Pop Music

“The Swell Season Live in Seoul”: Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova, widely known for their lead roles in the hit indie musical film “Once,” will be reviving their 2007 on-screen chemistry with a special live performance in Seoul. The duo’s single “Falling Slowly” landed the film an Academy Award for Best Original Song in 2008. Hansard and Irglova will be performing on Jan. 10 and 11 at the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts with ticket prices ranging from 66,000 won to 110,000 won. For more information, call (02) 3141-3488 or visit www.interpark.com.

“5 Nights ― Hyundai Card Culture Project 17”: As part of Hyundai Card’s ongoing Culture Project, “5 Nights” will be bringing five international rock bands for a five-day concert series. Avenged Sevenfold, Bastille, Starsailor, Rudimental and Asgeir will be making their way to Korea this New Year to rock Seoul in a large-scale, weeklong music festival. The upcoming rock music series will be held from Jan. 12-17 at the Jamsil Sports Complex Culture Dome Stage. Concertgoers can purchase one-day tickets or a five-day pass, with one-day passes listed at 88,000 won and a week pass priced at 198,000 won. For more information, call (02) 3141-3488 or visit www.interpark.com.

“Michael Buble”: International vocal sensation Michael Buble will be heading to Seoul for his first concert in Korea after debuting more than a decade ago. The Canadian is one of the most famous contemporary jazz vocalists, and attained worldwide stardom after the release of his chart-topping 2005 album “It’s Time,” featuring the popular singles “Home” and “Save the Last Dance for Me.” Buble has landed himself nine Grammy Award nominations and four wins. His most recent album, “To Be Loved,” was released in April and won a Grammy this year for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album. The singer will be performing live on Feb. 4 at the Jamsil Indoor Stadium. Ticket prices range from 99,000 won to 253,000 won. For more information, call (02) 3141-3488 or visit www.interpark.com.

“Ed Sheeran”: Up-and-coming English singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran is making waves in the music industry as one of the decade’s notable breakthrough artists. In 2011 he released his debut album “+,” which went quintuple platinum in the U.K. The album features the hit singles “The A Team” and “Lego House” and snagged the artist Brit Awards for Best British Male Solo Artist and British Breakthrough Act in 2012. Earlier this year he released his second album, “X,” and landed himself a Grammy nod for Best New Artist. Sheeran will be performing his first concert in Korea on March 8 at Seoul Olympic Park’s SK Olympic Handball Stadium. Ticket prices are listed at 121,000 won and 143,000 won. For more information, call (02) 3141-3488 or visit www.interpark.com.

Exhibitions

“Kim Jin-hee: A Nameless Woman, She”: Artist Kim Jin-hee stitches letters or images as part of the process of erasing shameful memories or healing psychological traumas. In her solo exhibition, she presents a series of portraits of 20-something women and embroidered landscape photos. The artist attempts to heal the traumas from the Sewol ferry sinking in April 2014 through the act of doing stitching on beautiful landscape photographs of Jindo Island, off of which the ferry sank. The artist has explored women from a feminist perspective in her previous works. She has dealt with women’s desires, traumas, psychological wounds and memories in photographs combined with texts and other mediums. The exhibition runs through Jan. 21 at Songeun Art Cube in Gangnam-gu, Seoul. Admission is free. For more information, visit www.songeunartspace.org.

“Lee Lee-nam: Light”: Media artist Lee Lee-nam is holding a solo exhibition of media works that explore the possibilities of new technology. The exhibition, titled “Light,” features installations, sculptures and video works that go beyond the typical two dimensions. The artist brings classic masterpieces of Johannes Vermeer and Michelangelo back to life by incorporating multimedia technology. He lights up candles in the paintings to make blinking movements and moving shadows. He makes milk flowing from a jar in Vermeer’s “The Milkmaid” look real with audio and visual features, and puts a TV instead of a cross on the back of Jesus Christ on his way to being crucified. The exhibition continues through Feb. 8 at Gana Art Center in Jongno-gu, Seoul. For more information, call (02) 720-1020.

“Pompeii: Culture of the Ancient Roman City”: The National Museum of Korea is presenting the special exhibition “Pompeii: Culture of the Ancient Roman City” until April 5. On display are some 300 sculptures, accessories, frescoes and casts that vividly capture the daily lives of Pompeii’s citizens before the tragic eruption of Mount Vesuvius on Aug. 24, A.D. 79. Admission is 13,000 won for adults; 11,000 won for middle school, high school and university students; 8,000 won for elementary school students; and 5,000 won for preschoolers. The museum is closed on Mondays. For more information, visit www.museum.go.kr.

“Dialogue with Morandi”: The National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Korea is presenting works by Italian master painter Giorgio Morandi. The exhibition features about 40 of Morandi’s oil paintings, watercolors, drawings and sketches, selected from the collection of Museo Morandi in Bologna, Italy. The works were created during the mature phase of his artist’s career, from the 1940s to the ’60s, and portray everyday objects, such as bottles, as well as landscapes. The exhibition continues through Feb. 25 at the Deoksugung Palace branch of the MMCA in Seoul. For more information, call (02) 2022-0600.

