[EVENTS CALENDAR]

"Special Exhibition on Ahn Jung Geun": Seoul Arts Center presents 34 pieces of Ahn Jung Geun`s autographs and about 30 photographs to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the independence fighter`s death. Ahn assassinated a Japanese colonial ruler in the northeastern Chinese city of Harbin 100 years ago and was executed in 1910. It is the biggest exhibition that showcases Ahn`s keepsakes and most of the exhibits are open to the public for the first time. The exhibits were contributed by collectors in and outside Korea. The exhibition runs through Jan. 24 at the Calligraphy Museum in Seoul Arts Center. For more information, call (02) 580-1651 or visit www.sac.or.kr



"Transformation in Art": The Korean Art Museum Association presents 58 paintings, sculptures, media and installation works by 19 artists who imagine different transformations that might happen in different domains of the society. Modified and distorted human and animal bodies, masked faces and ordinary objects that turn out to be extraordinary are scattered all over the museum, including the elevator and the restroom. The exhibition runs through Jan. 30 at Savina Museum of Contemporary Art in Anguk-dong, central Seoul. For more information, call (02) 735-4032 or visit savina.maru.net



"Joo Myung Duck Photography -- Landscape": Joo Myung Duck is a renowned Korean photographer who has been shooting for nearly 50 years. He is famous for his documentary photos that focus on social issues and disappearing cultural traditions. At this exhibition, however, Joo focuses on landscapes. Instead of following the Western way of photographing landscapes, Joo discovered a Korean way of doing it. The exhibition is the second of the three special exhibitions on the photographer that Daelim Contemporary Art Museum has planned. The first was held last year and the last will take place next year. This exhibition runs through Feb. 7 at Daelim Contemporary Art Museum at Tongi-dong, central Seoul. Tickets are 5,000 won for adults, 3,000 won for students and 2,000 won for kids. For more information, call (02) 720-0667 or visit www.daelimmuseum.org



"2010 In the Midst of the Korean Contemporary Art": Gallery Hyundai, which presented a delightful surprise to many art lovers in Korea already 40 years ago, is currently holding this exhibition to celebrate its 40th anniversary. Though it is held by a single gallery, it is not too much to say that the exhibition pretty thoroughly covers Korean art history of nearly half a century. Three Gallery Hyundai buildings are packed with 170 masterpieces by 68 renowned Korean artists like Park Soo-keun, Lee Joong-seop and Chun Kyung-ja whom we cannot leave out when talking about Korean art. The exhibition runs through Feb. 10 at Gallery Hyundai in Sagan-dong, central Seoul and Gallery Hyundai Gangnam Space in Sinsa-dong, southern Seoul. For more information, call (02) 2287-3500 or visit www.galleryhyundai.com



"Martin Creed Solo Exhibition": Often it takes more than just artistic skill to become a world-renowned artist. After talking with Martin Creed, you might wonder if an artist needs to be philosophical as well. The British artist is a leading conceptual artist. A little younger than the Young British Artists, the 41 year old`s works range from sculptures, paintings, and installations to neon lights, sounds and films. Currently, his most famous and recent are showing at his first-ever solo exhibition in Korea. The exhibition runs through Feb. 12 at Artsonje Center in Hwa-dong, central Seoul. Tickets are 3,000 won for adults and 1,500 won for students. For more information, call (02) 733-8945 or visit www.artsonje.org



"Masterpieces of Italian Renaissance Frescoes": The chance has come to enjoy Italian frescoes right here in Seoul without having to crane your neck. The paintings -- supposed to be high up on the chapel ceilings -- have come down to the human eye level at this exhibition. It was the renowned Lazzari family of Italy who replicated the huge fresco paintings by 20 great Renaissance artists like Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo and Raffaello Sanzio, better known as Raphael, into relatively minimized paintings. The exhibition features 51 frescos from the 14th century to the early 16th. The exhibition runs through Feb. 21 at Hangaram Art Museum at the Seoul Arts Center in Seocho-dong, southern Seoul. Tickets are 13,000 won for adults, 10,000 won for adolescents and 8,000 won for kids. For more information, call (02) 3471-2020 or visit www.frescoart.co.kr



