National Theater of Korea to screen recent plays from Europe

The National Theater of Korea brings recent acclaimed international drama productions to the screen in Seoul as part of its NTOK Live Plus program. From Oct. 16 to 20, three productions -- including two premieres and a rescreening of "Ibsen House" -- will be screened at the National Theater’s Daloreum Theater in Seoul. Director Rupert Goold’s "Dear England," which will be screened Oct. 15 and 19, is a critically acclaimed play that won the Best New Play and Best S

Sept. 29, 2024

[Herald Interview] Korean ballet sensation Jeon Min-chul pours his heart into dancing

For Jeon Min-chul, the 20-year-old sensation who has captured the hearts of Korean ballet fans, dancing has been at the center of his world. Asked about hobbies outside of dance, he struggled to find an answer. “That’s actually the hardest question for me. I think I’ve spent all the time I could’ve used for hobbies on dancing. From high school on, it’s all I thought about. Ballet reflects the time and effort you put into it, so I didn’t have the energy for any

Sept. 24, 2024

'Shazam!' to bring multidisciplinary spectacle of dance, circus, visual magic

World-renowned French director and choreographer Philippe Decoufle, known as a pioneer of imaginative multidisciplinary performances, is returning to Korea with his masterpiece "Shazam!" Since its 1998 premiere commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Cannes Film Festival, "Shazam!" has been performed over 200 times at major theaters worldwide. One of the iconic and steady hits of Decoufle's DCA Company, "Shazam!" is scheduled to be performed at the LG Arts Ce

Sept. 24, 2024

[Herald Review] Olivia Rodrigo thrills Korean fans with endless energy

American singer-songwriter Olivia Rodrigo captivated the audience with her boundless energy for the first time in South Korea. As part of the Guts World Tour, she held concerts on Friday and Saturday at Jamsil Indoor Stadium in Songpa-gu, Seoul, drawing a total of 15,000. Wearing a sparkling silver two-piece outfit, the 21-year-old opened the show by performing a series of hit songs, including “Bad Idea Right?,” “Ballad of a Homeschooled Girl” and “Vampire.” S

Sept. 22, 2024

Last words of Korean independence fighter inspire ballet

The long-running ballet production "Ahn Jung-geun: A Dance in the Heaven" will be performed at the CJ Towol Theater in the Seoul Arts Center this weekend. The ballet tells the story of Korean independence fighter Ahn Jung-geun (1879-1910), taking inspiration from Ahn’s final words before his execution in Lushun Prison, China, in March 1910. He was convicted for assassinating Ito Hirobumi, a former Japanese prime minister and the first governor-general of Korea during Japanese col

Sept. 20, 2024

Coldplay to perform in Korea next April

Coldplay returns to Korea in April next year, with what is expected to be the largest-ever performance by an overseas artist in the country. The band's last performance in Korea took place eight years ago. The band will hold four concerts on April 16, 18, 19 and 22, 2025, at Goyang Stadium, which can accommodate some 40,000 spectators per show. Coldplay, consisting of Chris Martin, Jonny Buckland, Guy Berryman and Will Champion, has sold over 100 million records worldwide since its debut in

Sept. 19, 2024

[Herald Interview] Director Yossef K. Junghan brings audience into theater experience with improvisation

When a rocket scientist with obsessive-compulsive disorder meets a woman grieving the loss of her father, their unexpected encounter blossoms into sympathy, love and shared healing as they navigate their traumas. At the heart of their journey is dance, which becomes a powerful catalyst for their connection. The two-person romantic comedy play, “Rendezvous,” written and directed by South Korean director Yossef K. Junghan, kicked off in August at the LG Arts Center in Seoul. Kim first

Sept. 17, 2024

Top overseas music acts heading to Korea

The latter half of 2024 and early 2025 will be full of performances of popular overseas artists. For one, American R&B singer Ne-Yo is coming to Korea. Concert organizer Dream Maker Entertainment announced that "Ne-Yo Champagne & Roses 2024 in Seoul" will be held on Oct. 16 at the Hwajeong Gymnasium at Korea University in Seoul. Ne-Yo gained recognition even before his debut by composing songs for Mary J. Blige and Beyonce. He rose to stardom with his first full-length album, &

Sept. 15, 2024

Spectacle of street, aerial wonders awaits at Seoul Street Arts Festival

The 2024 Seoul Street Arts Festival will take place in downtown Seoul, across Seoul Plaza, Cheonggyecheon and Mugyo-ro areas during the three-day Chuseok holiday, from Monday to Wednesday. Over 300 artists from Korea and abroad from eight countries, including Spain, Italy and Japan will participate in this outdoor celebration, showcasing 24 programs -- including street theater, dance, circus acts, traditional performances, large-scale installations and interactive art pieces. The festival will o

Sept. 11, 2024

Linkin Park regroups after 7 years, to hold concert in Korea

Linkin Park has announced the band's comeback, along with the release of a new album with new members in November and a concert in South Korea for the first time in 13 years. The band has added vocalist Emily Armstrong and drummer Colin Brittain, and on Friday released a new single titled “The Emptiness Machine.” Armstrong was previously a co-vocalist for Dead Sara, while Brittain has worked as a producer for artists such as Illenium and One Ok Rock. Linkin Park’s upcoming

