Most Popular
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Seoul chastises predatory pricing claims over Czech nuclear export deal
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3 suspects apprehended for selling celebrity deepfake porn: police
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Xiaomi takes 2nd spot after Samsung in August smartphone sales
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[Herald Interview] Kim Woo-bin grew to appreciate ‘unseen’ heroes with ‘Officer Black Belt’
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Hybe acquires US PR agency
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Heavy rain, strong winds to lash Korea this weekend
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Yoon, Fiala seek wider range of cooperation beyond nuclear energy
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'Music Bank' team demands apology from Real Madrid for cancellation of Madrid concert
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[Exclusive] [Herald Interview] MBK incapable of running Korea Zinc’s Australia business: Aussie renewable energy CEO
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Car crashes into restaurant; 1 dead, 5 injured
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[Herald Review] ‘Phantom’ focuses on tragic character, fails to be memorable
The musical “Phantom” reveals another layer of the tragic, ghostly character who lives at the Paris Opera House, and who has stolen the hearts of many for ages. Maury Yeston and Arthur Kopit’s “Phantom” -- long overshadowed by Andrew Lloyd Weber’s smash hit “The Phantom of the Opera” -- opened Wednesday in Seoul at the Charlotte Theater in Jamsil, eastern Seoul. The Korean-language version of the licensed musical, which features original mu
March 22, 2021
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Ahn Eun-me’s ‘Dragons’ to take flight
Choreographer Ahn Eun-me has set out to uplift people’s spirits amid the COVID-19 pandemic with her latest project “Dragons,” which features a group of young dancers from across Asia. “Dragons” will go on stage at Yeongdeungpo Art Hall in western Seoul on Saturday and Sunday. For the piece, Ahn sought out Generation Z dancers, those born between 1996 to 2010. Having grown up in a world dominated by mobile technology, Ahn believes the Gen Z dancers are “d
March 22, 2021
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Violinist Chung Kyung-wha cancels performances due to hand injury
World-class violinist Chung Kyung-wha has abruptly called off several performances due to an injury in her left hand. The 73-year-old virtuoso violinist was to hold a solo recital on Saturday at Namdong Sorae Arts Hall in Incheon. The sell-out recital, however, was canceled on the day, following Chung’s injury. “The recital has been unfortunately canceled due to the artist’s left hand injury. We ask for the understanding of the audiences who have waited for the recital,&rd
March 21, 2021
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French original ‘Les Miserables’ musical concert to come to Korea
The original French concert version of the musical “Les Miserables” will go onstage in South Korea on April 30 and run for about a month. The concert is inspired by the musical “Les Miserables,” adapted from Victor Hugo’s 1862 novel of the same name. Since its French premiere in 1980, the musical has been performed in 44 countries before 70 million audience members. The concert version was staged in Seoul and Busan in 2019, and tickets were sold out for all per
March 16, 2021
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BTS fails to win Grammy, but achieves K-pop milestone
Though K-pop superstar band BTS failed to secure a Grammy with its latest single, “Dynamite,” the septet delivered an epic performance as the first South Korean act to perform at the music event. The 63rd Annual Grammy Awards were held Sunday night in Los Angeles in a hybrid format that featured pretaped performances. The septet’s single “Dynamite” -- the first single the group has performed entirely in English -- was nominated in the Pop Duo/Group Performance
March 15, 2021
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Richard Yongjae O’Neill wins Grammy with concerto recording
Third time’s the charm for violist Richard Yongjae O’Neill. The three-time Grammy nominee took home the award for the best classical instrumental solo for his recording of Christopher Theofanidis’ “Concerto for Viola and Chamber Orchestra” in the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards held on Sunday, local time. The recording was made under the baton of conductor David Alan Miller and the Albany Symphony Orchestra. “This is a great day for the viola,” O’N
March 15, 2021
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Spotify secures IU’s music for K-pop listeners
Kakao Entertainment and Spotify Technology on Thursday announced that it will make songs distributed by the Korean company available on the Swedish audio giant’s streaming platform across the globe, after a one-week suspension. The agreement will allow listeners overseas to resume enjoying songs by popular Korean artists, including IU and Zico, which were removed temporarily from the Spotify platform from the beginning of March. The platform operator at the time explained that the song
March 11, 2021
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Yang In-mo explores ‘The Genetics of Strings’
Violinist Yang In-mo, also known as In-mo Yang or sometimes “Inmonini” -- a nickname after the legendary violinist Paganini -- released a new album on Tuesday. The album, named “The Genetics of Strings,” is his second album following “Paganini: 24 Caprices for Violin,” in 2018 after winning the 2015 Paganini International Violin Competition. Yang was the first Korean to win the top prize at the competition. “After the Paganini album, I was searching
March 10, 2021
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Orchestras to bring League of Legends music to life
Music from the hit video game League of Legends will be brought to life by an orchestra at the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts in Seoul. “League of Legends Live: The Orchestra” will be held at the Sejong Center in Gwanghwamun, central Seoul, April 2-3. The concerts were originally to be held in November, but postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It is the first time for the Sejong Center, a major performing arts venue in Seoul, to present a show with music from a video ga
March 9, 2021
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Pandemic-hit musicals on strong rebound
