Elton John to play in Korea next month

Legendary singer-songwriter Elton John is coming to Korea next month for an intimate concert.  The Grammy-winning artist will be putting up a one-night only performance on Nov. 27 at Hyundai Card Understage in Seoul‘s Hannam-dong, a venue that seats up to 500 people. The show, which is part of John’s currently running world tour “All the Hits,” is the only one on such a small scale, providing the audience with a rare opportunity to experience the celebrated musician’s performance up close.  Prom

Oct. 13, 2015

Bizet's opera 'Pearl Fishers' to hit Seoul

Georges Bizet’s “Carmen” is one of the most beloved operas, with its incredible drama and music featuring an alluring gypsy enchanting fans around the world. The timeless classic is a Korean favorite, having ranked No. 1 in a 2013 Korea National Opera survey. A lesser-known work of the French composer is set to hit the local stage this week, marking the very first time for it to be staged in Korea. The KNO will stage a production of “The Pearl Fishers,” with an international cast, at Seoul Arts

Oct. 12, 2015

‘Craft that responds to our problems’

Alain de Botton, best known here for his 1993 book “Essays in Love,” continues his relationship with art after his 2013 book ”Art as Therapy,” this time curating a craft exhibition in Korea. The Swiss-born British philosopher and writer has taken up the unusual job of an exhibition curator at the ongoing Cheongju International Craft Biennale to offer fresh ways to view craft. He worked with 15 Korean artists to come up with craftworks and explore their psychological side.“I started to think what

Oct. 12, 2015

IU to drop 4th EP ‘Chat-Shire’

Singer IU will drop her fourth EP “Chat-Shire” on Oct. 23, the 23-year-old singer revealed via social media.  (Loen Entertainment)Her previous album “A Flower Bookmark” was released in May last year. IU, who debuted in 2008, is one of the most visible female solo singers in the local music scene now, with hits “Good Day,” “You&I,” “The Red Shoes” and “Not Spring, Love, or Cherry Blossoms.”She recently admitted her two-year romantic relationship with Korean singer Chang Ki-ha.By Kim Yu-jin　(kimyu

Oct. 12, 2015

‘One K Concert’ urges Korean unification

The “One K Concert” was held Friday at World Cup Stadium in Sangam-dong, Seoul, under the slogan “One Dream One Korea.”In spite of the its original intention of aspiring for Korean unification, the concert was actually no different from other K-pop concerts, hardly putting any emphasis on the theme.Mainly hosted by the organizing committee of the New Era Unification Song Campaign, the concert was sponsored by an array of institutions including the Ministry of Unification and Lotte Group.It was d

Oct. 11, 2015

Suwon gets new city museum

A new museum is set to open Thursday in Suwon near the historic site of the Hwaseong Haenggung Palace.  Suwon Ipark Museum of Art is the first city-run museum in Suwon, the largest city in Gyeonggi Province with 1.1 million people. Suwon Ipark Museum of Art (SIMA)“The museum realizes a long-held wish to create a space to bring art and art education to Suwon citizens,” said Jeong Seung-bo, exhibition director of the museum. The museum building, designed, constructed and donated by Hyundai Develop

Oct. 7, 2015

Artist Oh In-hwan wins 2015 Korea Artist Prize

Artist Oh In-hwan has been named the winner of the 2015 Korea Artist Prize, the National Museum of Modern, Contemporary Art, Korea said Wednesday. "Oh has explored important issues of modern society through his unique works of art that deliver strong personal messages toward social issues,” a judging committee said in a press release. Artist Oh In-hwan (MMCA)Oh, 50, has explored social and cultural issues through participatory or site-specific projects. Based on his personal experiences, Oh tran

Oct. 7, 2015

YB celebrates 20 years with new single, concerts

YB, one of the country’s most iconic rock bands, will be celebrating 20 years of rocking with the release of new single “20-years,” as well as by holding four concerts in Seoul later this month. 　“It has not been an easy ride and many bands do not make it this far, so this is a very special feat,” said band leader and vocalist Yoon Do-hyun during a press conference held at Ilchi Art Hall in Seoul on Tuesday.With Yoon at the helm over the past two decades, YB has not only solidified its name as o

Oct. 7, 2015

Seoul Philharmonic, up close and personal

Continuing the efforts to vamp up its public image by reaching out to the community, the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra opened up its rehearsal studio Tuesday night for the second time this year. Tickets to the rehearsal were sold out, as the SPO welcomed 45 members of the public to the orchestra’s practice room to get a behind-the-scenes glimpse of how the maestro conducts a rehearsal session. This concept of public education and involvement has been used by other orchestras spanning the globe, s

Oct. 7, 2015

Art fair presents major names in contemporary art

The Korea International Art Fair, the biggest art fair in Korea, kicked off Tuesday, introducing a wide range of artworks presented by 182 local and international galleries at Coex. In its 14th year, the fair invites leading galleries in Korea and from overseas, including Kukje Gallery, Arario Gallery and Hakgojae Gallery in Korea, Pearl Lam Gallery in Hong Kong and Tomio Koyama Gallery in Japan. Featured artists include world-renowned artists such as Andy Warhol, Nam June Paik, Tracey Emin, Kim

