Old stories to grace stage with new interpretations

The 2020 dance scene will be packed with productions that reinterpret well-known stories, offering fresh insights into time-honored tales. Eifman Ballet, led by Russian choreographer Boris Eifman, will perform “Beyond Sin” and “Anna Karenina” in May. Eifman is recognized for his reinterpretations of Russian novels with dramatic expression.“Beyond Sin” is a choreographic interpretation of Dostoevsky’s “The Brothers Karamazov.” Eifman has disti

Jan. 5, 2020

[Newsmaker] K-pop chart manipulation resurfaces after SBS investigative program

The K-pop chart manipulation issue has once again come into the spotlight, following an SBS investigative journalism show that aired Saturday.The episode about the controversial issue caused an immediate stir on social media platforms and in search engine trends. On the latest episode of “Unanswered Questions,” industry insiders highlighted suspicions of music chart manipulation when a song, especially one by a relatively unknown musician, suddenly pops up on the charts without

Jan. 5, 2020

BLACKPINK's 'Kill This Love' video tops 700m YouTube views

The music video of K-pop girl band BLACKPINK's "Kill This Love" has hit the milestone of 700 million YouTube views.The video, released in April, surpassed the 700 million threshold late Saturday evening, according to the band's label, YG Entertainment, on Sunday. The new record makes BLACKPINK the first K-pop band with four music videos that racked up more than 700 million views. The others are "Ddu-du Ddu-du," "Boombayah," and "As If It's Your Last."Follo

Jan. 5, 2020

Queen, Green Day, MIKA to have concerts in Korea this year

World-renowned bands and musicians will visit South Korea this year to hold concerts for longing enthusiasts here.British rock band Queen is the most anticipated foreign artist visiting Korea in 2020.The “Super Concert 25 QUEEN” will take place at Gocheok Sky Dome in western Seoul on Jan. 18-19 as part of the band‘s “The Rhapsody Tour” that kicked off in June last year. It will be the second performance in South Korea by the British band after one during the Super S

Jan. 4, 2020

Big Bang to make comeback at US music festival

Popular K-pop band Big Bang will make a much-awaited comeback to the stage at a US music festival this spring after its members completed their military duties, the group's agency said Friday.The act was invited to this year's Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in Indio, California, in April, according to YG Entertainment. Big Bang will perform on April 10 and 17, along with other musicians, including Rage Against the Machine, Peggy Gou and Hatsune Miku.It is expected to be the f

Jan. 3, 2020

JYJ's Kim Jae-joong to tour six Asian cities

Singer Kim Jae-joong of JYJ will begin a six-city Asian tour later this month, his management agency said Friday.The three-month tour will kick off in Seoul on Jan. 18-19 at the Peace Hall of Kyunghee University and continue in Bangkok, Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, Taipei and Macao, according to C-Jes Entertainment. Kim, a member of the Korean pop group JYJ, will release his first Korean-language album in four years, titled "Love Ballad," on Jan. 14.Debuting as an original member of boy band

Jan. 3, 2020

[Weekender] [Herald Interview] Pushing boundaries of traditional music

For some bands, music is all about breaking stodgy old rules and creating new ones. However, for Black String, a traditional Korean music band, the revolution may be on a bigger scale. It wants to establish its own genre. Black String, founded in 2011, consists of four artists, three of them gugak performers. The group is led by string instrument geomungo virtuoso Heo Yoon-jeong with Lee Aram on daegeum (bamboo flute), Hwang Min-wang on janggu (hourglass-shaped drum) and Jean Oh on electric guit

Jan. 3, 2020

[Weekender] From tradition to innovation

Though gugak, traditional Korean music, is often considered an unchanging art form from the past, various gugak acts and institutions are working on revitalizing the genre to make it more relatable to today’s audiences.K-pop has taken the world by storm, but Korea’s traditional music is still underappreciated even among South Koreans, let along the wider global audience. Strong prejudices against gugak exist -- namely, that it is boring and difficult to listen to.Despite those negati

Jan. 3, 2020

National Theater of Korea brings British theater to big screen

The National Theater of Korea is to bring three highly regarded British plays to the big screen in February. The three pieces are “One Man, Two Guvnors,” “The Lehman Trilogy” and “The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time.” The works were filmed live and will be shown at the Daloreum Theater Feb. 6-16. Their arrival in South Korea is part of National Theatre Live, organized by the Royal National Theatre in Britain to bring the best of British thea

Jan. 2, 2020

Super Junior's Hee-chul, TWICE's Momo in romantic relationship

Kim Hee-chul of boy band Super Junior and girl group TWICE's Japanese member Momo are in a romantic relationship, the artists' management agencies confirmed Thursday."After getting along as close colleagues of show business, the two have recently started liking and dating each other," Kim's agency, Label SJ, said. The relationship was also confirmed by JYP Entertainment, the talent agency of TWICE.The artists from some of South Korea's most loved idol bands make them one of the highest