"LOOK & PICK - Hello, Urban Kids!": Hello Museum offers a fun experience for kids who are being raised in the cities: to rediscover their hometown. With the help of eight up-and-coming artists that are residing in The National Art Studio, run by the National Museum of Contemporary Art, kids can observe and discover new aspects of the city through contemporary art. The exhibition runs through Feb. 28 at Hello Museum in Yeoksam-dong, southern Seoul. Reservations in advance are necessary. For more information, call (02) 562-4420 or visit www.hellomuseum.com



"Love and Pop Art": 63 Sky Art Gallery presents works by five world-renowned pop artists including Robert Indiana, Roy Lichtenstein, Tom Wesselmann, Andy Warhol and Keith Haring. The exhibition is divided into five sections -- "Writing Love," "Telling Love," "Feeling Love," "Longing Love," "Drawing Love" -- dedicated to each artist. The exhibition runs through March 7 at 63 Sky Art Gallery in Yeouido-dong, central Seoul. Tickets are 12,000 won for adults, 11,000 won for adolescents and 10,000 won for kids. For more information, call (02) 789-5663 or visit www.63.co.kr



"Mega City Network": This exhibition came back from a world tour, introducing Korean architecture to the world. Starting from the German Architecture Museum in Frankfurt in 2007, the exhibition was held in the German Center for Architecture in Berlin, Estonian Architecture Museum in Tallinn, Estonia and The Catalonian Association of Architects in Barcelona, Spain. The exhibition features Korean architectures of the past decade that creatively interpreted Korean cities and are also linked to the universality of world architectures. The exhibition runs through March 7 at National Museum of Contemporary Art in Gwacheon, Gyeonggi Province. Tickets range from 1,500 won to 3,000 won. For more information, call (02) 2188-6000 or visit www.moca.go.kr



"i-Robot": Soma Museum of Art is holding an exhibition dedicated to robots. Installation works, usually robots, by 16 artists including Paik Nam-june, Nancy Lang, Choi Woo-ram are on display. The robots appear to be a mixture of technology and the complex mental state of urbanites. Visitors can also learn the history of robots from around the world at the Robot History Room. The exhibition runs through March 14 at Soma Museum of Art in Bangi-dong, southeastern Seoul. Tickets are 3,000 won for adults, 2,000 won for adolescents and 1,000 won for kids. For more information, call (02) 410-1336 or visit www.somamusuem.org



"Andy Warhol, the Greatest": More than 400 works that are lent from The Andy Warhol Museum in Pennsylvania are on display in this exhibition. Organized in 19 different divisions, the pieces cover Warhol`s lifetime from his famous Campbell soup can silk screens to works featuring deaths and portraits of famous figures like Marilyn Monroe, Michael Jackson or Mao Zedong. The most notable part of the exhibition is the "Time Capsule, Mirror that reflects the Era of Warhol" section. Visitors can take a peek into person Warhol instead of the artist Warhol. The exhibition runs through April 4 at Seoul Museum of Art in Seosomun-dong, central Seoul. Tickets are 12,000 won for adults, 10,000 won for adolescents and 8,000 won for kids. For more information, call (02) 548-8690 or visit www.warhol.co.kr



"Hyundai Card Super Concert VII: Green Day": Pop punk superstars Green Day will finally cross the pacific to hold their first ever concert in Korea on Jan. 17 at the Olympic Park Gymnasium in southern Seoul armed with a set list from their critically acclaimed rock opera record "21st Century Breakdown." In addition to cuts from their latest release, Billy Joe Armstrong and his two partner sin crime Tre Cool and Mike Dirnt will revisit old classics from previous albums. For more information on tickets, visit www.hyundaicard.com or ticket.interpark.com.



