The Korean National Ballet is gearing up for the highly anticipated Korean premiere of John Neumeier's adaptation of "The Little Mermaid" at the Seoul Arts Center from May 1 through 5. Neumeier, who has been the director and chief choreographer of Hamburg Ballet based in Germany since 1973, is widely acknowledged as one of today's foremost choreographers. He has crafted more than 170 works so far, bearing his distinctive interpretation of classic narratives. Neumeier will vis

Performance April 5, 2024

The outdoor plaza in front of the National Theater of Korea's Haeoreum Grand Theater will be filled with weekly festivals and open-air markets every Saturday for two months in April and May. Dubbed "Art in Series," this biannual festival event is hosted by the National Theater of Korea during the spring and fall seasons. Each week in that season will be held under specific themes such as pets, books, crops and artifacts. The event opens with the "Art in Pet" festival whi

Culture April 5, 2024

Every grown-up has been through childhood and adolescence on their journey to adulthood. And the emotions experienced during these formative years are fundamentally universal, with only slight variations depending on where and when, believes writer Lee Geum-yi. As a towering figure in the country’s children’s literature scene, Lee’s narratives prove to extend far beyond times and places. In January, Lee made the shortlist in the writing category for the 2024 Hans Christian Ande

Books April 4, 2024

Among Shakespeare's tragedies, "King Lear" stands out for its portrayal of one of the oldest protagonists. Betrayed by his daughters, losing his kingdom, his sanity, and ultimately his life, the stage is filled with the anguished cries of a monarch in his twilight years. In a groundbreaking departure from convention, young "changgeuk" performers took the lead roles in the sold-out production of "Lear" by the National Changgeuk Company, affiliated with the Natio

Performance April 2, 2024

Set in a dystopian world where fame and popularity have become the most crucial means of survival, the first installment of the gripping young adult duology “Snowglobe” by Park So-young recently hit bookshelves worldwide. The English edition translated by Joungmin Lee Comfort, and published by Delacorte Press, an imprint of Random House Children’s Books, made the New York Times Young Adult bestseller list in the third week of March. The novel is slated for release in over 10 la

Books April 1, 2024

In May, Seoul will host two different ballet productions of Shakespeare's timeless masterpiece, "Romeo and Juliet." Universal Ballet's "Romeo and Juliet" choreographed by Kenneth MacMillan will grace the stage of the Seoul Arts Center’s Opera Theater from May 10 to May 12. The production, for which Universal Ballet acquired the performance rights in Korea in 2012, will return to the stage after its last performances in 2016 and 2012. On May 10 at 7:30 p.m. an

Performance March 31, 2024

A collection of 100 representative works of modern Korean poetry has been translated and published in France through a collaboration between the Society of Korean Poets and the Society of French Poets (La Societe des Poetes Francais, SPF). Titled "Anthology of Contemporary Korean Poets" ("Anthologie des Poetes Coreens Contemporains" in French) the book includes works by 100 modern Korean poets such as Han Yong-un, Jeong Ji-yong, Baek Seok and Yun Dong-ju with translations by

Books March 30, 2024

Cyril Kongo’s first graffiti exhibition in Seoul French-Vietnamese graffiti artist Cyril Kongo’s first solo exhibition in Seoul kicked off March 14 at Museum Wave, bringing together some 45 works from the artist's early days to his collaborations with luxury brands such as Chanel, Hermes and Maserati. The artist became interested in graffiti during his adolescent years in the French Congo and launched his career as a graffiti artist in Paris in 1986. The exhibition, “Graff

Culture March 29, 2024

Recently released Netflix film “My Name is Loh Ki-wan,” starring Song Joong-ki, draws from Cho Hae-jin’s 2011 novel, “I Met Loh Ki-wan,” if only very loosely. The film diverges significantly from the novel in characterization and narrative to the extent that one could argue it tells a wholly distinct story. In the cinematic adaptation, Song plays the titular role of a North Korean refugee on a journey to find a new home in a foreign land where he does not speak the

Books March 27, 2024

A new swan is scheduled to grace the stage, as the Korean National Ballet presents “Swan Lake” at the LG Arts Center in Seoul from Wednesday to Sunday. On Friday, ballerina An Su-yeon, a member of the corps de ballet, will take center stage, making her debut as the iconic Odette and Odile. It's a highly unusual and bold move to cast a dancer in the corps de ballet, the lowest in the ballet company's ranking system, to take the lead role in “Swan Lake.” Such cast

Performance March 26, 2024

At some point in their lives, many people pause and ask, “Is this the life I wanted?” We find ourselves overwhelmed by work, experiencing burnout as professional obligations overshadow personal lives. This critical juncture prompts introspection -- a moment to reassess one's life and ask if this path is truly what I wanted. Hwang Bo-reum's bestselling novel, "Welcome to the Hyunam-dong Bookshop" begins with Yeong-ju, who is burnt out. She leaves behind her old lif

Books March 25, 2024

The National Theater of Korea will screen three plays in April as part of NTOK Live+, a program introducing prominent overseas theatrical performances. The three plays -- Ivo van Hove’s “The Hidden Force,” Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s “Fleabag” and Lyndsey Turner’s “The Crucible” -- were produced by the International Theater Amsterdam; DryWrite, Soho Theatre and Annapurna Theatre; and the National Theatre in London, respectively. They will be scree

Performance March 22, 2024

The English translation of acclaimed poet Kim Hye-soon's collection, “Phantom Pain Wings,” translated by Don Mee Choi, has clinched the poetry prize at the National Book Critics Circle Awards in the US, making Kim the first Korean awardee. The NBCC announced her as the winner in the poetry category during this year's awards ceremony Thursday held at the New School Auditorium in New York. The NBCC, a nonprofit set up by book critics in New York in 1974, annually selects the

Books March 22, 2024

A writer is not someone who lives outside the world but someone who lives within it, said French writer and filmmaker Philippe Claudel. "I go to the markets, take the subway, read newspapers, and engage in conversations with friends. I listen to the stories around me. Consequently, all these encounters become woven into my creative process. A novel serves as a mirror, reflecting what the author has encountered, felt, and lived through," Claudel said. The winner of the 2003 Prix Goncour

Books March 20, 2024

The National Theater Company of Korea is set to present their cherished production, "Scapin" (Les Fourberies de Scapin), geared toward fostering an inclusive environment with what they term "open audience" performances aimed at providing a more relaxed experience. Scheduled to run from April 12 to May 6 at the Myeongdong Arts Theater, the Korean rendition of French playwright Moliere's classic "Scapin the Schemer” is returning for its fourth run. The comedy ma

Performance March 18, 2024