Jan. 2, 2020

BTS perform at Times Square on New Year's eve

K-pop sensation BTS were the second South Korean pop artists to perform live in New York City's Times Square on New Year's eve, in a spectacle packed with crowds set for a countdown to the new year.The seven-member boy band showed up on the stage in the heart of Manhattan just before midnight on Tuesday (New York time), giving an eight-minute performance of two of their best hits: "Make It Right" and "Boy with Luv."When their part ended, the group shouted to the crowd, "

Jan. 1, 2020

Return of long-forgotten singer Yang Joon-il brings middle-aged fans to music scene

Following a short-lived music career in the early 1990s, Yang Joon-il disappeared into obscurity, leaving many fans without a clue about the star.A JTBC TV show has recently brought the long-forgotten star back to the public consciousness, summoning his old fans, now in their 40's, back to the K-pop scene. Fans' reaction was ecstatic and tickets for Yang's comeback fan meeting on Tuesday sold out, making him one of the most talked-about celebrities of today within the span of one month.In hindsi

Dec. 31, 2019

Momoland returns as six-piece girl group with retro music

Momoland has dropped a new retro-inspired digital single as a six-member girl group, following the departure of three members.In a media showcase held in central Seoul on Monday, Momoland officially unveiled the digital single "Thumbs Up," another addictive number following its captivating hits, such as "Bboom Bboom" and "Baam."It is the group's first music release as a six-piece unit after three members -- Taeha, Yeonwoo and Daisy -- left Momoland. The reconfigurat

Dec. 31, 2019

2020 pays homage to Beethoven

As 2020 marks the 250th anniversary of Ludwig Van Beethoven’s birth, various recitals and concerts are taking place across the world in remembrance of the great musician from the 18th century. Korea is of course no exception in paying tribute to Beethoven. The classical music scene has already been pumped and primed in anticipation, gearing up for a big celebration. Although Beethoven’s music has already been frequently played in musical presentations here, such instances have double

Dec. 31, 2019

From glory of BTS, ‘Parasite’ to untimely deaths; highs and lows of 2019

January 2020 will decide if “Parasite” becomes the first South Korean film ever to win at the Golden Globe Awards. The next month, a run at the Oscars will wrap up an impressive series of wins for director Bong Joon-ho’s work, which bagged the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival earlier this year.This year, Korean pop culture experienced highs like the Bong film taking the world by storm and depressing lows such as the untimely deaths of beloved celebrities. Here&rsquo

Dec. 30, 2019

CJ ENM to compensate victims of audition show vote fixing

CJ ENM, the operator of K-pop-oriented music channel Mnet, on Monday issued an apology for the vote-fixing scandal of its high-profile idol competition show and vowed to financially compensate K-pop trainees victimized in the case."We will absolutely take responsibility to compensate trainees who sustained damage from the vote fixing of Mnet's audition shows, including the 'Produce' series," CEO Heo Min-heoi of CJ ENM said in a press conference.  "(CJ ENM) will take necessary

Dec. 30, 2019

Singer-songwriter Younha to release music featuring BTS' RM

South Korean singer-songwriter Younha will release a new album next week that includes a track featuring RM, a member of K-pop boy band BTS, her management agency said Monday. The five-track album, "Unstable Mindset," is set to hit major online music stores next Monday, C9 Entertainment said.  Of the five tracks, the first, "Winter Flower," is a collaborating song, featuring RM, according to C9.The second, "Black Cloud," is the lead track of "Unstable Mind

Dec. 30, 2019

Gamut of big name orchestras onstage in 2020

Fans of classical music in Korea have a lot to look out for in 2020, as the stage will be packed with celebrated orchestras led by old masters and rising stars.For start, the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra is set for a new beginning with its new maestro Osmo Vanska. The Finnish conductor begins his term at the SPO with inaugural concerts at the Lotte Concert hall Feb.14-15.  The Mahler and Sibelius specialist will be presenting Mahler’s Symphony No. 2 in C minor “Resurrection.&rdq

Dec. 29, 2019

Red Velvet member injured during rehearsal for TV show

A member of the girl group Red Velvet sustained serious injuries in a fall during a rehearsal for an awards show on Wednesday, her agency announced.SM Entertainment said Wendy was diagnosed with broken pelvis and right wrist after falling from the stage at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul, while preparing for the K-pop show to be hosted and aired by broadcaster SBS later Wednesday.SM said Wendy, who also suffered a facial injury, received emergency treatment and will undergo further tests at a nearby h

Dec. 26, 2019

Boston Symphony Orchestra to make Korean debut in February

The Boston Symphony Orchestra is to visit South Korea for the first time, gracing the stage at the Seoul Arts Center Feb. 6-7.It will be the time-honored orchestra’s first visit to the country. A concert scheduled in 1960 as part of its Asian tour had to be canceled due to the April 19 Revolution.  On the first day, the orchestra will present Bartok’s Concerto for Orchestra Sz. 116 BB. 123; Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 24, K. 491; and Ravel’s Daphnis et Chloe Suite No

Dec. 25, 2019