Though the COVID-19 pandemic continues to restrict many aspects of our lives, the local musical scene has been striving to bounce back. After the government relaxed the social distancing rules for performing arts venues in early February, local musical productions have been recording sell-outs with musical fans returning to theaters. According to the Korea Performing Arts Box Office Information System (KOPIS), aggregate ticket sales of performing arts productions recorded 16.7 billion won in
March 9, 2021
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67 indie music groups to perform for 5-day #saveourstages Korea
Korean online music festival #saveourstages kicked off Monday with the aim of supporting indie music venues hit hard by COVID-19. A total of 67 groups will be performing through Friday at five different stages -- Rolling Hall, West Bridge, Prism Hall, Radio Gaga and Dream Hall -- all located in the Hongdae area in Seoul, which is known for its indie music scene. Each venue will host about two acts per day, giving guests a diverse choice of music to listen to. “We can’t solve this
March 9, 2021
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Orchestral music to return this spring
The 2021 Korean Orchestra Festival will be held from March 30 to April 22 at the Seoul Arts Center in southern Seoul. Though the COVID-19 pandemic presents new restrictions to classical music performances – especially for symphonic works which require large orchestras – this year’s festival will be held under a “new normal” theme, reflecting the virus-plagued times. The festival features the biggest lineup in nearly a decade with 21 orchestras participating. Las
March 7, 2021
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K-pop fans hung out to dry over Kakao-Spotify music licensing termination
Last weekend, global K-pop fans on Spotify faced a blackout of hundreds of songs by popular artists, including Zico, Mamamoo and IU, after the Swedish audio giant's licensing agreement with South Korea's top music distributor Kakao M Corp. came to an end. While some music has since been restored under artists' separate labels, Spotify Technology SA and Kakao M, now known as Kakao Entertainment Corp., said discussions for a new deal are ongoing. The South Korean company's music has been availab
March 5, 2021
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Quixotic knight sings ‘The Impossible Dream’
Musical “Man of La Mancha” sings of the need to dream in the COVID-19 pandemic-hit era. The Korean-language version, licensed from the Broadway musical production, recently ran at the Charlotte Theater in eastern Seoul after the government relaxed social distancing rules for performing arts theaters with a middle-seat vacancy rule. Prior to the opening, it had been postponed three times. The plot is an adaptation of Miguel de Cervantes’ “Don Quixote.” Taking t
March 3, 2021
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TIMF to take place, reflecting on ‘Changing Reality’
The 2021 Tongyeong International Music Festival will take place from March 26 to April 4, presenting 23 performances under the title of “Changing Reality.” The annual music festival held in Tongyeong, South Gyeongsang Province commemorates the iconic Korean composer Yun I-sang. It features classical music to contemporary music, inviting performances from domestic and overseas artists and orchestras. For the opening concert on March 26, Venezuelan conductor Christian Vasquez will
March 2, 2021
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Spotify suspends music streaming service of K-pop provided by Kakao M
Global streaming giant Spotify Technology SA on Monday suspended the streaming service of K-pop tracks licensed by Kakao M on its global platform as their license deal has expired, officials said. The move has prevented global K-pop fans from listening to songs of major South Korean artists, including IU and Apink, through Spotify. The Swedish company said it has failed to reach an agreement on a new license deal with Kakao M, South Korea's top music distributor, despite efforts to clinch a co
March 1, 2021
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Kang Eun-kyung ends her term as CEO of SPO
Kang Eun-kyung stepped down from her role as president of the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra on Sunday, after a three-year tenure. After the Seoul mayoral by-election, which will take place on April 7, a seven-member committee tasked with appointing a new head will be formed. The committee consists of two recommended by the Seoul city government, two by SPO’s board of directors and three by the Seoul Metropolitan Council. The new CEO of the orchestra is expected to be appointed before the
Feb. 28, 2021
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LG Arts Center announces program for its last season in Gangnam
Set to move to Magok, western Seoul, in 2022, the LG Arts Center released the program for its last season in Gangnam, southern Seoul, Friday. The center’s annual program CoMPAS21 will feature more domestic acts, as visits by international artists and art troupes are limited by the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic. Performances by foreign productions are to be available through screenings. Theater director Yang Jung-ung, who staged the opening ceremony for the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympic
Feb. 26, 2021
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[Eye interview] Swift as a flying fish, Leenalchi breaks new ground
You know you’ve made it when you hear your songs everywhere you turn. When you are signed up with major advertisers, including Samsung Electronics for their latest phone commercial, you know you are at the top of your game. Band Leenalchi finds itself in just that position. Launched in May 2019, the seven-piece band took the country by storm when tourism promotion videos featuring the band’s music and the Ambiguous Dance Company went viral last summer and there has been no looking b
Feb. 26, 2021
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Green witch works her magic in Korea
After months of shutdown, the local performing arts scene has finally begun to return to a new normal. The comeback is led by a green-skinned witch, riding on a broomstick. The musical “Wicked” opened this month at Blue Square in Itaewon, central Seoul. Though still affected by the government’s social distancing rules, which require that every other seat be left vacant, the show is recording sellouts. Based on Gregory Maguire’s 1995 novel “Wicked: The Life and T
Feb. 25, 2021