In filling this chair, the Department seeks candidates with extraordinary credentials in research, teaching, and program development.    

We welcome candidates from any subfield and are particularly interested in scholars who will contribute to expanding our research and teaching in Korean Studies.  The new colleague will be instrumental in building our new Korean major within the context of our established strengths in East Asian Literature, Performing Arts, and Film and Media Studies.  We are looking for a dynamic colleague with expertise in one or more of the following areas: traditional Korean literature and performing arts and their significance in contemporary culture; Korean culture in East Asian contexts; gender and sexuality studies in traditional through contemporary Korean humanities; Korean music and global culture; Korean identities and diasporic communities; pop culture and intercultural communication; and visual studies, particularly in connection to traditional arts or new media.  The successful candidate will develop long-term cross-disciplinary research and teaching initiatives with colleagues at the University and other institutions and will have native or near-native ability in Korean and English in all skill areas. 

Shadyside's Nakwon Garden reopening today.

Photo from September 13.

Nakwon Garden, a Korean restaurant in Shadyside, will reopen today, September 27 according to ownership. The hours are 12:00 to 10:00 pm, Monday through Saturday, with reservations preferred. Nakwon Garden is located at 5504 Centre Ave. (map).

Handwritten "Open Soon" signage went up on its door in August, and a fresh coat of paint went up earlier this month. The restaurant closed on January 1 and hinted at reopening in the future.

Korea-based travelling music family TENGGER in Pittsburgh, October 4.

The three-piece travelling music family band Tengger will play in Pittsburgh on October 4 as part of their North American tour. Their official site describes their sound thus:

텐거/天郷
TENGGER is a traveling musical family, made up of Pan-Asian couple, itta and Marqido, who create their brand of psychedelic New-Age drone magic through the use of harmonium, voice, and toy instruments (played by itta) and analogue synths (played by Marqido). The duo originally started out with the moniker “10” but since the birth of their son RAAI (who joins them on tour and often on stage) in 2012, have called themselves TENGGER (meaning ‘unlimited expanse of sky’ in Mongolian) to mark the expansion of the family. It also means ‘huge sea’ in Hungarian. Travel, as spiritual experience in real environments, and the sound between the space and the audience have been central themes of their works. The family’s yearly pilgrimages inform every aspect of their art.

They will play at the First Unitarian Church of Pittsburgh in Shadyside (map), from 7:30 to 9:30 pm.

2023 SCREENSHOT: Asia film festival, with selections from China, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Philippines, Taiwan, around Pittsburgh October 4 - 8.

The 2023 SCREENSHOT: Asia film festival will run from October 4 through 8 at several theaters in Pittsburgh and will include movies from China, Japan, Korean, and Taiwan in its lineup. 

• Coo Coo 043 ( 一家子兒咕咕叫 / Taiwan) - October 8, 3:30 pm, Frick Fine Arts Building
• Hail to Hell (지옥만세 / Korea) - October 6, 6:00 pm, Harris Theater
• In My Mother's Skin (Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan) - October 5, 8:00 pm, Harris Theater
• Plan 75 (Japan) - October 7, 5:30 pm, Harris Theater (includes Director Q&A)
• Return to Dust (隐入尘烟 / China) - TBD
• Tiger Stripes (Malaysia) - October 8, 7:00 pm, Alumni Hall Room 323 (includes Director Q&A)

The movies will play at the Harris Theater in downtown's Cultural District and in spots around the University of Pittsburgh campus. 

IU Concert: The Golden Hour in Pittsburgh, September 28 and 30.

The acclaimed concert film IU Concert: The Golden Hour will play in Pittsburgh on September 28 and 30.

Celebrating the 15th anniversary of the artist’s debut, IU CONCERT : The Golden Hour comes to the big screen in this special Cinematic Cut. Experience IU’s first ever global cinema release, as the first Korean female singer to perform at the iconic Olympic Main Stadium in Seoul, the largest stadium in South Korea and the dream venue for music artists. Starting with a thrilling acap lla opening, the setlist is filled with beloved songs from across IU’s career. From the floating strawberry moon balloon, to fireworks and a stunning drone show, the enchanting stage production is a must-see in cinemas. Embrace the happiness of the unforgettable 'Golden Hour' through IU’s legendary performances and a fully-charged live show. In September 2023, join Uaena all over the world to enjoy this heartwarming experience together in cinemas!

Wikipedia also has a lengthy page on it. It plays locally at the AMC Loews Waterfront and the Cinemark in Robinson, and tickets are available online.

Eric Nam performing in Pittsburgh, October 6.

Korean-American singer Eric Nam will perform in Pittsburgh on October 6, as part of his "House on the Hill" tour.

Named GQ Korea’s Man of the Year and Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia, the multifaceted musician, actor and television personality Eric Nam is one of the most successful Korean-American figures of recent times, having built what GQ calls “one of the most varied and entrepreneurial legacies in the K-Pop scene.” With 2.5M+ monthly listeners and 5M+ followers on Instagram, Eric has amassed over 1B streams on Spotify and most recently headlined a sold-out world tour playing 59 headline shows across 54 cities including Los Angeles, New York, Paris, London and Melbourne. In addition to music, Eric is a co-founder and creative director at DIVE Studios, the world’s leading AAPI and K-pop focused media company with multiple award-winning podcasts, and Mindset, a mental health and wellness platform for Gen Z audiences. Eric will soon make his acting debut as the lead in the psychological thriller Transplant.

He last performed in Pittsburgh in February 2022. This time he's at the Roxian Theatre in McKees Rocks (map) at 7:00 pm, and tickets are available onilne.