"Overture to 2010": Conductor Yun Gi-yeon is set to take the helm of timeless overtures that will ring familiar with many folks for his concert on Jan. 17 at the Seoul Arts Center Concert Hall. Classics such as Suppe`s "Overture to Die Leichte Kavallerie," Bizet`s "Overture to Carmen," Beethoven`s "Overture to Egmont" and Brahms` "Academic Festival Overture" are just a handful of pieces to be performed. Tickets cost from 15,000 to 25,000 won. For more information, visit www.educoncert.co.kr or call (02) 3141-0651.



"I Musici di Roma Tour": I Musici di Roma, a renowned chamber ensemble from Italy, gives a new year`s nationwide tour in Korea. Their Seoul concert will be on Jan. 22 and 26 at Seoul Arts Center.

The ensemble will perform Vivaldi`s "Four Seasons," for which they are best known, as well as familiar cinema tunes and even a Korean folk song, "Kkachi Kkachi Seolnaleun."

Tickets run from 40,000 won to 120,000 won. For details, call (02) 732-3090.



"2010 Shin Young-ok Grand Tour": Korean soprano Shin Young-ok returns to Korea, celebrating her 20th anniversary of debut, for a nationwide tour starting Jan. 9 at Goyang Oulim Nuri Concert Hall. Following her performances in Jinju, Gunpo and Busan, Shin will give another concert at Seoul Arts Center Jan. 29.

For the upcoming tour, Shin will play diverse tunes from well-known opera arias as well as traditional Korean songs. Local Prime Philharmonic led by female conductor Yeo Ja-kyung accompanies Shin.

Tickets run from 77,000 won to 150,000. For more information, call (02) 529-1923.



"Killers Live in Seoul": American alternative rock band The Killers is set to put on a Vegas-inspired performance in Seoul on Feb. 6 at the Olympic Hall, Olympic Park. The band`s frontman Brandon Flowers promises to display some of the band`s hometown vibe when they rock Seoul with their penchant for the glitz and glam. Tickets to "The Killers Live in Seoul" are 77,000 and 99,000 won. Show begins at 7 p.m. For tickets, visit ticket.interpark.com or call 1544-1555.



"Whitney Houston: Nothing but Love World Tour": After seven years of self-imposed exile from the pop music scene, Whitney Houston is set to kick off the world tour for her latest album "I Look to You" in Korea next month.

This will be the six-time Grammy Award-winning singer`s first concert in Korea, which is set to be staged at the Olympic Park Gymnasium in southern Seoul on Feb. 6.

Tickets costs from 180,000 won to 70,000 won. For more information visit www.hyundaicard.com, www.yes24.co.kr, ticket.auction.co.kr, or contact (02) 1566-1369.



"Barbara Bonney": Internationally well-known soprano Barbara Bonney holds her first recital here in six years on Feb. 17 at Goyang Aramnuri Concert Hall in Gyeonggi Province.

The soprano`s fifth concert in Korea features opera arias including "Porgi Amor" from "Nozze di Figaro" and "Oh Guarda Sorella" from "Cosi Fan Tutte," as well as lieder like Grieg`s "En Svane" and Strauss` "Cacilie."

Tickets run from 30,000 won to 100,000 won. For details, call 1577-7766 or go to www.artgy.or.kr



"Chicago Live in Seoul": Beloved American soft-rock and jazz band Chicago are set to perform in Seoul for the second time on Feb. 23 at the Olympic Fencing Arena in southern Seoul. Known for timeless hits like "Hard to say I`m sorry," "If you leave me now," "You`re my inspiration," and "Love me tomorrow" the band carries with them over two decades of history crooning heart-warming love songs. For more information on tickets, visit www.ticket.interpark.com or call (02) 1544-1555.



"Brand Korea Concert": Korean-American crossover singer Rose Jang will give a concert at Seoul Arts Center on Feb. 24. The program will consist of tunes from musicals and opera songs.

