Jung Il-woo breaks sexual mold with Molina in 'Kiss of the Spider Woman'

The Korean production of the play “Kiss of the Spider Woman” kicked off its fourth run on Jan 21 with Jung Il-woo stepping into the role of Molina, a trans woman. Adapted from the 1976 novel by Argentine author Manuel Puig, the play revolves around two prisoners -- Molina and Valentin, a political prisoner. The two inmates with differing ideologies share a cell in the prison and gradually come to accept each other. Also cast in the role of Molina are Yi Youll and Jeon Bak-chan. Jung

Feb. 5, 2024

[Indie spirit] Band Lucy aims to expand spectrum, with music full of childhood reminiscence

A bosom friend from childhood. This is the phrase that best represents the color and tone of Lucy, a four-member band that has quickly become one of the leading acts in the Korean band scene. "Our motto is ‘childhood.’ Childhood friends are the only ones who allow us to act immature even after we've grown up," said bassist and producer Cho Won-sang, 27. "I hope listeners feel that way whenever they play our music, just being themselves and free from anxieties,&rdq

Feb. 5, 2024

Traditional performances for Lunar New Year festivities

The Lunar New Year and Chuseok holidays are a time when there is more than the usual offering of traditional performances. The National Dance Company of Korea, National Gugak Center and Seoul Namsan Gukakdang are set to create special ambiances which capture the essence of the traditional holiday. 'Festival' with National Dance Company The National Dance Company of Korea, affiliated with the National Theater of Korea, is ushering in the Year of Blue Dragon with a special holiday produc

Feb. 4, 2024

SG Wannabe to celebrate 20th anniversary with concert

One of the representative South Korean R&B groups, SG Wannabe, will return with a concert to celebrate their 20th debut anniversary. The trio’s upcoming concert will be held under the title “Our Song,” keeping the name of the group’s concert last year. The title "Our Song" became the concert brand of the trio, starting with a concert in March last year at SK Handball Gymnasium in Olympic Park and Seoul. The first "Our Song," was SG Wannabe's f

Feb. 2, 2024

YB returns with nationwide tour

Leading rock band YB returns with a national concert tour, "2024 YB Tour Lights: Infinity." The legendary band kicks off its tour on March 9 at the Chunma Art Center of Yeungnam University in Gyeongsan, North Gyeongsang Province, for a two-day run. The band will visit 10 cities in total, also including Suwon, Ansan and Yongin in Gyeonggi Province, Changwon in South Gyeongsang Province, Busan, Jeonju in North Jeolla Province, Incheon, Wonju in Gangwon Province and Gwangju. "Lights&

Feb. 1, 2024

Playlists reveal what inspired top classical musicians

Soviet-era pianist Vladimir Sofronitsky, who passed away 1961, has been brought back to the spotlight in South Korea recently thanks to playlists compiled by top musicians. The pianist is on the playlists of two star Korean pianists -- Cho Seong-jin and Lim Yun-chan -- unveiled on Apple Music Classical last week. In addition to Lim and Cho, another celebrated pianist, Son Yeol-eum, and composer and music director June Jae-il have partnered up with the stand-alone app dedicated to classical m

Jan. 31, 2024

Seoul Jazz Festival returns to Olympic Park with diverse lineup

The schedule and initial lineup for the 16th Seoul Jazz Festival 2024 have been revealed. In its 16th year, the Seoul Jazz Festival will be held at four venues located in Seoul's Olympic Park from May 31 to June 2, featuring around 60 diverse artists from home and abroad. Singer-songwriter Lauv, who is popular for his dynamic performances and emotional music, and French artist FKJ, who is known for his bold fusion of soul, jazz and electronic music, will visit Korea for the festival. Legend

Jan. 31, 2024

Hyolyn, Kai to go on world tour

Hyolyn, who occupies an unrivaled position in K-pop with her charisma and powerful voice, is to embark on a world tour. “2024 Hyolyn Show World Tour Concert" will kick off at the Taipei International Convention Center, Taiwan, on Feb. 25. The next destination of the world tour is yet to be unveiled. The upcoming world tour is Hyolyn's second. Her first world tour, "True," took place in 2019 and had her perform eight concerts in seven countries including England, Germany

Jan. 30, 2024

[Herald Review] Ateez kicks off world tour with dramatic performance

Boy band Ateez completed a two-day concert in Seoul, marking the beginning of the group’s second world tour, “Towards The Light: Will To Power," last weekend. From Saturday to Sunday, 15,000 fans gathered at Jamsil Indoor Stadium to support the eight-member group with enthusiastic cheers. The group’s second world tour follows the group’s 8th mini album, “The World Ep.1: Movement,” 9th mini album, “The World Ep.2: Outlaw,” and second full-lengt

Jan. 29, 2024

Captain Rock leads 70 indie artists in biggest Kyungrockjeol ever

One of South Korea’s largest annual indie rock music festivals, Kyugrockjeol, on Tuesday kicks off 2024 Rock and Roll Paradise, in its largest iteration ever. Kyungrockjeol, considered one of the top three festivities in Seoul's indie enclave of Hongdae, along with Christmas Eve and Halloween, started in 2005 as a birthday party for Han Kyung-rok, the bassist of punk band Crying Nut. The event became one of the biggest festivals for South Korean indie musicians and took place at the l

