National Contemporary Dance Company heads to Europe with 'Jungle'

The Korea National Contemporary Dance Company will embark on a European tour this May with "Jungle," choreographed by the company’s artistic director, Kim Sung-yong. The first stop is Stockholm, where the piece will be performed May 4 at the Oscar Theater to mark the second anniversary of the Korean Cultural Center in Sweden. In London, Jungle will open the 8th edition of A Festival of Korean Dance, taking place May 7-8. The annual event is co-hosted by the Korean Cultural Center UK and contempo

April 13, 2025

Actor Chae Si-ra steps on stage as dancer in 'Pure Heart'

Veteran actor Chae Si-ra, celebrating her 40th year in entertainment, is making an unexpected return to the stage -- as a dancer. Chae will appear in a special role in "Pure Heart," a new traditional dance production by the National Jeongdong Theater, running May 8 to June 28 at Jeongdong Theater in central Seoul. "Pure Heart" sheds light on the classic Korean pansori folktale "Simcheong-ga," in which the heroine, Sim Cheong, sacrifices herself so her blind father can see and ventures into the u

April 13, 2025

Lee Seung-yoon ready for overseas stages

Iconic singer-songwriter to perform in Taipei, Czech Republic Singer-songwriter Lee Seung-yoon, loved for his electrifying stage presence and philosophical, poetic lyrics, is now venturing beyond Korea to reach a global audience. Having earned a steady following performances at a variety of music festivals, Lee kicked off the 2025 festival season late last month at The Glow 2025 in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province. Lee is set to appear at several major domestic festivals in the coming months, including

April 10, 2025

April in Seoul a time for classical music

Two leading spring festivals -- Orchestra Festival and Seoul Spring Festival of Chamber Music -- shine in the capital Classical music takes center stage in Seoul this month with two standout festivals: the Seoul Arts Center’s Orchestra Festival and the Seoul Spring Festival of Chamber Music. The Orchestra Festival brings together 18 symphony orchestras from across the country in one place while the Seoul Spring Festival of Chamber Music celebrates its 20th anniversary. Seoul Arts Center's Orches

April 9, 2025

James Blake to perform in Korea in July

Singer-songwriter unlimited by genre to thrill Korean music fans James Blake, the British producer and singer-songwriter known for mastering diverse genres ranging from electronica to hip-hop, is returning to Korea for the first time in six years. Concert promoter Private Curve announced that James Blake will perform July 24 at Yes 24 Live Hall in Gwangjin-gu, Seoul. This marks his first performance in Korea since 2019's Holiday Land Festival, and his first solo concert in the country in 11 year

April 9, 2025

Coldplay pop-up store to open alongside concerts

Part of proceeds will be donated to local non-profit organization that supports hard of hearing Britpop band Coldplay is set to offer fans a range of special experiences with its highly anticipated concerts in Korea and a dedicated pop-up store. According to Warner Music Korea, the “Coldplay Moon Music Seoul Pop-up” will run from April 10 to 27 at The Hyundai Seoul in Yeouido. The pop-up celebrates Coldplay’s long-awaited return to Korea — eight years after its first concert in the country in 20

April 8, 2025

K-pop guitar bands to hit the stage

OneWe, Xdinary Heroes and Day6 headed for international tours K-pop's guitar bands are thriving like never before, with concerts and tours being announced one after another. OneWe, a five-piece group known for its emotional melodies, kicked off its first North American tour on Sunday. Starting in Orlando, the band will perform in 20 cities across North America, including Washington, New York, Boston, Toronto, Detroit, Chicago, Los Angeles, Seattle and Vancouver. The Orlando and Boston shows have

April 6, 2025

AHAM Art Project reimagines Lorca’s 'Bernarda Alba' in ballet

AHAM Art Project, led by dancer and choreographer Ham Do-youn, will present its latest production, "Bernarda Alba," at the Daehakro Arts Theater this Saturday and Sunday. Choreographed by Ham, the ballet is inspired by "The House of Bernarda Alba" (1936), the final work of Spanish playwright Federico Garcia Lorca. Set in a small Andalusian village in the 1930s, the story unfolds within the suffocating confines of a mourning household. Following the death of her second husband, Bernarda Alba impo

