For Antonio Mendez, soccer and music share the same fire

Ask Antonio Mendez to explain his country's passion for soccer and music, and he laughs at how hard the question is. "It's difficult to talk about things that are so within you," he told reporters ahead of the Korean National Symphony Orchestra's concert on Friday at the Seoul Arts Center. "For us, it's so natural." That passion, he suggested, shows up in a soccer match as much as in a piece of music. When Spain won the World Cup, he wasn't even in the country. He watched Spanish television anyw

2026-08-05 13:58:48:00

Soprano Sumi Jo awarded Maria Callas Prize

Korean soprano Sumi Jo has become the first Asian artist to receive the Premio Internazionale Maria Callas, in honor of her contributions to opera and classical music, at a ceremony in Verona, Italy on Sunday. The Maria Callas Prize was established in 2013 to honor the legendary 20th-century diva Maria Callas and is awarded to artists who have made outstanding contributions to the development of opera and classical music worldwide. The award draws on the historical legacy of the Arena di Verona,

2026-08-03 17:31:42:00

Grammy exit: 'Withdrawal of consent' vs. 'not for BTS'

BTS' announcement that it will not submit music to next year's Grammy Awards has set off a wave of reactions. The group's fandom answered on the charts. Army, as the group's fans are known, pushed "Aliens," a B-side from the group's fifth full-length album "Arirang" about being cast as outsiders and owning the label, to No. 1 on iTunes song charts in 78 regions this week, months after the album's release. Many see the group's decision as a protest against the Recording Academy's new best Asian p

2026-07-31 18:04:12:00

Korean cartoonist Sanho wins Eisner Award for 'Purgatory Funeral Cakes'

South Korean cartoonist Sanho has become the first Korean creator to win an Eisner Award, one of the comics industry's most prestigious honors. Publisher Munhakdongne announced Friday that Sanho's "Purgatory Funeral Cakes" won Best U.S. Edition of International Material — Asia at this year's Eisner Awards. The 38th Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards were presented on July 24 at the Hilton San Diego Bayfront during Comic-Con International in California, with winners announced across 32 categories

2026-07-31 16:35:23:00

Choi Jae-rim is building self-esteem, onstage and off

Choi Jae-rim, one of the most sought-after actors in Korean musical theater, plays 109, the self-esteem cell in "Yumi's Cells," a new musical based on the hit webtoon. The role was built from scratch for the stage, with no counterpart in the original webtoon — and it's the cell he wishes everyone had. Why wish that on everyone? Because in his own definition, self-esteem isn't just self-belief; it's belief backed by evidence. "You keep a clear, objective eye on reality while never losing faith in

2026-07-31 14:05:14:00

They counted themselves out. Deutsche Oper Berlin did not

Kim Geon, Choi Young and Roh Min-hyung have a lot in common. All three stand over 180 centimeters and all three are around 30. All three are classical singers — Kim a baritone, Roh and Choi basses. And all three, at some point, concluded they were not good enough. Kim graduated from Seoul National University without having sung a paid operatic role. Studying abroad was the assumed next step, but when he added up rent, utilities and a phone bill in a foreign city, he could not see how to make it

2026-07-30 15:55:41:00

Seoul draws 8.3M of Korea's record 10.7M foreign visitors in H1

Tourist arrivals to Korea surpassed 10.71 million in the first half of this year, an all-time high. Seoul alone accounted for 8.32 million — about 78 percent of the national total — underscoring the city's outsized role in the country's tourism boom. Spending on foreign credit cards topped 10 trillion won in the first half for the first time. According to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Seoul Metropolitan Government on Wednesday, nationwide arrivals from January to June rose

2026-07-29 17:50:00:00

Who really built hallyu?

A government-backed K-culture festival has revived a question that follows Korean pop culture abroad: how much of it was the government's doing? The question was put to the organizers of Fanomenon on Monday. The 11-day festival of concerts, fandom awards and industry exhibitions, set for December 2027, will be staged by Korea's four biggest music agencies — JYP Entertainment, Hybe, SM Entertainment and YG Entertainment — with state support, under the Presidential Committee on Popular Culture Exc

2026-07-28 15:37:26:00

Korea eyes global fandom leadership with 11-day 'Fanomenon,' launching in 2027

An 11-day K-culture festival built around fandoms will debut in December 2027. The Presidential Committee on Popular Culture Exchange, co-chaired by Culture Minister Chae Hwi-young and JYP Entertainment founder J.Y. Park released its plan for the event, called Fanomenon, on Monday. "The winner is not the artist but the artist's fans, and the artist accepts on their behalf," said Park, who is steering the event. Fanomenon, also combining awards, concerts and other events, will run Dec. 2 to 12, 2

2026-07-27 19:00:31:00

Korea to hold fandom awards Fanomenon starting in Dec. 2027

An 11-day K-culture festival built around K-pop concerts and an awards show centered on fandom will debut in December 2027. The Presidential Committee on Popular Culture Exchange, co-chaired by Culture Minister Chae Hwi-young and JYP Entertainment founder J.Y. Park, released its plan for the event, called Fanomenon, on Monday. The festival runs Dec. 2 to 12, 2027, opening with a gala on the first night. It will be split between Seoul Arena in Changdong, northern Seoul, which is due for completio

2026-07-27 13:30:00:00