Oct. 6, 2015

‘K-pop should try mixing genres for global appeal’: US producer

Although K-pop has garnered attention worldwide especially across Asia, Korean pop songs still lack international appeal.In order to further boost K-pop globally, Korean producers and artists should try mixing different genres such as hip pop and jazz whose sounds are appealing in other parts of the world, a prominent U.S. music producer and artist said.Nate “Danja” Hills, American music producer, talks about music production in the digital age ahead of the Seoul International Music Fair in Seou

Oct. 6, 2015

[Album Review] Gary underlines rapper roots in ‘2002’

　　Gary　“2002”　(Loen Entertainment)　Rapper Gary of Leessang has widened his fan base with his steady role in the megahit game show “Running Man,” but his first studio-length album “2002” shows that he is first and foremost a musician.Collaborating with artists like Koonta, Jay Park, John Park, Skull and Deepflow, Gary weaves together an album that bears the hallmarks of past Leessang hits -- strong featured vocals that provide choruses to anchor down the candid, sometimes explicit lyrics that are

Oct. 2, 2015

Hi Seoul Fest to highlight street performances

A promotional image of the upcoming Korea-France collaboration performance piece, “Beautiful Escape: Emergency Exit,” which will be held as part of the 2015 Hi Seoul Festival lineup on Oct. 2 and 3 at the Seoul Museum of Art and the Cheonggye Plaza, respectively. (Hi Seoul Festival)This year’s Hi Seoul Festival will highlight more than 50 acts and street performances, including eight acts invited from overseas. Under the theme of “Let’s play on the street,” the festival is being held from Oct. 1

Sept. 30, 2015

[Herald Review] ‘Cinderella’ musical enchanting, comical

Yang Yo-seob of the boy band Beast plays Prince Christopher in the ongoing musical production of “Cinderella.” (Showholic)One of the world’s most recognized and enchanting fairy tales, “Cinderella” has now taken center stage as one of Korea’s newest musical productions. With music by Richard Rodgers and lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II, the Broadway hit musical has made its way to Seoul for the first time. Hammerstein’s original Broadway show made a grand debut on the musical scene in 2013, receiv

Sept. 29, 2015

[Herald Review] Bon Jovi returns to Seoul after 20 years

A thundering crowd of 14,000 fans greeted the classic American rock band Bon Jovi as they took to the stage in Seoul for the first time in 20 years Tuesday night.After opening the concert with “That’s What the Water Made Me” from their 2013 album “What About Now,” Bon Jovi got the crowd roaring with “You Give Love a Bad Name” from their 1986 album “Slippery When Wet,” the record that rocketed them to stardom. That song was followed up by “Born to Be My Baby,” and front man Jon Bon Jovi took a br

Sept. 23, 2015

Two living masters of Korean art 　

Art has always been about challenging existing norms and practices. For artists, defying accepted art practices often means finding new possibilities of art, thereby expanding the standard boundary of art. Artists Lee Seung-taek and Ha Chong-hyun are two pioneers in this respect. Challenging established art practices has been their lifetime task. When Koreans were used to seeing art as pretty paintings and sculptures, Lee and Ha experimented with nontraditional materials to challenge typical vis

Sept. 23, 2015

Seoul Int’l Music Fair boasts impressive lineup

This year’s Seoul International Music Fair, or MU:CON, is set to see an impressive lineup of 51 artists, including alternative bands Hyukoh and Kiha & The Faces, K-pop groups B1A4 and GFriend and power vocal acts such as ALi and Mamamoo. Of the 51 teams set to appear onstage in next month’s event, 16 are rock or alternative rock bands, the organizer Korea Creative Contents Agency said in a press release. The bands include Hyukoh, a four-member act that has recently soared to stardom with its ind

Sept. 22, 2015

Park Yoo-chun to work at Gangnam-gu Office

Singer-actor Park Yoo-chun of K-pop trio JYJ is set to work as a public service worker at Gangnam-gu Office starting Thursday, the Defense Ministry announced Tuesday. (C-jeS Entertainment)The 29-year-old began his four-week basic military training on Aug. 27 at an Army training camp in Nonsan, South Chungcheong Province. He will serve for two years as a public service worker, a substitute for active mandatory military service, due to his asthma. By Ko Ji-seon (jiseonko@heraldcorp.com)

Sept. 22, 2015

[Herald Review] ‘Quidam’ brings dreamy enchantment to Seoul

A scene from "Quidam" (Mast Entertainment)Nothing short of jaw dropping, Cirque du Soleil’s performance of “Quidam” is a shining example of how a live production can both defy gravity and Murphy’s Law by making the impossible possible.Returning to Korea for the first time in eight years, the Franco-Canadian circus extraordinaire introduced itself to the Korean masses for the first time in 2007 and set a new record for performances, ranking No. 1 in ticket sales for more than nine consecutive wee

Sept. 22, 2015

Korean craft and design on show in Paris, London

Delicate curved lines of moon jars, glistening mother-of-pearl inlay, geometric aesthetics in Korean traditional costume hanbok and alphabet Hangeul -- representative aesthetics of Korean craft and design are on view in Paris and London.In Paris, “Korea Now,” which kicked off at the Decorative Arts Museum on Friday, presents a wide spectrum of Korean art from traditional craftworks to contemporary fashion until Jan. 3, 2016. Celebrating the 130th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Korea

Sept. 21, 2015