Kim Soo-ha had to unlearn musical theater for ‘Hell’s Kitchen’

Kim Soo-ha has spent more than a decade in musicals, from London to Seoul, appearing in productions such as “Rent,” “Hadestown” and “Aida.” In 2015, she became the first female Korean actor to make her West End debut, joining the ensemble and serving as a cover for Kim in “Miss Saigon.” Yet nothing in her career prepared her to sing and dance like Ali, the teenage lead she plays in the Korean premiere of “Hell’s Kitchen.” "Hell's Kitchen," a musical created by Alicia Keys based on her teenage ye

2026-09-09 15:06:03:00

After nine orchestra visits, this year winds down

Twice within five days this November, Korean audiences will hear Stravinsky's "The Rite of Spring" -- first from Simon Rattle and the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra, then from Teodor Currentzis and his Utopia Orchestra, in interpretations built on almost opposite philosophies. Mahler follows just as tightly: Rattle closes his two-night stand with Symphony No. 2, and Currentzis folds Symphony No. 1 into those same Nov. 17-18 concerts. It's the starkest overlap in a fall season that packs nine

2026-09-08 13:57:53:00

Nolan's 'The Odyssey' crosses 10 million admissions in Korea

Christopher Nolan's "The Odyssey" surpassed 10 million admissions in South Korea on Sunday, distributor Universal Pictures said, becoming the year's second release to reach the milestone. The film crossed the mark around 4 p.m. Sunday, 33 days after its Aug. 5 opening, hitting a milestone long regarded as a benchmark for blockbuster success in the country. "The Odyssey" is the second 2026 release to top 10 million admissions, after director Jang Hang-jun's "The King's Warden." It is the 10th for

2026-09-06 17:48:21:00

From tourists to temporary locals: Busan bets on longer stays for K-culture fans

A new program in Busan is inviting foreign visitors to experience Korea beyond sightseeing, pairing Korean language lessons with K-culture workshops and local tours during a five-day stay. K-Bridge International will run the program, called K-Culture Experience Village, at Busan Arpina in Haeundae-gu. Two five sessions are planned: Oct. 19-23 for 50 participants and Nov. 16-20 for 60, each backed by the Korea Tourism Organization and Busan Metropolitan City. The four-night, five-day program cost

2026-09-06 17:37:04:00

Tourist complaints in S. Korea hit record high in just 7 months

Complaints from tourists visiting South Korea have already hit an all-time high, just seven months into the year, with reckless taxi driving, poor accommodation and overcharging at stores the top gripes. From January to July, 1,753 tourism complaints were filed nationwide, already surpassing the 1,744 logged for all of 2025, the Korea Tourism Organization said, citing figures released Sunday from its Korea Tourism Data Lab. The figures are compiled from reports submitted through the Tourist Comp

2026-09-06 11:59:32:00

Young people, artists to gain most as culture budget tops W9tr for first time

South Korea's Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism will channel record funding into young people and artists next year, as its overall budget passes 9 trillion won for the first time. The ministry set its 2027 budget proposal at 9.634 trillion won ($7.09 billion), up 22.6 percent from this year's 7.855 trillion won, the ministry said Friday. That growth rate nearly doubles the 12.8 percent increase in the government's total spending, raising culture's share of total government spending to 1.1

2026-09-04 10:59:54:00

Chung Myung-whun returns to the piano, this time for patients

GOYANG, Gyeonggi Province -- “I might not play it well, but I wanted to play something today anyway,” Chung Myung-whun told the audience Thursday before taking the stage — this time not as a conductor, but as a pianist, in the unlikely setting of a hospital hall. Chung has played piano in a hospital setting several times before, in Japan for children with cancer. But Thursday’s performance at Myongji Hospital in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, was his first in a Korean hospital, for an audience of pa

2026-09-03 19:02:09:00

Ven. Jinwoo reelected to lead Jogye Order

The Ven. Jinwoo, the incumbent head of the Jogye Order, South Korea's largest Buddhist denomination, has been reelected, becoming the first leader to serve a second term in 13 years. The Jogye Order held its election for Executive President on Thursday at the Korean Buddhist History and Culture Memorial Hall in Jongno-gu, Seoul, and selected the Ven. Jinwoo as the 38th head. The Ven. Jinwoo received 183 votes out of 321 total electors, while his rival, the Ven. Gyeongwoo, received 138 votes. Thi

2026-09-03 17:32:38:00

'Phantom of the Opera' returns to Seoul for 40th anniversary

"Phantom of the Opera" is coming back to South Korea as part of a celebration of the musical's 40th anniversary. The Andrew Lloyd Webber musical will open Dec. 22 at Blue Square in Seoul and run through Feb. 28, 2027, according to producer S&Co. The Korean-language production is a two-month, Seoul-only engagement — one of several special seasons staged in major cities around the world this year to mark the show's 40th anniversary. The show last played in Korea in 2023, when it ran in Busan befor

2026-09-02 12:47:41:00

K-Music Festival to send folk, hip-hop and game music to nine London stages

The K-Music Festival returns to London for its 13th edition this fall, sending Korean folk, hip-hop, jazz and gaming soundtracks across nine venues over two months — an expanded lineup organizers say reflects how far Korea's musical identity has grown beyond K-pop. Organized by the Korean Cultural Centre UK and running from Sept. 28 to Nov. 23, the festival includes a National Gugak Center orchestra performance of newly arranged songs from online game "Black Desert" and video game "Lies of P" at

2026-09-01 17:34:13:00