Some notable tunes include "All That Jazz" from "Chicago," Memory" from "Cats" and "Over the Rainbow" from "The Wizard of Oz." Local group Mostly Philharmonic will accompany Jang.

Tickets run from 30,000 won to 200,000 won. For more information, call (02) 581-5404.



Musicals



"Contact": A silent musical from Off Broadway will be shown through Jan. 17 at LG Arts Center, and Jan. 22-31 at Goyang Aramnuri Theater. The show delivers three different episodes about the relationship between man and woman, like love and break-ups. No words are spoken: only music of different kinds -- from contemporary and swing jazz, classical music and rock -- and dynamic and energetic dance are used to tell the stories.

The show stars Kim Joo-won, a prima ballerina of Korea National Ballet who makes her musical debut through the work. Kim plays a leading role as "the girl in a yellow dress" from the last episode, "Contact."

Tickets cost from 10,000 won to 100,000 won. For details, call (02) 556-8556.



"Jack the Ripper": The acclaimed musical is a mystery thriller based on the facts of the 1888 murders in London`s East End and inspired by the 1913 novel, "The Lodger" by Marie Belloc-Lowndes. It features an impressive cast -- including experienced singers Kim Won-jun and Ahn Jae-wook as well as actors Yoo Jun-sang and Kim Bup-rae.

The show runs through Jan. 31 at Universal Arts Center in Neung-dong, Seoul. Tickets run from 60,000 won to 120,000 won. For more information, call (02)764-7858



"Wedding Singer": The Broadway musical adaptation of same-titled movie starring Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore premieres here at Chungmu Arts Hall in central Seoul. Actors Hwang Jung-min and Park Gun-hyung double in the role of the wedding singer Robby Hart who once dreamed of but failed in becoming a famous musician. The show will also feature well-known tunes from the movie, including "Grow Old With You."

The show will run through Jan. 31. Tickets are from 30,000 won to 75,000 won. For details, call (02) 501-7888.



"The Great Queen Seondeok": With the huge success of the television drama "Queen Seondeok," MBC stages the same-titled musical adaptation through Jan. 31 at Woori Arts Hall at Olympic Park in Eastern Seoul.

Like the television drama version, the musical deals with the process of which Queen Seondeok got to take the throne of Shilla Dynasty and became the first queen of Korea in history.

Tickets run from 40,000 won to 130,000 won. For details, call (02) 789-4884.



"Hairspray": Presented by local Seensee Musical Company, the Korean production of Broadway`s hit-musical "Hair Spray" is running at KEPCO Arts Center until Feb. 7. Based on the 1988 movie it is the story of a fat and ugly girl Tracy gradually realizing her dream of becoming a television entertainer. A movie adaptation in 2007 was a huge success. Comedian Park Kyung-lim plays Tracy.

Tickets run from 40,000 won to 80,000 won. For more information, call (02) 577-1987.



"Man of La Mancha": The Korean version of the Broadway musical returns Jan. 22 - Feb. 15 at LG Arts Center in southern Seoul. Based on the classic novel "The Adventures of Don Quixote" by Miguel de Cervantes, the show takes on the form of "a play within a play." Comedian-turned actor Jung Sung-hwa and musical actor Ryu Jung-han double in the role of Don Quixote.

Tickets are from 40,000 won to 110,000 won. For details, call 1588-5212 or check out www.odmusical.com



"Mozart": Australian musical "Mozart" premieres in Korea Jan. 19 at Sejong Center for the Performing Arts. The show focuses on the legendary composer`s life story -- his relationships with the people around him like his family and lovers, while featuring modern factors including jeans and rock music. It stars Xiah Junsu from popular boy band TVXQ as the leading role, Mozart.

The show runs through Feb. 21. Tickets run from 20,000 won to 130,000 won. For more information, call (02) 6391-6333.



