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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Car crashes into restaurant; 1 dead, 5 injured
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[Exclusive] [Herald Interview] MBK incapable of running Korea Zinc’s Australia business: Aussie renewable energy CEO
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BTS Suga’s new song sparks global fans’ interest in traditional music
The lead track of “D-2,” released in May by Suga of K-pop sensation BTS, has sparked global fans’ interest in traditional Korean music. The title of the piece, “Daechwita,” refers to a genre of traditional Korean music that was performed at a king’s parade and other military ceremonies. The music consists mainly of wind instruments and percussion instruments. The new hip-pop track, which was created based on the traditional sound source provided by the Na
June 7, 2020
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Culture Minister shares Korea’s experience in keeping theaters open amid pandemic
Culture Minister Park Yang-woo on Wednesday evening held a videoconference with British counterpart Oliver Dowden and shared Korea’s experience with COVID-19 safety guideline compliance in performing venues. According to the ministry, the videoconference took place at the request of Britain, which sought advice and guidance related to preventing the spread of the novel coronavirus, especially in the cultural sector. During the videoconference, Dowden asked about Korea’s experienc
June 4, 2020
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Ballet Festival Korea gathers overseas-based Korean dancers for gala shows
The 10th Ballet Festival Korea is to take place June 18-28 at the Seoul Arts Center in southern Seoul, introducing a wide repertoire of ballet works from classical to modern. The festival was originally scheduled to open June 10 with the Korea National Ballet’s performance of romantic ballet “Giselle.” However, the show was canceled due to the government’s decision to apply stricter quarantine measures in the Seoul metropolitan area starting May 29, leading to the fest
June 3, 2020
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SPO experiments with ‘new normal’ for COVID-19 times
The prolonged COVID-19 crisis has been pushing the performing arts scene to search for new ways to share their art, and the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra has found a way to perform together onstage while complying with the social distancing measures. The SPO, a Seoul City-funded orchestra, had originally planned to perform onstage with an in-person audience at the Seoul Arts Center on Friday. The plan, however was canceled due to renewed concerns about COVID-19 community spread. The orchestr
June 2, 2020
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Performing arts scene put on hold again
Just as they thought it was safe to reopen, theaters in Korea will continue to remain in hiatus as the South Korean government has brought back stricter social distancing norms. After several new infection clusters of the novel coronavirus cropped up in the Seoul metropolitan area, the government ordered all state-funded cultural facilities in Seoul, Incheon and Gyeonggi Province to shut down. Following the order, four performing arts centers -- National Gugak Center, National Theater of Kore
May 31, 2020
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Star-studded blockbuster musicals aim to lure audiences in June
Several major musical productions starring high-profile stars are set to open next month, as the industry tries to grapple with a recent plummet in attendees due to the new coronavirus pandemic, according to organizers Friday. The musical "Mozart!" a Korean adaptation of the German-language production of the same name, is spearheading the move, starting a run in Seoul from June 11-Aug. 9 at the Sejong Center for Performing Arts in central Seoul, according to the EMK Musical Co. Tha
May 29, 2020
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BTS' 'Fake Love' tops 700m YouTube views
The music video of K-pop boy band BTS' "Fake Love" has drawn more than 700 million clicks on YouTube, the band's management agency said Sunday. The lead track of BTS' 2018 release "Love Yourself: Tear" surpassed the 700 million mark at around 6 p.m., according to Big Hit Entertainment. This is the group's third music video to hit this number of views on the global video-streaming site, after "DNA" and "Boy With Luv." (Yonhap)
May 24, 2020
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Believers in the power of music to heal
It had been raining all morning, when violist Richard Yongjae O’Neill stepped into the lobby of Myongji Hospital in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, Tuesday for a special performance for the hospital’s staff and patients. The acclaimed violist began the concert with the familiar “Bach’s Air on the G String” from the program, which he designed to be meditative. It was an emotional performance for the musician, for whom this was the first live performance in front
May 22, 2020
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SPO cancels onstage concert amid COVID-19 fear
Though the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra had been looking into putting on an onstage full orchestral performance in front of the audience for its May 29 concert, the show was canceled late Wednesday afternoon following renewed concerns about the CVOID-19 spread. The Seoul City-funded orchestra had been looking into getting its 95 players tested for the coronavirus that causes COVID-19 before rehearsals begin for the May 29 concert at the Seoul Arts Center, as it was considering to performing t
May 20, 2020
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[Herald Interview] Transforming Korea’s traditional arts
Since the age of 5, percussion master Kim Duk-soo has dedicated his life to Korea’s traditional performing arts. Now, more than 60 years later, his dedication is as strong as ever. Kim, 67, is the founder of “samulnori,” a new school of traditional Korean music. Having its origins in the art of “pungmul,” an outdoor Korean traditional folk music genre, samulnori employs the jing (medium-sized gong), buk (barrel drum), kkwaenggwari (hand-held gong) and janggu (h