Festivals

Daegwallyeong Snow Festival: This festival takes place in mountainous Daegwallyeong, Gangwon Province, from Jan. 9-18. Known for record snowfall, the region offers plenty of fun activities throughout the coldest period of the winter. Visitors will be able to enjoy snow sledding, snow rafting and ice ATVs (all-terrain vehicles) and a variety of indoor activities. The festival also features traditional Korean winter folk games. For more information www.snowfestival.net (Korean only).

Pyeongchang Trout Festival: Named one of the top 20 winter festivals in Korea by the Korea Tourism Organization, this festival is being held in Pyeongchang, Gangwon Province, the host town of the 2018 Winter Olympics, until Feb. 8. The festival is underway along Odaecheon Stream, known for its abundance of trout. Visitors can ice fish and eat trout sashimi or roast it on the spot. Additional activities include bare-handed trout-catching, ice skating, ice ATV rides and snow rafting. For more information, visit festival700.or.kr (Korean only).

Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Festival: This festival is one of the most popular winter festivals in Korea, offering diverse winter activities such as ice fishing, ice sledding, ice soccer, curling and ice hockey. The festival takes place in the scenic mountain town of Hwacheon, Gangwon Province, from Jan. 10 to Feb. 1. The lake for fishing can accommodate up to 8,000 visitors a day. The festival runs a separate fishing zone for children and foreign tourists traveling in groups. The admission is 12,000 won for adults and teenagers and 8,000 won for children and the elderly. For more information, visit www.narafestival.com (English available).

Jarasum Singsing Winter Festival: This annual trout fishing festival will be held on Jarasum Island in Gapyeong, Gyeonggi Province, from Jan. 2 to Feb. 1. The festival offers a variety of winter activities for families, couples and groups of friends. Programs include ice trout fishing, snow sledding, ice skating and other winter sports activities. During the festival period, Gapyeong Bridge will be turned into a winter wonderland with snow sculptures, ice flowers and igloo cafes. The festival venue is 250 meters away from Gapyeong Bus Terminal. For more information, visit www.singsingfestival.com (Korean only).

Classical Music

Chung Myung-whun piano recital: Maestro Chung Myung-whun is currently holding his first solo piano recital tour in Korea. Following a recital at Seoul Arts Center on Dec. 27, he will perform at Goyang Aramnuri in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, on Jan. 10, and at Daejeon Arts Center in Daejeon on Jan. 12. Chung was an internationally famous pianist before switching fully to conducting in 1979. The concert’s program mostly features short piano pieces by Brahms and Chopin. For details, call (02) 558-4588. 

Vienna Boys’ Choir: The Vienna Boys’ Choir will be touring five cities in Korea, starting in Jeonju on Jan. 16. In Seoul, the choir will give two concerts at Nowon Arts Center in Junggyebon-dong, northeastern Seoul, on Jan. 23 and at Seoul Arts Center in Seocho-dong on Jan. 25. The program consists of church music, waltzes, folk music and some well-known numbers from film soundtracks. The Jan. 25 concert will start at 5 p.m. at the Concert Hall of Seoul Arts Center. Tickets range in cost from 30,000 won to 100,000 won. For details, call 1577-5266 or visit www.clubbalcony.com.

Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra: Under the baton of artistic director Chung Myung-whun, Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra will hold a special encore concert on Jan. 18 at Seoul Arts Center, playing fan favorites from the past season’s repertory. It will perform Wagner’s “Tannhauser Overture,” Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 5 (“Emperor”) with Kim Sun-wook on piano, and Brahms’ Symphony No. 4. Ticket prices range from 10,000 won to 120,000 won. For details, call 1588-1210 or visit www.seoulphil.or.kr.

Gustavo Dudamel & LA Philharmonic: Gustavo Dudamel, one of the most sought-after conductors now, will lead the LA Philharmonic Orchestra in two Seoul concerts in March. They will perform at Seoul Arts Center’s Concert Hall on March 25 and 26. The program consists of Gustav Mahler’s Symphony No. 6 in A minor, John Adams’ “City Noir” and Antonin Dvorak’s “New World Symphony.” Ticket prices range from 50,000 won to 340,000 won. For more information, call (02) 6303-1977 or visit www.sac.or.kr.

Theater

“Educating Rita”: The Korean production of the British theatrical play “Educating Rita” by playwright Willy Russell stars popular actress Gong Hyo-jin and Kang Hye-jung, both as the protagonist Rita. The play focuses on Rita, a young hairdresser, who decides to complete her education. It is at the Open University where she meets Frank, a middle-aged university lecturer, who she learns new insights of life. “Educating Rita” runs through Feb 1 at Daemyung Culture Factory near Hyehwa Station. Ticket prices are 30,000 won to 60,000 won. For details, call 02-3672-0900. 

