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Teddy Bears for the Kid in You

A teddy bear wearing a traditional Korean costume

By Cathy Rose A. Garcia
Staff Reporter

Teddy bears and dolls are no longer just for kids. Gone are the days when a teddy bear just meant a brown stuffed toy and a doll was just a rag doll.

These days, many people are collecting exquisite teddy bears and hand-made dolls. With a high level of craftsmanship and expensive materials used for each bear and doll, these toys are definitely not meant for kids.

Beautifully made teddy bears and hand-crafted bisque dolls will be on display at the first Teddy Bear, Bisque Doll and Dollhouse (TBD) show which opens Wednesday (Dec. 13) at the Insadong Kyongin Museum in Insa-dong, Seoul. It runs through Dec. 19.

Park Mee-jin, president of the Korea Teddy Bear Artist Association, said this is the first time an exhibition combining one-of-a-kind teddy bears, bisque dolls and dollhouses has been shown in Korea. The exhibit is organized also in cooperation with the Korea Bisque Doll Association and Korea Dollhouse Association.

Park said the show would feature about 200 bisque dolls, teddy bears and dollhouses, which have been crafted by Korean artists. All of the items will be auctioned off and the proceeds will be donated to a charity.

These are not the usual cuddly bears or dolls that children can play with. Bisque dolls, which have heads made of porcelain, are the most expensive and elaborate of collectors' dolls. Doll houses are elaborated decorated and highly detailed.

The show also features a competition for the best mini-bear, dressed bear, natural bear, best reproduction of a bisque doll, modern reproduction doll and original doll. There is also a category for best dollhouse.

Park said they are planning to make the TBD Show an annual event. For more information, visit www.tbdshow.co.kr.

Now, if you're looking for teddy bears that you can actually hug and play with, then you should head over to the COEX Convention Hall for the "Teddy and Friends: Around the World in a Day". The exhibition starts on Dec. 16 and runs through Feb. 21.

Children and adults alike will be sure to enjoy looking at the collection of adorable teddy bears from the around the world. Korean drama fans will recognize some of the bears, which were used in the hit drama "Kung" ("Princess Hours").

Teddy bears will be clad in costumes from China, Japan, Africa, India, Cambodia, New Zealand, Australia and the United States. Some of the bears will be displayed in sets recreating Buckingham Palace, the Taj Mahal and the Colosseum.

Tickets cost 15,000 won for adults and 12,000 won for children. For more details, visit http://www.teddyfriends.co.kr .

Dolls from around the world will be on display at COEX Convention Hall from Dec. 23 to Jan. 1. The "World Doll Fair", touted as the largest doll exhibition in Korea, will feature some of the world's most exquisite dolls. It will also display some rare dolls costing more than 100 million won each.

Tickets cost 10,000 won, 8,000 won and 6,000 won depending on age. For more details, visit http://www.worlddolls.co.kr or call 02-724-2572.

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