Korean pop culture icons spotlighted at ComplexCon’s Asia debut

HONG KONG -- ComplexCon, an event that showcases urban culture, music and art, made its Asian debut in Hong Kong this weekend, showcasing an array of Asian pop personalities, including K-pop group BlackPink, singer Jay Park and Korean gamer Faker. In a collaboration between Blackpink and TM/KK, referring to Takashi Murakami, a Japanese contemporary artist, and Kaikai Kiki, Murakami's art production and management company, Blackpink-TM/KK-branded items such as light sticks were featured at

March 24, 2024

Lim Yunchan concerts cancelled due to 'hand strain'

Pianist Lim Yunchan's concerts scheduled over the next two weeks in Europe have been canceled due to a strain in the piano star's hand. The announcement came from Lim's social networking service account as well as his overseas agency, IMG Artists, on Saturday, Korean time. IMG said that Lim is experiencing a strain in his hand and currently undergoing treatment with his doctor and physical therapist. Lim apologized for the cancellations, saying, “Performing and sharing music

March 23, 2024

[Well-curated] Indulge in the classics

LPs from yesteryear Jung-gu, home to Myeong-dong, a popular shopping district with Shinsegae Department Store and Lotte Department Store, is a bustling district filled with tourists and shoppers. Head to Hoehyun Shopping Center, an underground shopping arcade connected to Shinsegae Department Store is a paradise for music buffs. Located at the center of the underground shopping center is Livingsa, one of the several secondhand LP stores at the arcade stocked with a seemingly endless selection

March 22, 2024

Gyechon to celebrate 10th anniversary with Cho Seong-jin, Kim Sun-wook, Baik Kun-woo

Pianist Cho Seong-jin and Kim Sun-wook are set to take the stage together at the 10th Gyechon Classic Music Festival, slated to take place from May 31 to June 2. Both Cho and Kim are celebrated pianists but this time Kim, the artistic director of the Gyeonggi Philharmonic Orchestra, will take the stage as a conductor, marking the first time the two will perform on stage together as a pianist and conductor. The duo’s collaboration, a performance of Shostakovich's Piano Concerto No. 1

March 21, 2024

'Transfer dating': Why dating without gap touches a nerve in Korea

Actors Ryu Jun-yeol and Han So-hee, newly announced lovebirds in the South Korean entertainment scene, recently vowed legal action against a barrage of what they say are malicious comments targeting their romance. In just three months, Han in particular went from being voted "female celebrity most people want to spend Christmas with" to losing endorsement deals. The mere accusation of "hwanseung yeonae" -- which roughly translates to "transferring between dating partne

March 21, 2024

Tokyo Philharmonic, led by Chung Myung-whun, to tour in Korea with Cho Seong-jin

After nearly two decades, the internationally acclaimed Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra is set to return to South Korea. The much-anticipated event will feature performances by some of South Korea’s most sought-after musicians, maestro Chung Myung-whun and pianist Cho Seong-jin and more. The tour will be a chance to see the synergy of the TPO and Chung, who holds a longstanding relationship with the orchestra. Chung has been collaborating with the orchestra since 2000 and was appointed its ho

March 20, 2024

Rudolf Buchbinder to perform all five Beethoven piano concertos in June

Following a tour last year showcasing all 32 Beethoven piano sonatas in South Korea, Austrian pianist Rudolf Buchbinder, renowned for his interpretations of Beethoven's works, will present all five of the composer’s piano concertos in June. Since 2012, the pianist, now 77, has been a regular guest in Seoul, captivating audiences with his renditions of Beethoven's piano sonatas and piano concertos. However, this year’s concerts mark not only the pianist's ninth visit to

March 20, 2024

KNSO to perform John Williams’ cinema music

The Korean National Symphony Orchestra will bring the music of a living legend, John Williams, to the stage this weekend. The concert, under the baton of conductor Anthony Gabriele, will showcase the American composer’s iconic scores for the “Indiana Jones" series,” “E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial," "Jurassic Park," "Schindler's List," the "Star Wars" series and “Harry Potter,” demonstrating the evolution of his music f

March 19, 2024

Tripitaka Koreana texts to be digitized: CHA

The Tripitaka Koreana, the most complete collection of Buddhist texts, laws and treaties carved on 81,258 wooden printing blocks in the 13th century, will be digitized for public viewing by 2027, according to the Cultural Heritage Administration. The agency will make prints of the woodblocks housed at Haeinsa, a temple in South Gyeongsang Province, on hanji, Korea’s traditional mulberry paper, and scan the pages. The public will be able to access the digital files as early as 2027. “

March 19, 2024

Annual spring music festivals herald spring's arrival

In April and May, South Korea's classical music scene will once again come alive with two of its most prestigious annual festivals: the Korean Orchestra Festival and the Seoul Spring Festival of Chamber Music. The Korean Orchestra Festival, hosted at the Seoul Arts Center from April 3 to 28, will feature 23 orchestras from across the nation under the theme "The Wave," promising harmonious and captivating performances by top-notch conductors and musicians. Meanwhile, the Seoul Sp

