Most Popular
-
1
Sought by prosecutors: Key man in Yoon presidential couple’s political drama
-
2
First lady to keep low profile as Yoon’s ratings hit new low
-
3
Murder charge sought over death of mentally disabled student who was pushed into sea
-
4
N. Korea jams GPS signals, affecting ships, civilian aircraft: JCS
-
5
2 dead, 12 missing after fishing boat sinks near Jeju Island
-
6
NewJeans to appear on biggest year-end festival in Japan
-
7
Starbucks to open store on North Korea's doorstep
-
8
Supreme Court to weigh SK Group chief's W1.3tr divorce suit
-
9
Tourist doing yoga in front of Gyeongbokgung stirs debate
-
10
Police nab 20 suspects connected to ‘international sender’ phishing texts
-
[Indie spirit] Singer-songwriter Ahn Ye-eun creates new identity with genre-defying music
Singer-songwriter Ahn Ye-eun is a genre unto herself. Boldly using Korean myth and unusual motifs to create music, she is a musician who enriches the Korean music scene, captivating audiences with her unique blend of tradition and modernity. "It is hard to decide which genre to register with whenever I release a song. Now I have come to think of that as my strength – doing music that cannot be determined by traditional genre definitions," said Ahn. With the strong color of her mu
Feb. 27, 2024
-
Korea National Contemporary Dance Company kicks off season with 'Jungle'
The Korea National Contemporary Dance Company will kick off the 2024 season with a new production entitled “Jungle,” choreographed by Kim Sung-yong, the company's director and artistic director. “Jungle” is set to be staged April 11-14 at the Seoul Arts Center’s CJ Towol Theater. Kim officially took his position on May 11, 2023, for a three-year term. In October, Kim’s “Jungle -- Sense and Response” premiered as the opening piece at the Intern
Feb. 26, 2024
-
[Herald Interview] 'Salome' director Kim Si-hwa adds bold twist to changgeuk with all-male act
It might have been her directional debut in changgeuk, but former choreographer Kim Si-hwa was prepared to push the boundaries with "Salome." In an interview with The Korea Herald, last week, Kim said she was aiming for a groundbreaking traditional performance. She had thought of an all-male changgeuk for a while, believing it could be appealing to the audience. Changgeuk derives from pansori, a traditional narrative singing form involving a solo singer and a percussionist that is regi
Feb. 25, 2024
-
[Herald Review] Eric Nam mesmerizes Korean fans with dance, voice
Singer Eric Nam visited Korean fans for the first time in a year and three months. On Saturday, the Seoul performance of "Eric Nam House on a Hill World Tour" was held at Myunghwa Live Hall in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul. Despite the cold weather with rain and snow, about 2,000 fans visited the venue to enjoy Nam's performance. The singer has been on a world tour starting from Orlando, Florida, the US, since September last year after releasing his English language album, "House on
Feb. 25, 2024
-
Pansori, shadow puppetry combined in 'Tale of Seocheon Flower Garden'
A Jeju myth comes to life through a combination of pansori, or Korean traditional narrative singing, and shadow puppetry in a children's production running at the National Jeongdong Theater in Korea, Cecil through Wednesday. "Tale of Seocheon Flower Garden" is a reinterpretation of the myth of Hallakgungi, found in the shamanistic songs of Jeju Island known as "Igongbonpuri." The protagonist, Hallakgungi, embarks on a journey to the Seocheon Flower Garden at the afterlif
Feb. 23, 2024
-
ARKO Selection inspired by the familiar
ARKO Selection's fifth and final set of productions -- one traditional concert, two dance performances and one opera -- are drawing inspiration from elements that will be familiar to Korean audiences. Kicking off the weekend on Friday and Saturday, the traditional performance "Multiverse of Infinite Convergence" brings gugak to the center. Gayageum player Heo Yoon-jeong, also a member of the jazz and gugak crossover ensemble Black String since 2011, will collaborate with 13 musici
Feb. 22, 2024
-
[Herald Interview] Kim Bum-soo marks 25 years in music with new album 'Journey'
Singer Kim Bum-soo has returned with his 9th full-length studio album, "Journey," celebrating his 25th year as a singer. Although the recent landscape of the entertainment industry calls for versatility and multifaceted identities, the singer believes in dedicating himself to the role of vocalist and preserving his values as a singer. Unlike in previous albums in which Kim prioritized the singing ability, high notes and technique, Kim said that his new album is "minimal and poetic
Feb. 22, 2024
-
Jeon Do-yeon, Park Hae-soo to star in Simon Stone's play 'Cherry Orchard'
Renowned South Korean actor Jeon Do-yeon, who is a familiar face from both TV and film, is returning to the theatrical stage after 27 years, taking on a leading role in the play "The Cherry Orchard.” World-renowned Australian director Simon Stone will helm the production, which is slated to run from June 4 to July 7 at the LG Art Center in Seoul. Stone has collaborated with prestigious theaters such as the National Theatre in London and the Metropolitan Opera in New York. Jeon will be
Feb. 21, 2024
-
Seoul Metropolitan Ballet begins inaugural season with contemporary focus
The Seoul Metropolitan Ballet, centering its artistic vision on contemporary ballet, has been officially inaugurated, announced the Seoul City and Sejong Center for the Performing Arts at a press conference held on Tuesday. This marks the establishment of the third public ballet company in Korea in 48 years, after the Korean National Ballet in 1962 and the Gwangju City Ballet in 1976. Diverging from traditional ballet companies that predominantly focus on classical repertoire, Seoul Metropolitan
Feb. 20, 2024
-
Timeless tunes reworked with trendy spin by young musicians