Sept. 8, 2024

K-festa looks to boost Korea's performing arts market

The Culture Ministry on Friday announced it is introducing K-Stage Festa as a festival that aims to gather attention for the nation’s vibrant yet struggling performing arts scene. From Oct. 4 to Nov. 10, a total of 140 theater, dance and classical music performances will be introduced under the banner of K-Stage Festa across various venues, such as the National Theater of Korea, the Seoul Arts Center, Cheong Wa Dae Heliport and regional cultural and art centers. A special series will also

Sept. 8, 2024

[Off the Pages] 'Underground' blends sound and darkness in immersive audio experience

The immersive theater experience “Underground” transports audiences into an entirely new dimension of sensory storytelling -- a captivating, pitch-dark descent into the unknown. Based on acclaimed Korean science fiction author Kim Bo-young's short story “Underground” (featured in her collection “The Fifth Sense” in 2022), the Wooran Foundation’s production plunges viewers deep into a labyrinthine underground set in a dystopian future. “Undergr

Sept. 4, 2024

'River and Liver' sets stage for surrealism in Seoul

The National Theater Company of Korea is set to stage the surrealist "River and Liver" from Sept. 27 to Oct. 19 at the Myeongdong Theater in Seoul. Written by Dong I-hyang, the play won the 14th Cha Beom-seok Award in 2020. The script was recognized for its rhythmic, ping-pong-like dialogue, fragmented scenes and surreal situations. The story centers on L, a middle-aged woman living in an old home overlooking the Han River with her husband, O. Her life takes a bizarre turn as strange o

Sept. 3, 2024

Singer-songwriter Lee Juck to drop new album

Singer-songwriter Lee Juck, known for his warm lyrics and melodies, is releasing a new album after four years. The album "I Hate Alcohol" will be released at the end of September, according to Lee Juck's agency Music Farm Entertainment. His sixth studio album "Trace" was released in 2020. The album release will be followed by a concert entitled "Lee Juck's Songs" taking place Oct. 17 to 20 at the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts in Jongno-gu, Seoul.

Sept. 2, 2024

Isabelle Huppert set for Asian premiere of play 'Mary Said What She Said' in Korea

Award-winning French actress Isabelle Huppert will make her first stage appearance in Korea this November. Huppert will star in the one-woman play “Mary Said What She Said,” which is set to have its Asian premiere at the Seongnam Arts Center Opera House in Gyeonggi Province, Nov. 1-2. Written by Darryl Pinckney and based on the letters of Mary, Queen of Scots, the monologue in three parts follows Mary as she confronts the forces shaping her fate while, accused of treason by Elizabeth

Sept. 1, 2024

From model violin to world stage: Kim Seo-hyun's musical journey has just began

Without her violin, Kim Seo-hyun appears even younger than her age of 15. But once she holds the violin, she transforms into a charismatic violinist who captivates her audience with every note. Just a year ago, she became the youngest winner of the Tibor Varga International Violin Competition in Switzerland, where she not only secured first prize but also won the Youth Jury Prize, as well as the prize for best interpretation of a commissioned compulsory piece by Silvia Colasanti. She entered t

Aug. 31, 2024

[Herald Interview] Hanna Kiel's 'BODY' to explore chaotic harmony in cross-cultural dance collaboration at SIDance

When choreographer Hanna Kiel begins her creative process, she doesn’t hand out steps or sequences to her dancers. Instead, she assigns tasks. The dancers interpret these assignments through movement, and then Kiel guides and shapes the final choreography. For example, she might ask the dancers to describe their most physically or mentally challenging experiences. One dancer might express the agony and frustration of rehabilitating from a back injury, while another might channel the franti

Aug. 30, 2024

[Herald Review] Tori Kelly thrills fans, hints her love for Korean artists

American singer-songwriter Tori Kelly thrilled fans with her unrivaled charisma and voice. The 31-year-old singer held her first concert in Korea, titled "Tori Kelly Live in Seoul," at the Myunghwa Live Hall in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, on Tuesday, as part of her world tour "Purple Skies." Initially scheduled for April 2020, the concert was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, making Tuesday's gig her first performance in the country. In a written interview with The Kore

Aug. 29, 2024

Blues musicians across generations to gather at blues festival

Korea's premier blues festival is set to take place in Seoul next month. The 2024 Seoul International Blues Festival, which brings together top-tier blues musicians in Korea, will be held from Sept. 20 to 22 at CKL Stage in Jung-gu, Seoul. Now in its 7th year, the festival will feature blues musicians representing every generation, from the first wave of Korean blues to millennials and Gen Z. The first day of the festival presents a special collaborative performance titled "All-Star Bl

Aug. 28, 2024

Two takes on 'La Bayadere' set to dazzle this fall

This fall, Seoul will see a captivating artistic duel, as two leading ballet companies stage their productions of “La Bayadere,” a timeless ballet masterpiece. The Universal Ballet will perform the piece from Sept. 27 to 29, while the Korean National Ballet’s production will go onstage Oct. 30 to Nov. 3. Both productions will be staged at the Seoul Arts Center’s Opera House. “La Bayadere,” which translates to “The Temple Dancer” in French, is set a

Aug. 27, 2024