“Melodrama”: Popular playwright and director Jang Yoo-jeong, known for the musical-turned-film “Finding Mr. Destiny” which was a box office hit in 2010, returns to the stage with her directorial debut play, “Melodrama.” The play, starring actor Park Won-sang and actress Hong Eun-hee, searches for the meaning of love through two couples in an affair. “Melodrama” runs through Feb. 15 in Jayu Theater at Seoul Arts Center in southern Seoul. Tickets are 35,000 won and 50,000 won. For details, call (02) 762-0010 or visit www.sacticket.co.kr.

“Gone with the Wind”: The Korean production of the French musical “Gone with the Wind” will raise its curtains on Jan. 9 at Seoul Arts Center in southern Seoul. Based on Margaret Mitchell’s novel of the same name and its 1939 film adaptation, the musical premiered in Paris in 2003. The upcoming Korean production will star Girls’ Generation’s Seohyun and singer-turned-musical actress Bada as Scarlett O’Hara, opposite actor Joo Jin-mo and musical star Kim Bap-lae as Rhett Butler. It runs through Feb. 15. For details, call 1577-3363.

“Mr. Show”: Following the successful premiere of “Mr. Show” this spring, the women-only adult show is back for the holiday season. Directed by renowned musical director Kolleen Park, eight good-looking Korean men perform on stage, dancing and acting their way through eight different themes, while audience members join the party. The sexy variety show is open only to women aged 19 and older. It runs through Jan. 31 in Seoul at Lotte Card Art Center near Hapjeong Station. Tickets are 60,000 won and 80,000 won. For details, visit www.mrshow.co.kr.

“Kinky Boots”: A Broadway musical that bagged six Tony Awards last year is having its first non-English-language run in Seoul. A collaboration between Broadway producers and Korean entertainment firm CJ E&M, the show is based on the 2005 film of the same title, with music and lyrics by Cyndi Lauper. In the play, Charlie, the young, straitlaced owner of a struggling British shoe factory, forms an unlikely partnership with Lola, a drag queen, to save the business. The Korean rendition of “Kinky Boots” continues through Feb. 22 at Chungmu Art Hall in Seoul. For details, call (02) 2230-6600.

“Once”: The Korean production of “Once” is being staged at Seoul Arts Center. Based on the 2006 film of the same title, the original Broadway musical won eight Tony Awards in 2012, including the trophy for the year’s best musical. For its Korean version, veteran rocker Yoon Do-hyun will play the lead role. He will play Guy, an Irish street musician and vacuum cleaner repairman who falls in love with Girl, a Czech flower seller. Yoon will rotate with musical actor Lee Chang-hee for the role, and two emerging musical actresses, Jeon Mi-do and Park Ji-yeon, will play Girl. “Once” continues through March 29 at the 1,000-seat CJ Towol Theater in Seoul Arts Center. Ticket prices are 60,000 won to 120,000 won. For details, call (02) 577-1987.

“Notre-Dame de Paris”: The original French production of the famous musical “Notre-Dame de Paris” will tour Korea, marking the 10th anniversary of the show’s Korean premiere in 2006. Based on French writer Victor Hugo’s popular novel “The Hunchback of Notre-Dame,” the musical tells the story of Quasimodo, a deformed hunchback who dwells within Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris and falls in love with a beautiful gypsy dancer, Esmeralda. Starting in Daegu in December, it will tour multiple cities for three months. It will come to Seoul’s Sejong Center for the Performing Arts on Jan. 15. For details, call (02) 749-9037.

Dance

“Multiplicity. Forms of Silence and Emptiness”: Kicking off the 2015 ballet season, the Universal Ballet Korea will be staging Nacho Duato’s “Multiplicity, Forms of Silence and Emptiness” as its season opener. The 1999 ballet is one of Duato’s best-known works and landed the choreographer the prestigious Benois de la Dance prize. As a homage to one of classical music’s greatest, Johann Sebastian Bach, the two-act ballet tells the story of Bach’s music by combining both baroque music and modern choreography. Performances will be held at the LG Arts Center in Seoul from March 19-22. For more information, visit www.universalballet.com/.

“Giselle”: The Korean National Ballet will be kicking off its 2015 season with its opening performance of one of the ballet world’s most classic and beloved tales of love and heartbreak in “Giselle.” Bringing back the production to year’s repertoire, “Giselle” is one of the most reprised and haunting ballet masterpieces of the Romantic era, touching upon wide a full spectrum of human emotions including happiness, love, heartache, pain and fiction’s ultimate example of forgiveness. Giselle is an emotionally and physically fragile village girl who falls hopelessly in love with her prince charming whose world becomes shattered after finding out that she was not the only woman in her man’s life. The KNB’s production of “Giselle” will be held at the Seoul Arts Center from March 25-29. For more information, visit www.kballet.org.