Masterpieces stand the test of time, retaining their value and significance throughout the ages. Songs from the 1970s to the 2000s are these days gaining new life through reinterpretations by junior singers. Hong Joo-chan, a member of the boy group Golden Child, released solo digital single "Still Thinking About You" on Sunday. It is a remake of ballad singer Lee Jung-bong's debut album title track, which was released in 1996. The original song gained huge popularity, mesmerizing
Feb. 20, 2024
-
[Herald Interview] Theater Ganda marks 20th Anniversary with yearlong parade of original productions
In Korean, the word "ganda" means "to go." Yet, the name of this 20-year-old South Korean theater troupe also carries a dual meaning, signifying its commitment to creating compact ("gan" in Hanja) and diverse ("da" in Hanja) performances. Theatre Ganda is set to showcase a series of the company's most notable works, one after another, until early 2025, in a rare and precious moment for a theater group as it marks its 20th anniversary with a parade of
Feb. 19, 2024
-
[Indie spirit] Maktub on broadening spectrum, contemplating deeper emotions
In the 13 years since his debut, most of the songs that singer Maktub released have been about sweet, overwhelming love. The singer said he takes a bit of pride in his songs being chosen for romantic events such as proposals and weddings. "I'm a love enthusiast. I may have written countless love songs because I didn’t have particularly hard times dating. But I also believe that messages about love are the messages that the world needs." The 35-year-old singer-songwriter made
Feb. 19, 2024
-
Chanel meets ballet 'Modance' to come Korea in April
In a collaboration between the French fashion house Chanel and the world of dance, a ballet performance will get a Korean premiere in April. "Modanse" is scheduled to be staged at the Seoul Arts Center on April 17 and 19-21, starring the renowned ballerina Svetlana Zakharova, according to InArt Production on Wednesday. The title "Modanse" is a combination of the French words "mode," meaning fashion, and "danse," meaning dance. The 120-minute performance is
Feb. 15, 2024
-
[Herald Review] Kyugrockjeol mesmerizes audience with music, drinks and rock spirit
Audiences of various ages flocked to Musinsa Garage, the largest concert hall in Hongdae area, Seoul, on Tuesday night, to take part in the fourth day of Kyungrockjeol. Kyungrockjeol is one of South Korea’s largest annual indie rock music festivals, which started in 2005 as a birthday party for Han Kyung-rok, the bassist of the punk band Crying Nut. The festival soon became an opportunity for unknown musicians to present themselves to larger audiences. Tuesday's show featured five art
Feb. 14, 2024
-
[Herald Interview] Ji Pyeong-kwon’s gugak crossover resonates in ballet ‘Korea Emotion’
In a poignant duet of daegeum and pansori, vocalist Kwon Song-hee, a member of the alternative pop band Leenalchi, sings achingly. An orchestral blend of Western classical string instruments, daegeum and pansori plays out in a strangely harmonious manner with waltz-like rhythms that brighten the mood. Against this backdrop of crossover music, two ballet dancers gracefully move under the silvery moonlight. Acclaimed ballerina Kang Mi-sun, a principal dancer at Universal Ballet, earned the title o
Feb. 13, 2024
-
Universal Ballet opens season with ‘Korea Emotion’
Universal Ballet, celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, kicks off its 2024 season with the original ballet production, "Korea Emotion," an artistic blend of traditional Korean music and ballet. The neo-classical ballet with gugak crossover scores is to be staged Feb. 16-18, at the Universal Arts Center. Choreographed by Universal Ballet Artistic Director Liu Bingxian, “Korea Emotion” is a collection of nine short episodes drawing inspiration from the complex and multi
Feb. 13, 2024
-
Maroon 5 to be first foreign act at Inspire arena
American pop-rock band Maroon 5 is visiting Korea in March and holding a concert at the country's first multipurpose arena. According to Mohegan Inspire Entertainment Resort, Maroon 5 will hold a two-day concert at Inspire Arena in Yeongjong-do, Incheon, on March 8 and 9. It will be the first performance by an overseas act at the venue. Inspire Arena, the first multipurpose arena in South Korea operated by Mohegan Inspire Entertainment Resort, opened in December last year. It is part of Ins
Feb. 13, 2024
-
What does J-pop revival mean for S. Korea?
Choi Mi-yeon, a 25-year-old college student, recently purchased a ticket for Japanese band King Gnu's upcoming concert in Korea. Among her friends who attempted to buy tickets, she was the only one lucky enough to get a ticket for the concert, which is set to take place twice in April. All 6,000 tickets quickly sold out. "It feels like more and more Japanese musicians are visiting Korea since last year, and it's getting really hard to get tickets. J-pop is certainly gaining streng
Feb. 12, 2024
-
ARKO Selection pushes theatrical boundaries
ARKO Selection's fourth set of productions, scheduled to kick off in mid-February, showcases five works -- three plays, one music concert and one ballet -- that stand out for notable directing techniques. The play "Teddy Daddy Run," slated to run Feb. 16-25, is a road trip action drama following 16-year-old Korean teen Yoon-seo and 15-year-old Korean Filipina Nina as the two search for their missing father across various locations in Manila, the Philippines. “We wanted to ad
Feb. 8, 2024
-
Enjoy night concerts at Deoksugung
The National Gugak Center, in collaboration with the Cultural Heritage Administration’s Deoksugung Palace Management Office, is set to host nighttime concerts at Seokjojeon in the palace, Feb. 21-22 and 28-29, at 7 p.m. Built during King Gojong’s reign (1863-1907), Deoksugung’s Seokjojeon is the first European-style stone building built in Korea. Since 2015, several concerts have been performed at the historic venue. The one-hour-long nighttime concert, “Deoksugung Yayeon
Feb. 6, 2024