Jan. 28, 2024

[Herald Review] Senior actors prove age is just a number in sold-out 'Waiting for Godot'

The sepia-toned stage stands vacant except for a leafless tree and a solitary rock. The actors appear equally disheveled in their muted, grubby suits, sporting scruffy grey hair. And nothing dramatic unfolds. The two characters, Vladimir (Didi) and Estragon (Gogo), wait and wait for Godot, who never arrives. While one might ask where's the fun in watching someone simply waiting, waiting and waiting, the Korean production of Samuel Beckett’s “Waiting for Godot,” which kicke

Jan. 28, 2024

ARKO Selection’s February performances offer contemporary twist on classics

ARKO Selection will unveil its third set of productions in early February, offering two traditional performances, one musical, one dance performance and one music concert, which reinterpret classics and transcended traditions. Such works are among the 28 new repertoires funded by Arts Council Korea, an organization committed to fostering diverse arts and cultural activities in the country. The male "changgeuk" performance, "Salome," which is a reinterpretation of Oscar Wilde&

Jan. 26, 2024

How ‘Sing Again’ stays a hit brand in a sea of audition shows

A 27-year-old office worker Choi Ji-yeon recently bought a ticket for a concert of the Top 10 participants of the audition program “Sing Again 3.” Tickets for the concert sold out within 10 minutes of opening, showing the popularity of the program. “I have been a big fan of the program since its first season. In the recent season, I’m obsessed with the voice of So Soo-bin, the runner-up of the show,” said Choi. “Audition program is one of the most common theme

Jan. 25, 2024

[Herald Interview] After dream come true in 'Les Miserables,' Lumina begins real journey

On Tuesday evening, the 112th performance of the third run of the musical “Les Miserables” took place at Blue Square in Seoul. During the intermission, a couple in seats in the 10th row discussed whether Eponine was biracial, while two other women in the same row, seemingly in their 50s, praised her singing. Eponine is a character from Victor Hugo's 1862 novel "Les Miserables." Despite being the daughter of the unscrupulous Thenardiers, she assists her friend Marius, w

Jan. 24, 2024

[Rising Virtuosos] 'Nerd' pianist Kim Jun-hyung unveils artistic vision at Kumho

It was early morning when Munich-based pianist Kim Jun-hyung received a phone call from Kumho Art Hall at Yonsei University. Over the phone, the second-prize winner of the 2022 ARD International Music Competition’s piano category was invited to be Kumho Art Hall’s artist-in-residence for 2024. Kim, a night owl who goes to sleep at 4 or 5 in the morning, couldn’t fall back to sleep. As the artist-in-residence, he would be given a chance to design his own program for four concert

Jan. 23, 2024

[Herald Review] 'Wife': A look at 90 years of shifting notions of marriage

"I am no longer your wife." With these final words, Nora in Henrik Ibsen's "A Doll's House" leaves her home and husband, discarding from her identity as someone's wife and mother, while determined to be just herself. Nora hints at her journey to discover herself as the play concludes. And it is from this point, that the story of the play "Wife" unfolds. Written by British playwright Samuel Adamson, "Wife" draws inspiration from Ibsen's

Jan. 23, 2024

Overseas artists to visit Korean fans

A number of overseas musicians are set to visit South Korea to entertain local fans this year. Canadian punk rock band Sum 41 will visit Korea in February, as part of the group's final world tour before disbanding. The five-member group formed in 1996, rising to global acclaim after the success of its first studio album, "All Killer No Filler," in 2001. The band continued to release several hits, including "Still Waiting," "Make No Difference" and "Undercl

Jan. 22, 2024

[Herald Review] In ‘Nature of Forgetting,’ movements speak louder than words

In the vibrant season of youth, Tom dashes eagerly to catch up with his school crush, who rides ahead on her bicycle. Next moment, he finds himself in the lead, with her at his back, their heartbeats echoing the fluttering memories. Through an ordinary moment, the audience gets a glimpse of Tom’s most cherished memories. But the recollections are gradually slipping away as he grapples with dementia. Maybe it’s the fleeting nature of the memories that renders the beauty, or its poigna

Jan. 21, 2024

Super Junior to meet global fans on Asia tour

Legendary boy band Super Junior will hold an Asia tour. The group, celebrating 19 year since its debut, will hold an Asia concert tour titled "2024 Super Junior Super Show Spin-off: Halftime." The tour begins with a concert in Seoul in June, according to the band's agency SM Entertainment. After the Seoul concert, the group will visit Bangkok and Singapore in July, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and Taipei, Taiwan in August, Hong Kong and Jakarta, Indonesia in September. Detailed informat

Jan. 19, 2024

ATBO to hold first Japan fan meeting

ATBO will meet with Japanese fans for the first time in February. According to the group's agency IST Entertainment, ATBO will hold the "2024 ATBO First Japan Fanmeeting Home Party" twice, at Toyosu PIT in Tokyo on Feb. 29 and Oval Hall in Osaka on March 2. As this is the group's first event to be held in Japan since debuting, the bandmates are reportedly making every effort to prepare satisfying performances. The seven-member group will present different shows in each city,

Jan. 19, 2024