EXHIBITION Nature + Accident = Image Korean Cultural Service New York Opening reception: Tuesday, November 29th, 6:00 - 8:00pm Tuesday, November 29th - December 23rd Korean Cultural Service New York 460 Park Ave at 57th Street New York City www.koreanculture.org Seven leading Korean painters, Seok-cheol Ji, Won-jang Jin, Tae-seok Ju, Il-hae Kim, Kang-yong Kim, Myung-sik Kim, and Suk-ju Lee, will present their recent works. These painters interrogate reality and representations of reality. The varied works include abstract, expressionist, realist, and hyper-realist styles.

SCREENING AND DISCUSSION A Bittersweet Life Korean Cultural Service New York Wednesday, November 30th, 6:30pm Korean Cultural Service New York 460 Park Ave at 57th Street New York City Official Site | www.koreanculture.org A Bittersweet Life (Dalkomhan insaeng) (2005) South Korea, Korean with English subtitles, color, 120min Directed by Kim Jee-woon Starring Lee Byung-hun, Shin Min-a, Kim Young-chul, Whang Jung-min, and Kim Roi-ha Assigned to guard the headstrong young girlfriend of his crime syndicate boss, normally cold-blooded enforcer Seon-woo lets his guard slip for an instant - and pays an horrific penalty. Made by acclaimed writer-director Kim Jee-woon (The Quiet Family, and the popular 2003 movie, A Tale of Two Sisters - click here for Koreanxchange's review of A Tale of Two Sisters), this raises the bar for onscreen violence and mayhem, its dream-like tone giving way to pure ballistic bedlam, as Seon-woo - bloodied, but by no means beaten - returns to seek revenge against his former master. With its hard-bitten visual style, all rain and shadowy angles, and immaculate production values, this brutal masterpiece will have genre fans nailed to their seats. Guest speaker Ms. Hyun-Ock Im will give a brief introduction to the film and lead a discussion session afterwards. "This year's hottest Korean title: 'a tour de force of noir-ish style and Korean ultra-violence" - Variety.

EXHIBITION Eat Art 8 The Asian American Women Artists Alliance (AAWAA) Sunday, December 4th 11:00am - 6:00pm: Exhibition open for public viewing 3:30 - 4:00pm: A Musical performance by Feng Ke and kemaxiu 4:00pm: Sale and Consumption of artwork $5 in advance, $10 at the door AAWAA Gallery / Alternative Space 136 15th Street Brooklyn, New York www.aawaa.org The eighth annual one-day, cross-cultural event of artwork made from food materials. "Eat Art" incorporates the spirit of performance and audience participation of the Fine Art’s “Happening?wherethe artistic and the sensual combine to intensify the artistic experience through sight, smell and taste. Past "Eat Art" events have resulted in many sales, and artists have been invited to participate in other gallery exhibits. "Eat Art 8" will present 20 - 25 artists. The Asian American Women Artists Alliance (AAWAA) has enabled emerging women artists, especially those of Asian descent, to create art and present their works to the diverse communities around New York City. Asian American Women Artists Alliance creates a welcoming environment where these artists can meet; exchange art resources and information; and exhibit their work. Through group exhibitions, AAWAA cultivates and brings together a broad range of artwork from diverse and multicultural constituents.

AWARDS CEREMONY AND RECEPTION The Eighth Annual Asian American Literary Awards Ceremony The Asian American Writers' Workshop and The Asia Society Monday, December 5th, 7:00 - 9:00pm $10 General admission, $7 Members, free for students with ID Asia Society and Museum 725 Park Avenue between 70th and 71st Street New York City www.aaww.org | www.asiasociety.org | www.pw.org The Asian American Writers' Workshop, in association with Asia Society, honors this year's winners and the announcement of the Members' Choice Workshop Award winner. Ceremony, booksigning and reception. A book signing and reception follow. Join AAWW in celebrating the best Asian American literature published in 2004. This event was funded in part by Poets & Writers, Inc. through public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs. Featuring: Brian Leung - World Famous Love Acts (Sarabande Books) Fiction - presented by Susan Choi Suketu Mehta - Maximum City: Bombay Lost and Found (Alfred Knopf) Nonfiction - presented by Amitava Kumar Srikanth Reddy - "Facts for Visitors" (Univ of California Press) Poetry - presented by Vijay Seshadri

