Unfamiliar with classical music? Violinist Danny Koo is eager to reach out to you

With matinee concert series at Lotte Concert Hall, versatile Korean American musician hopes to make classical music more approachable Korean American violinist Danny Koo has become a familiar face on South Korean television, particularly through his appearances on “I Live Alone.” For younger audiences, he serves as a classical music guide, hosting the “Pinkfong Classical Music” series, where he and Pinkfong introduce children to the world of classical music. He participates in these activities t

Feb. 10, 2025

Fuerza Bruta's lastest spectacle 'Aven' to land in Seoul next month

The renowned Argentinian theater production series "Fuerza Bruta" is returning to Seoul in March with its latest installment, "Fuerza Bruta: Aven." Known for its high-energy performances that blur the lines between dance, acrobatics and immersive theater, Fuerza Bruta delivers a one-of-a-kind night out. Seoul is the first stop in the troupe’s Asia tour and its first visit to Korea since the "Wayra" tour in 2023. Since its Korean debut in 2013, the Fuerza Bruta series has drawn over 300,000 spect

Feb. 10, 2025

Ballerino Park Youn-jae wins 53rd Prix de Lausanne

16-year-old becomes first Korean ballerino to win the pretigious award Park Youn-jae, a 16 year-old ballerino, became the first South Korean male dancer to win the Prix de Lausanne 2025, a prestigious competition for young ballet dancers aged 15 to 18. After the six-day event, the Prix de Lausanne 2025 on Saturday announced nine scholarship recipients selected from 20 finalists. Park, a student of Seoul Arts High School, also took home the Best Young Talent Award. Another Korean dancer Kim Bo-gy

Feb. 9, 2025

Gonjiam Music Festival to mark 10th anniversary

Festival of wind instruments will host audition project with Berlin Philharmonic Karajan Academy Gonjiam International Music Festival will mark its 10th anniversary this year with a special program. Scheduled to take place from Aug. 2 to Aug. 9 at Namhansanseong Art Hall in Gwangju, Gyeonggi Province, the festival aims to become a leading wind instrument festival in Asia. As part of the festival, a collaborative audition project with the Berlin Philharmonic Karajan Academy will take place. Condu

Feb. 6, 2025

[Photo News] Ushering in Seollal with uplifting traditional spirit

Concert features prestigious traditional performing arts institutions On Wednesday afternoon, more than 1,000 spectators gathered at the Haeoreum Theater of the National Theater of Korea to celebrate Seollal, the Lunar New Year, enjoying a variety of Korean traditional performing arts. The concert, hosted by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and organized by the National Gugak Center and the National Theater of Korea, showcased performances by prestigious traditional performing arts in

Feb. 5, 2025

Turning poetry into song: ARKO Selection reimagines modern classics

Arts Council Korea has announced the lineup of the 17th ARKO Selection, a series of performances to be held this month, mostly in the popular theater district of Daehak-ro. Among the highlights is "Namdo Sori Recites Poetry: Why Did My Love Fall Silent?," set to run from Friday to Sunday. This performance weaves together the distinctive melodies and rhythms of Namdo folk music with seven modern poems, including Han Yong-un’s iconic "Love’s Silence" (1926). Seven pansori singers, including star p

Feb. 5, 2025

Musical about the tragic last empress of Joseon marks 30th anniversary

'The Last Empress,' a pioneering original musical, celebrates 2 million attendees In 1982, Korean producer Yun Ho-jin traveled to the UK to study theater, and there he saw the musical "Cats." The experience was a revelation, Yun recalled, sparking the realization that South Korea would embrace the genre and needed its own original musical theater productions. When he came back to Korea four years later, he wanted to create a production that could be a global success. Around that time, there was

Feb. 5, 2025

Star directors ready premieres as Jeongdong Theater pulls out all the stops

National Jeongdong Theater celebrates 30 years with ambitious lineup New works by two of Korea’s most successful directors in the performing arts scene -- Jung Ku-ho and Koh Sun-woong -- are among the lineup for the National Jeongdong Theater of Korea’s ambitious 2025 season, which marks its 30th anniversary. The season's program includes 444 performances across 21 productions, including two premieres and three repertory productions. The Jeongdong Theater opened in June 1995 to continue the arti

Feb. 4, 2025

Guns N’ Roses to come to Korea in May

All three core members to perform in Incheon Legendary American rock band Guns N’ Roses is coming to Korea in a few months. Guns N’ Roses will take to the stage May 1 at Songdo Moonlight Festival Park in Incheon, concert organizer 8PM Entertainment announced. The upcoming performance is part of the band's 2025 world tour and marks the band's first time back to Korea in 16 years, following its first here in 2009. Only vocalist Axl Rose among the band’s core members performed at the band's 2009 sh

Feb. 4, 2025

France National Orchestra returns to Korea after 29 years

Cristian Macelaru to conduct two concerts featuring French pianist Alexandre Kantorow The Orchestre National de France is set to return to South Korea for the first time in 29 years, with two highly anticipated performances in April. Under the baton of music director Cristian Macelaru, making his Korean debut, the orchestra will be joined by celebrated pianist Alexandre Kantorow. The April 29 concert at Lotte Concert Hall will be a celebration of Camille Saint-Saens, showcasing the third movemen

Feb. 4, 2025

K-pop meets orchestra

SM Classics Live 2025 with SPO to present orchestral versions of SM's hit songs, feature K-pop stars Minho and Wendy The Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra and SM Entertainment will present an inaugural concert series this month, featuring hit music of the entertainment powerhouse artists including BoA, Girls' Generation, Red Velvet, NCT, asepa, Exo, SHInee, RIIZE and more. Titled “SM Classics Live 2025 with Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra,” the two-day concerts will feature SM Entertainment’s most belov

Feb. 4, 2025

Ahn Eun-me’s kaleidoscopic 'Dragons' to tour UK

Ahn Eun Me Dance Company, the South Korean contemporary dance troupe led by choreographer Ahn Eun-me, will embark on an eight-city tour across the UK in February and March with its visually striking production, “Dragons,” according to Dance Consortium. Celebrated for her avant-garde choreography, Ahn blends dance, music, holograms and her signature vivid costumes in “Dragons,” a kaleidoscopic production that fuses modern and traditional dance styles from across Asia. Premiered in 2021, “Dragons”

Feb. 2, 2025

Game on with 'gugak': how Korean traditional music ventures into gaming industry

National Gugak Center, National Theater of Korea deepen collaboration with gaming industry Pearl Abyss, the video game developer known for its sandbox-style fantasy MMORPG Black Desert, received the commendation from the Culture Ministry on Dec. 27 during its year-end ceremony. Why? It was because of "gugak," or the traditional Korean music. The award was presented at the National Gugak Center in Seoul. Pearl Abyss launched Land of Morning Light: Seoul, an expansion for Black Desert, on Sept. 12

Jan. 29, 2025

Staying in Seoul for Lunar New Year? Check out these traditional fun, festive programs

From Monday to Thursday, a range of programs at different cultural venues will give visitors the chance to dive into traditional celebrations.

Jan. 25, 2025

Ambiguous Dance Company joins Coldplay for visual project 'A Film For The Future'

Dance company to perform in Seoul, France, Switzerland Ambiguous Dance Company has collaborated once again with the British rock band Coldplay on their visual project "A Film For The Future." This follows their previous collaboration in 2021 in the dance video for Coldplay's song "Higher Power." "A Film For The Future" is an experimental visual project based on Coldplay’s 10th album "Moon Music" (2024), involving over 150 artists worldwide. The 44-minute project released Wednesday through Coldpl

Jan. 24, 2025