"Chicago": "Chicago," whose story many Koreans know from its 2002 film adaptation, is showing through Feb. 28 at Seongnam Arts Center in Bundang, Gyeonggi Province. The show boasts an impressive cast - popular singer Insooni who starred in the 2000 premiere run shares the role of Velma with veteran musical actress Choi Jung-won and Singer Insooni.

The musical, set in the Windy City of the 1920s, satirizes a society where crimes prevail, combining the topic with jazz and sensual choreography. The show continues its run until June 29. Tickets are from 40,000 won to 110,000 won. For details, call (02) 577-1987.



"Legally Blonde": The Broadway musical that revived the film version of the movie with the same title premieres at COEX Artium in Samsung-dong, Seoul. The Korean production features an impressive cast. 2006 Miss Korea Lee Honey, Jessica of girl group Girls` Generation and actress Kim Ji-woo each play Elle Woods who enters Harvard Law School breaking the prevailing stereotype of "dumb blonde." The show runs through March 4. Tickets cost from 40,000 won to 90,000 won. For more information, call 902) 738-8289.



"The Phantom of the Opera": The Korean production of the mega-hit West-end musical, "The Phantom of the Opera," returns through Aug. 8 at Charlotte Theater in Jamsil-dong, Seoul. A British troupe performed here in 2005 featuring popular musical actor Brad Little as the phantom. This year`s show will be more spectacular than previous years, with a reinforced set and stage settings. Musical actress Kim So-hyun from the show`s 2001 premiere run stars as Christine. Tickets run from 40,000 won to 140,000 won. For details, call (02) 501-7888.



Dramas



"University of Laughs": The hit play from last year by theater venture group Yeongeukyeoljeon is restaged until Jan. 31 at Eda 1 Theater in Daehangno, Seoul. Based on the popular Japanese novel by Koki Mitani, the piece depicts a seven-day confrontation between an inspector trying to ban comic plays and a scriptwriter who values humor above all in his works, and the friendship that later develops between the two. Tickets run from 25,000 won to 40,000 won. For details, call (02) 766-6007.



"Owalaen Gyeolhonhalgeoya (I Will Get Married in May): The hit Daehangno play features three female high school alumni who compete to get married first, as only the first gets to take the "wedding fund" that they had been accumulating for the past 10 years. The piece is running through Feb. 28 at Daehangno Art Madang Hall 2. Tickets are 25,000 won. For more information, call (02) 3675-3677.



"Story of an Old Thief": The popular play from Yeongeukyeoljeon returns at two venues -- Daehangno and Gangnam. "Story of an Old Thief," a satirical piece which sheds light on social and political issues with humor, has received favorable responses since premiering in 1989, making actors like Mun Sung-geun and Yoo Oh-sung popular. For this year`s version, veteran theater actors Park Jun-seo and Choi Jae-sup join the cast. The play is showing as an open run at Sangmyung Arts Hall in Daehango and COEX Artium in Samsung-dong, Seoul. Tickets are 25,000 won and 35,000 won. For details, call (02) 766-6007.



Dance



"Cinderella": The Korea National Ballet stages "Cinderella" Jan. 29-31 at Seoul Arts Center. The choreography is by acclaimed Jean-Christophe Maillot, the director of Monte-Carlo Ballet of France, who presents a rather modernized and unconventional version with a new character added to it.

Two leading ballerinas, Kim Joo-won and Kim Ji-young, will double in the main role. Tickets are from 5,000 won to 120,000 won.

For details, call (02) 587-6181.



"Tchaikovsky": The Korea National Ballet stages "Tchaikovsky," a biographical ballet about the Russian composer, Feb. 3-7 at Seoul Arts Center.

"Tchaikovsky" tells the story of the composer who encountered a mysterious death after years of suffering from the pain of creation. With choreography done by renowned choreographer Boris Eifman, the show gained huge success during its premiere run here last year.

Tickets for run from 5,000 won to 120,000 won. For details, call (02) 587-6181.