April 3, 2025

'Beauty' paints new portrait of Korean aesthetics

Star-studded creative team of Leenalchi composer, Vogue Korea stylist and aespa music video art director join forces for National Dance Company's new project Throughout history, art has captured the essence of beauty as it evolves over time. In Korea, when one thinks of the traditional concept of beauty in art, Miindo ("Portrait of a Beauty") by Sin Yun-bok -- believed to have been painted between the late 18th and early 19th centuries -- often comes to mind. Over the centuries, the depiction of

April 3, 2025

Ye to hold first concert in Korea in May

Following hip-hop festival in 2010, listening party in 2024, rapper finally confirms first concert in Korea Ye has announced that he will hold his own first concert in Korea this spring. According to Coupang Play, the rapper formerly known as Kanye West is to hold a concert on May 31 at 6:30 p.m. at Incheon Munhak Stadium. This would mark Ye’s first solo concert in nine years, dating to his 2016 world tour. It would also be his first-ever solo concert in Korea. Ye has performed in Korea twice be

April 1, 2025

SHINee’s Minho returns as scientist with OCD in rom-com play ‘Rendezvous’

After making his theatrical debut in "Waiting for Waiting for Godot" last year, Choi Min-ho is back on stage again this time in the romantic comedy "Rendezvous." The SHINee member and actor takes on the role of Tae-seop, a rocket scientist with obsessive-compulsive disorder stemming from childhood trauma. His meticulously structured life is disrupted when he forms an unexpected bond with Ji-hee (played by Kim Ha-ri), the daughter of his go-to Chinese restaurant’s owner. As their interactions dee

April 1, 2025

Lim Yunchan innovates Bach's Goldberg Variations in Tongyeong

In a recital sold out in less than a minute, Lim, 21, gives bold yet intricately detailed interpretation of Bach's masterpiece TONGYEONG, South Gyeongsang Province — On Sunday evening, piano sensation Lim Yunchan took the stage before an audience of about 1,300 to perform Bach’s Goldberg Variations, BWV 988, as part of the Tongyeong International Music Festival. The much-anticipated performance — tickets sold out in just 58 seconds online — in the small coastal city of Tongyeong, South Gyeongsan

March 31, 2025

Star chef curates fine dining banquet at Sejong Center lobby

The Sejong Center for the Performing Arts is launching Sejong Inspiration, a new program series designed to break away from conventional theater spaces and performance formats. By transcending traditional boundaries of the stage, the initiative seeks to integrate diverse genres and expand the scope of artistic expression. The first event under Sejong Inspiration, Heritage Banquet, celebrates the 60th anniversary of the Seoul Metropolitan Traditional Orchestra — Korea’s first traditional music en

March 31, 2025

[Exclusive] Composer Chin Unsuk likely to continue as Tongyeong International Music Festival artistic director

TONGYEONG, South Gyeongsang Province -- Renowned composer Unsuk Chin’s leadership at the Tongyeong International Music Festival is set to continue, as she and the foundation are in discussions about extending an extension her role initial five-year term as the festival's artistic director, according to people familiar with the matter. Now in her fourth year at the helm, Chin presides over this year’s festival, which opened Friday in the southern coastal city of Tongyeong under the theme “Journey

March 31, 2025

Chin Unsuk-led musical festival begins on high note with Lim Yunchan’s performance

Tongyeong International Music Festival continues until April 6, closing with Britten’s 'War Requiem.' TONGYEONG, South Gyeongsang Province — The Tongyeong International Music Festival, founded in 2002 to commemorate the late composer Isang Yun, opened Friday in Tongyeong, South Gyeongsang Province, along the southern coast, as wildfires rage on near the city and political turmoil continues to grip the country. The annual classical music festival typically includes a slate of fringe performances

March 30, 2025