May 19, 2020
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Rain is back: Singer’s 2017 ‘Gang’ video goes viral
Singer Rain is unfazed by the sudden popularity of his old music video, knowing full well the less than flattering reason behind it. “Gang,” from Rain’s mini-album “My Life” (2017), came back into the spotlight six months ago when a high school student uploaded a 27-second dance cover video of the song on YouTube. The cover video, which has over 2.2 million views, brought attention to the original. Rain’s iconic performance style -- exaggerated motions, int
May 18, 2020
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Seoul run of ‘Phantom of Opera’ extended to Aug. 8
The Seoul run of the international tour musical “The Phantom of the Opera” has been extended to Aug. 8. The show, currently taking place at the Blue Square Interpark Hall in Itaewon, central Seoul, was originally set to run until June 27. The extension was possible as the Seoul engagement of the National Theater in London’s smash hit production “War Horse” in July at the Blue Square Interpark Hall was canceled due to the global COVID-19 pandemic crisis. A
May 18, 2020
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Old yet new ‘Chunhyang’
As the performing arts scene slowly gets back on track despite the coronavirus crisis, the National Changgeuk Company of Korea staged its latest production, “Chunhyang,” Thursday. “Chunhyang,” based on the well-known pansori (Korean folk narrative) “Chunhyangga,” depicts the love story between Seong Chun-hyang, the daughter of a retired courtesan, and Lee Mong-ryong, the son of a nobleman. The epic love story is a staple of traditional stories of Korea, and
May 16, 2020
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Lotte Concert Hall goes online with ‘Music Keeps Going’
The Lotte Foundation for Arts is set to launch artist support program “Music Keeps Going,” hoping to invigorate the stagnant performing art scene and help audiences and performers communicate through music. The foundation received applications from late-April to early-May from artists or acts under 10 persons. The applicants were limited to Korean nationals residing in the nation. According to the art foundation’s announcement Wednesday, four acts were selected: Spec
May 13, 2020
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[Herald Review] Theater turns into barbecue eatery in ‘Table for One’
The sound, smell and sight of sizzling meat on grill had the audience’s stomach growling during the play “Table for One” at the Doosan Art Center. The play features main character O In-yong who is left to eat by herself, unable to get along with her colleagues. In order to eat alone well, she takes lessons on how to eat alone at a private institute. Plastic bags where diners place their coats and jackets at barbecue restaurants to prevent the odor of grilled meat fro
May 11, 2020
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COVID-19 seating guidelines stand in way of musicals
Some musical productions are finding it difficult to reopen as performance venues comply strictly with government guidelines requiring a seat between audience members to be left vacant so that they can be seated in a zigzag configuration. This seating arrangement was emphasized after the government on April 19 announced guidelines for relaxed social distancing. Although such a seating configuration is only recommended, performing arts centers, including Seoul Arts Center in southern Seoul,
May 10, 2020
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’90s music is back, across generational divide
Young artists are repopularizing songs from the ’90s as part of a newtro trend that has hit the music scene, along with a wide range of other industries in South Korea, influencing tastes in beverages, fashion and games. Spearheading the newtro music trend is the soundtrack from the popular tvN drama series “Hospital Playlist,” which has released songs from each of its episodes. “Hospital Playlist” centers on five doctors in their 40s who have been friends since
May 9, 2020
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Performances resume as strict social distancing relaxed
As the spread of the new coronavirus continues to slow in South Korea, the nation has switched to a new strategy stressing disease prevention in everyday life, allowing national theaters and arts troupes to return to their normal routines. Five state-run performance venues -- the National Theater of Korea, National Gugak Center, Jeongdong Theater, Myeongdong Theater and Asia Culture Center -- that were shut down in late February will all resume operations, according to the Ministry of Culture
May 6, 2020
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Theaters prepare to raise curtains again
After an involuntary two-month break, the performing arts scene is gearing up to get back on track while taking precautions against the new coronavirus. A total of 24 national cultural institutions have closed since late February. Private institutions were shut down in past weeks, too. Now that the number of new cases has dropped and South Korea is on the verge of going back to its normal routines, performing arts institutions and troupes are planning to resume their activities Wednesd
May 3, 2020
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New annual classical music fest to add to the calendar
A new classical music festival is coming to town, in the usually slow summer season. The Lotte Foundation for Arts is to host classical music festival Classic Revolution 2020 Beethoven in August. On Monday, the Lotte Foundation announced plans to host an annual classical music festival, Classic Revolution, featuring diverse offerings from recitals and chamber music to concertos and symphonies. The festival will highlight a single composer each year, with the inaugural year dedicated t
April 28, 2020