COMMUNITY SERVICE Bear U.S.A. Jacket Giveaway Korean American Community Foundation (KACF) and the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) Wednesday, December 7th, 4:00 - 6:00pm Volunteer Time: 3:30 pm - 6:30 pm Lehman Community Center 1589 Madison Avenue at 107th Street New York City www.kacfny.org | jayne@kacfny.org In 1992, the Korean American Hong family, consisting of three brothers and their parents, lost their sneaker store and livelihood in Harlem during the "Crown Heights Riots." After local media's coverage of their loss, the citizens and City of New York rallied to the aid of the Hong family, which included an anonymous donor who sent the family a check for $25,000 presented to the family by The City of New York (through then - Mayor David N. Dinkins). With this outpouring of help, the Hong family re-established its business and entered the world of clothing manufacturing and launched Bear U.S.A., Inc. Today, Bear is an international brand of clothing sold the world over, popular for its identification with a hip, (New York) image. The Hong family and Bear U.S.A. would like to give back to The City of New York and has asked KACF to help execute a program to make possible their wish of supporting children's reading and computer literacy in NYC with NYCHA. On November 28th, a press conference was held to kick off a donation of 2,000 down jackets by Bear U.S.A., Inc. to New York City children. This donation has been organized in collaboration with the Korean American Community Foundation (KACF) and the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA). The event featured former Mayor David N. Dinkins, and jackets were presented to approximately 20 - 40 children. The remaining 1,950+ jackets will be given away on December 7th, to children who take part in NYCHA's Partners in Reading literacy program. Of course, here is where KACAF needs your assistance. KACF needs at least 10 volunteers to help the Bear U.S.A. staff in distributing the jackets, 1 jacket per household. If you are interested in volunteering for this event, please contact jayne@kacfny.org.

MOVIE RELEASE Memoirs of a Geisha Friday, December 9th (New York), December 16th (limited), December 23rd (wide) All over New York City Official Site Memoirs of a Geisha (2005) USA, English, color Directed by Rob Marshall Starring Ziyi Zhang, Ken Watanabe, Michelle Yeoh, and Gong Li Based on the internationally acclaimed novel by Arthur Golden, Memoirs of a Geisha is a sweeping romantic epic set in a mysterious and exotic world that still casts a potent spell today. The story begins in the years before WWII when a penniless Japanese child is torn from her family to work as a maid in a geisha house. Despite a treacherous rival who nearly breaks her spirit, the girl blossoms into the legendary geisha Sayuri (Ziyi Zhang). Beautiful and accomplished, Sayuri captivates the most powerful men of her day, but is haunted by her secret love for the one man who is out of her reach (Ken Watanabe).

HOLIDAY PARTY AWIB Holiday Party Asian Women in Business (AWIB) Wednesday, December 14th, 6:00 - 9:00pm 12 West 18th Street #3E between 5th and 6th Avenue New York City AWIB Members: $20, Non-Members: $40, $45 at the door (members and non-members) www.awib.org Send off 2005 with old and new friends at the tenth annual AWIB holiday bash. A spirited evening of great food, networking, and not to mention raffle prizes, will make for a festive atmosphere, as we celebrate at a loft in the Flatiron District. RSVP with payment required by Monday, December 12. For more information or to register, call 212) 868 - 1368 or email info@awib.org.

Message from the filmmaker: Dear Friends, Grace Lees, and Friends of Grace Lee(s), I'm writing to ask you to save the dates (December 14th - 27th) and urge you and everyone you know in the New York area to come out and support the film. I guarantee that you will be entertained, that you will get a fresh take on an identity crisis, and you will meet characters you have never seen before. And they all share my incredibly common Asian American name: Grace Lee. Finally, if you know any Grace Lees who will be in the New York area, please let them know that they're invited to our opening and to get in touch with me at grace@gracelee.net. Best wishes, Grace Lee

FILM RELEASE The Grace Lee Project Wednesday, December 14th - 27th 1:15, 3:15, 6:00, 8:00, and 10:00pm Film Forum 209 West Houston Street at 6th Avenue New York City www.gracelee.net | Film Forum The Grace Lee Project (2005) USA, Documentary, 68min Directed by Grace Lee When Korean American filmmaker Grace Lee was growing up in Missouri, she was the only Grace Lee she knew. Once she left the Midwest however, everyone she met seemed to know "another Grace Lee." But why did they assume that all Grace Lees were reserved, dutiful, piano-playing overachievers? The filmmaker plunges into a funny, highly unscientific investigation into all those Grace Lees who break the mold -- from a fiery social activist to a rebel who tried to burn down her high school. With wit and charm, The Grace Lee Project puts a hilarious spin on the eternal question, "What's in a name?". Order tickets online beginning December 7th.