March 19, 2024

Seoul foundation aims for city never short of culture, art

Celebrating 20 years, the Seoul Foundation for Arts and Culture, a key organization under the Seoul city government responsible for carrying out its cultural policies, on Friday unveiled a new vision, “A City for Artistic Souls, Seoul.” With the vision, the foundation said it is expanding programs so that the capital city is never short of cultural and artistic activities in all four seasons. To achieve this goal, the foundation said Seoul will be armed with global cultural content

March 15, 2024

Controversy forces cancellation of Svetlana Zakharova's performances in Seoul

The upcoming performances of renowned Russian ballerina Svetlana Zakharova in Seoul have been canceled, according to organizer InArts Production on Friday. "We have been planning and preparing for a long time since before the COVID-19 pandemic, considering various situations. However, recently, we have decided to cancel the event due to concerns about the safety of both artists and audiences, as well as at the request of the Seoul Arts Center," the organizer said in an announcement. Th

March 15, 2024

[Well-curated] Taste the traditional: Folk museum performances, traditional liquor tasting and PSG store

The National Folk Museum of Korea, located next to Gyeongbokgung in Jongno-gu, central Seoul, hosts a Korean folk performance every Saturday at 3 p.m. in the museum's theater. The performance is free and seating is allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. Gracing the stage Saturday is the Korean traditional dance "Spring, Bloom as Dance," a presentation that captures the essence of spring and a myriad of human emotions through dance, blending both newly choreographed and tra

March 15, 2024

‘Oldboy’ with Hello Kitty hairband: The lengths Korean stars go to please fans

In South Korea's fan culture of aegyo, which emphasizes stars appeasing fans with adorable and cutesy behaviors, even the legendary "Oldboy" star is not exempt. In fact, his wholehearted embrace of this playful interaction with fans is earning him even more respect. As Choi Min-sik, globally acclaimed for his charismatic role in the 2003 film, attends audience meet-and-greet events held at local theaters as part of promotions for his latest film “Exhuma,” photos of t

March 14, 2024

CHA helps reopen Uzbek museum in aid push

An Uzbekistan-based museum housing some of the country’s oldest archeological artifacts reopened Wednesday with the help of official development assistance from South Korea. The first-floor exhibition halls at the two-story Afrasiab Museum of Samarkand -- located at the historical site of Afrasiyab, an ancient city in Uzbekistan -- underwent a two-year renovation led by Korea’s Cultural Heritage Administration. The makeover included halls featuring royal murals or wall paintings that

March 14, 2024

[Herald Review] Two Victor Hugo stories unfold on musical stage

Two musicals based on works by French author Victor Hugo are attracting audiences in Korea: “Les Miserables” and “Notre-Dame de Paris.” Both musicals are inspired by stories written by the prominent French writer, poet, and playwright and utilize a sing-through format, where the majority, if not all, of the dialogue is sung rather than spoken. The musicals include melodies that are iconic numbers worth enjoying on a live stage. “Belle (Beautiful),” sung by Q

March 13, 2024

[Herald Interview] Jung Sung-hwa on challenge of playing Quasimodo

Jung Sung-hwa, a comedian-turned-musical actor, has been synonymous with the character of Korean independence fighter Ahn Jung-geun in the hit musical “Hero,” which was also adapted into a film in 2022. He is also remembered by many for memorable roles like Jean Valjean in the musical “Les Miserable” or Daniel Hillard in “Mrs. Doubtfire.” Taking the role of Quasimodo in “Notre-Dame de Paris,” the 20-year veteran of musicals hopes people can forget

March 13, 2024

New Mecenat Association Chair Yoon Young-dal stresses arts in corporate culture

“Mecenat is about strengthening the roots of businesses,” according to Yoon Young-dal, the new chairperson of Korea Mecenat Association, on Tuesday. Mecenat, derived from the name of Gaius Maecenas, a politician of ancient Rome who promoted the creative activities of artists and contributed to the revival of Roman art, refers to patronage or sponsorship of the arts, culture or education by individuals, businesses or organizations. The 30-year-old organization with 215 member companie

March 12, 2024

'The Best Sopranos' concert highlights Maria Callas' life through familiar tunes

A tribute to American and Greek soprano Maria Callas took place Monday at Lotte Concert Hall. The concert, titled “The Best Sopranos” brought together five sopranos, whom the artistic director Ha Man-taek of the concert and CEO of Korea ARTS Group, said “are the best sopranos to me, even though they are so far less-well known to the world.” The sopranos -- Park Mi-ja, Kim Ra-hee, Shin Eun-hye, Lee Yun-jeong and Veronica Yoo -- were joined by two tenors Ha and Son Ji-hoon

March 12, 2024

History foundation highlights ‘objective perspective’

A South Korean state-run foundation launched to set the record straight on shared histories with neighbors said it will work on instilling an “objective and future-oriented” perspective on history. At a press conference Tuesday, Park Ji-hang, president of the Northeast Asian History Foundation, said such efforts will potentially help the country win over the international community when its vital national interests are at stake. Park did not elaborate on the specifics. “We are

March 12, 2024