Universal Ballet, celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, kicks off its 2024 season with the original ballet production, "Korea Emotion," an artistic blend of traditional Korean music and ballet. The neo-classical ballet with gugak crossover scores is to be staged Feb. 16-18, at the Universal Arts Center. Choreographed by Universal Ballet Artistic Director Liu Bingxian, “Korea Emotion” is a collection of nine short episodes drawing inspiration from the complex and multi

Performance Feb. 13, 2024

"The Second Hand Market Angel" By Her Tae-yeon Noll/Dasan Books In the upscale neighborhood of Hannam-dong, a unique morning ritual unfolds on a second-hand market app, showcasing an array of new items that are difficult to come by at a good price. From imported luxury curtains straight from Spain to limited-edition designer bags, the platform becomes a marketplace for Sun Ye-hwi, a woman of wealth who appears to revel in a life of opulence. Sun's life had taken a tragic turn a de

Books Feb. 12, 2024

"But Someone Wants a Darker Night" By Woo Da-young Moonji Publishing The third collection of stories penned by Woo Da-young, titled "But Someone Wants a Darker Night," includes five short stories in which characters frequently engage in contemplation, reflecting upon the boundaries between the self and others. In the coming-of-age narrative, "There Was a Knife Between Us," Alpha and Omega, initially born as a singular entity but later separated as twins, reunite on

Books Feb. 11, 2024

"Surrender, Earth Creatures" (a literal translation of the Korean title) By Bora Chung Rabbit Hole Bora Chung, a finalist for the UK International Booker Prize and the US National Book Award for her genre-defying work, "Cursed Bunny" (translated by Anton Hur), has returned with a collection of science fiction stories titled "Surrender, Earth Creatures." "Surrender, Earth Creatures" is a delightful, animated compilation of stories that incorporates Chung�

Books Feb. 11, 2024

New Year's festival at Namsangol Hanok Village Step into the heart of Korean culture at the Namsangol Hanok Village’s New Year’s festival, a vibrant celebration that takes place 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Friday to Sunday. Throughout the weekend, visitors can engage in a variety of traditional Korean games. Start with a fortune-telling session using yut, a traditional board game played, offering a glimpse into the fortunes for the year. Visitor can write their wishes on the wish tree. A

Culture Feb. 9, 2024

The National Library for Children and Young Adults has released two additional storytelling videos based on picture books in the run-up to the Lunar New Year holiday. A total of 341 different stories are available on the library's official website in six languages: Korean, English, Chinese, Vietnamese, Thai and Mongolian. Some videos also include subtitles in Russian, Khmer and Tagalog. The multilingual storytelling video service, launched in 2009, features Korean original fairy tales, trad

Books Feb. 8, 2024

ARKO Selection's fourth set of productions, scheduled to kick off in mid-February, showcases five works -- three plays, one music concert and one ballet -- that stand out for notable directing techniques. The play "Teddy Daddy Run," slated to run Feb. 16-25, is a road trip action drama following 16-year-old Korean teen Yoon-seo and 15-year-old Korean Filipina Nina as the two search for their missing father across various locations in Manila, the Philippines. “We wanted to ad

Performance Feb. 8, 2024

The National Gugak Center, in collaboration with the Cultural Heritage Administration’s Deoksugung Palace Management Office, is set to host nighttime concerts at Seokjojeon in the palace, Feb. 21-22 and 28-29, at 7 p.m. Built during King Gojong’s reign (1863-1907), Deoksugung’s Seokjojeon is the first European-style stone building built in Korea. Since 2015, several concerts have been performed at the historic venue. The one-hour-long nighttime concert, “Deoksugung Yayeon

Performance Feb. 6, 2024

The Korean production of the play “Kiss of the Spider Woman” kicked off its fourth run on Jan 21 with Jung Il-woo stepping into the role of Molina, a trans woman. Adapted from the 1976 novel by Argentine author Manuel Puig, the play revolves around two prisoners -- Molina and Valentin, a political prisoner. The two inmates with differing ideologies share a cell in the prison and gradually come to accept each other. Also cast in the role of Molina are Yi Youll and Jeon Bak-chan. Jung

Performance Feb. 5, 2024

The Lunar New Year and Chuseok holidays are a time when there is more than the usual offering of traditional performances. The National Dance Company of Korea, National Gugak Center and Seoul Namsan Gukakdang are set to create special ambiances which capture the essence of the traditional holiday. 'Festival' with National Dance Company The National Dance Company of Korea, affiliated with the National Theater of Korea, is ushering in the Year of Blue Dragon with a special holiday produc

Performance Feb. 4, 2024

Three contemporary literary bestsellers are set to undergo a spectacular transformation this year as they move from the page to the stage. Embracing new genres such as musicals, music dramas and theater productions, these adaptations offer original fans a fresh and enjoyable avenue to experience the stories. ‘The Old Woman with the Knife’ In a much-anticipated adaptation, Gu Byeong-mo’s bestselling noir novel “The Old Woman with the Knife” is making its theatrical

Books Feb. 3, 2024

Han Kang's "I Do Not Bid Farewell" and Ma Yeong-shin's graphic novel "Moms" have been nominated as finalists for the Emile Guimet Prize for Asian Literature in France, the Literature Translation Institute of Korea announced Monday. "I Do Not Bid Farewell" delves into the tragic events of the Jeju April 3 incident through the perspectives of three women. Translated into French by Kyungran Choi and Pierre Bisiou, the novel garnered attention particularly aft

Books Jan. 29, 2024

The sepia-toned stage stands vacant except for a leafless tree and a solitary rock. The actors appear equally disheveled in their muted, grubby suits, sporting scruffy grey hair. And nothing dramatic unfolds. The two characters, Vladimir (Didi) and Estragon (Gogo), wait and wait for Godot, who never arrives. While one might ask where's the fun in watching someone simply waiting, waiting and waiting, the Korean production of Samuel Beckett’s “Waiting for Godot,” which kicke

Performance Jan. 28, 2024

"The Girl in a Phone Booth" By Lee Su-yeon Clayhouse Imagine having the ability to hear the last thoughts of those who have left this world. The psychological autopsy center is the backdrop for a touching human fantasy novel that hit the shelves last week. Those left behind by a suicide experience profound grief, guilt and resentment with lingering questions like "why" and "how could this happen." The psychological autopsy center investigates a person's suici

Books Jan. 28, 2024

"Path of Humanity" By Han Seung-won Munhakdongne Publishing Since 1997, Han Seung-won, writer and poet, has been living in his hometown of Jangheung in South Jeolla Province. A winner of numerous literary awards, Han writes daily in his studio. He is best known for the novel "Aje Aje Bara Aje" (1985), which was adapted into a film titled "Come Come Come Upward" featuring the late Kang Soo-youn and Yu In-chon, the current culture minister. At the age of 85, the vet

Books Jan. 27, 2024