DISCUSSION Voices Program: The History of Korea The Korea Society Monday December 12th, 6:00pm: Registration, 6:30pm: Presentation The Korea Society 950 Third Avenue, Eighth Floor at 57th Street New York City www.koreasociety.org | dorothy.ny@koreasociety.org The history of Korea has often been misunderstood and misrepresented. Given the recent international focus on the Korean Peninsula and the impact of North-South relations on the stability of Northeast Asia, it has become more critical to provide a comprehensive review of Korea's history to a wider audience. In The History of Korea, author Djun Kil Kim offers a concise, general introduction to Korea's history: from its neolithic roots through the development of Korea's national tradition to the presidency of Kim Dae-jung. The book also covers Korea in modern times and discusses topics that range from Korean identity within East Asia to the political division Korea suffered in the 20th century. Despite touching on Japanese domination and a national division, Kim takes a universal approach in examining Korean history, offering a perspective that represents Korea, not as subservient to its two powerful neighbors, Japan and China, but rather as an independent player determining its own destiny. Djun Kil Kim is currently teaching and conducting research at Myongji University. Kim became a visiting fellow at the Sejong Institute in 1999 and taught at the Yonsei Graduate School of International Studies. He has lectured at Chongju University as a visiting professor of the Korea Science Foundation. During the 2003-2004 academic year he was invited to Brigham Young University as a visiting professor for a Korean studies cultural exchange program, where he wrote The History of Korea. Prior to beginning his academic career in 1999, Kim served in the Korean government for more than two decades, focusing on the media and cultural affairs sectors as well as international public diplomacy. He was director of the Korean Cultural Center in New York from 1990 to 1993. Previously, Kim worked as a Seoul-based journalist for several of Korea’s major daily newspapers. He holds both B.A. and M.A. degrees in sociology from Seoul National University.

PERFORMANCE composer=performer: plugged & unplugged Tuesday, December 15th, 7:30pm Symphony Space Leonard Nimoy Thalia 2537 Broadway at 95th Street New York City Tickets: $21; Members/Students/Seniors $16 www.beatamoon.com | www.symphonyspace.org A program of electric and acoustic works performed by the composers themselves, featuring Derek Bermel, Valerie Coleman, Beata Moon. Korean-American composer, performer, educator Beata Moon was born in North Dakota and raised in Indiana where she began studying piano at age five. She made her orchestral debut with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra at age eight, and concertized throughout the Midwest, giving recitals and appearing with various orchestras in the region. Moon's music has been described as an "irrepressible outpouring" and "music of irreducible images". Her first CD (Perigee & Apogee) of original piano and chamber works on the Albany Records label was well-received by press and public alike and continues to be broadcast on radio stations across the nation. Moon's works were featured in Instrumental Women, a nationwide radio program from Minnesota Public Radio.

INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITIES AALDEF Spring Internships 2006 - Undergraduate, Graduate, and Law School Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund Application Information | jweng@aaldef.org The Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund (AALDEF), founded in 1974, protects and promotes the civil rights of Asian Americans through litigation, advocacy, and community education. Interns are supervised by staff in specific program areas. Legal interns work primarily on legal research and writing, legal and policy advocacy, community outreach and education, and client intakes. Undergraduate interns work on policy advocacy, community outreach and organizing, and some client intakes. Graduate interns work on policy advocacy, research methodology, statistical analysis, and GIS mapping. Each program area differs in emphasis. These internships are not paid positions, but academic credit can be arranged. Interns work anywhere between 8 to 25 hours per week. The internship usually commences with the start of classes or late January/early February through late April / early May. Spring internships are available for the following: Anti-Trafficking Project Community Health Care Initiative Economic Justice for Workers Educational Equity and Youth Rights Immigrant Access to Justice Korean Workers Project Participatory Planning and Community Based Research South Asian Workers Project Voting Rights

INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITY The Washington Center Internships The Washington Center for Internships and Academic Seminars (TWC) Regular Deadline for Spring Quarter 2006: January 17th, 2006 Kevin Wang: kevinw@twc.edu The Washington Center for Internships and Academic Seminars (TWC) is an educational nonprofit organization serving hundreds of colleges and universities in the U.S. and other countries by providing selected students challenging opportunities to work and learn in Washington, D.C. for academic credit. The Washington Center provides diverse, highly motivated interns to thousands of organizations in government, business and the non-profit sector. They contribute significantly to their placements and often prove to be of longer-term interest as prospective employees. Students are assigned, according to their interests, to one of eleven thematically organized programs or to our Postgraduate Professional Development Program, specially designed for recent graduates or graduate students. Each program has one or more professional program advisors who counsel, place, supervise and help evaluate students, as well as organize activities for them during the day or half-day when students are not at their internships. The Washington Center typically offers twenty-five to thirty-five courses each semester. Led by well-qualified faculty who are dedicated teachers, classes are grounded in traditional disciplines, yet taught within the context of the wide array of resources available in Washington, D.C. Classes meet one evening a week and are taught in a seminar style. Every Washington Center intern takes advantage of these exciting opportunities through a structured set of activities known as The Washington Forum.