Around Town 1
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Classical Concerts
Seongnam Philharmonic Orchestra
Seongnam Arts Center*
Jan. 17
The Seongnam Philharmonic Orchestra, led by Lim Pyoung-yong, will hold a New Year’s concert in Seongnam City, Gyeonggi Province. The orchestra will perform Beethoven’s “Leonore Overture No. 3,” “Piano Concerto No. 5 in E flat major Opus 73” with pianist Lee Hyo-joo, and aria “No Puede Ser” from the opera “La Tabernera del Puetro” with tenor Lee Jeong-won. Tickets cost 10,000 won. For more information, call (031) 729-4809 or visit
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Ji Yong
Seoul Arts Center*
Jan. 15
Pianist Ji Yong will have a recital in Seoul to celebrate his latest album “Bach Exhibition,” released on Oct. 11, 2012. He will perform pieces from the album such as “Fantasia in C minor,” “Fantasia in C minor” (BWV 906), and Bach and Busoni’s “Chaconne from Parita No. 2 in D minor.” Tickets cost 30,000 to 70,000 won. For more information, call (02) 751-9606 or visit
Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra
The Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra, led by Chung Myung-whun, will hold its first concert of the year in Seoul. The orchestra will play Beethoven’s “Piano Concerto No. 5 Emperor,” and “Symphony No. 5,” featuring pianist Kim Sun-wook. A live recording of the concert will be made. Tickets cost 10,000 to 120,000 won. For more information, call (02) 3700-6332.
Helene Grimaud
Jan. 29
French pianist Helene Grimaud will hold a recital in Seoul. In this concert, she will play numbers from her recent album “Resonances.” They include Mozart’s “Piano Sonata No. 8 in A minor,” Berg’s “Piano Sonata Opus 1,” Liszt’s “Piano Sonata in B minor,” and Bartok’s Folk Dances.” Tickets cost 30,000 to 100,000 won. For more information, call 1577-5266 or visit
2013 Gum Nanse Festival
Chungmu Art Hall
Jan. 30-Feb. 2
The Euro-Asian Philharmonic Orchestra, led by Gum Nanse, will hold concerts in Seoul. With different themes each day, the orchestra will perform numbers from musicals, opera, jazz, soundtracks and ballet. Located near exit 9 of Sindang Station, subway line 6. Tickets cost 20,000 to 60,000 won. For more information, call (02) 2230-6624 or visit
Big Tickets
Patti Smith
Uniqlo AX
Feb. 2
American singer-songwriter Patti Smith will hold a concert in Seoul to celebrate her 11th studio album “Banga,” released on June 1, 2012. The 65-year-old Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Famer will sing pieces from her album such as “This is the Girl,” and “Nine,” and her hit “Because the Night” in her first concert in Korea. Located near exit 2 of Gwangnaru Station, subway line 5. Tickets cost 110,000 won. For more information, call (02) 563-0595 or visit
Pop & Jazz
Beach House
Interpark Art Center
Jan. 23
Pop duo Beach House will hold a concert in Korea. The band debuted in 2006 with “Beach House” and gained commercial as well as critical success with “Teen Dream” in 2010. Comprised of Victoria Legrand on vocals and Alex Scally on guitar, they will sing hits such as “Myth,” “Used to Be,” “Norway” and “Apple Orchard.” Located near exit 1 of Hapjeong Station, subway line 2. Tickets cost 66,000 to 77,000 won. For more information, call (02) 3445-9697 or visit Interpark.com.
2013 United Cube in Seoul
Jamsil Indoor Gymnasium, Olympic Park*
The record label Cube Entertainment will hold a concert in southern Seoul. The company’s K-pop artists 4minute, BEAST, G.Na, BTOB and Roh Ji-hoon will perform. They will start their Asia tour in Nanjing, China on Jan. 26, and after performing in Seoul, they will move on to Yokohama, Japan on Feb. 21. Tickets cost 66,000 to 88,000 won. For more information, call (02) 6013-2905 or visit interpark.com.
Adam Lambert
Feb. 17
American singer-songwriter Adam Lambert will hold a concert in Seoul. He debuted in 2009 through TV program “American Idol.” In his first visit to Korea, he will sing such hits as “Whataya Want from Me,” “Time for Miracles,” “Better than I Know Myself,” and “Cuckoo.” Located near exit 2 of Gwangnaru Station, subway line 5. Tickets cost 119,000 won. For more information, call (02) 407-2589 or visit
Kim Dong-ryul
Sejong Center for the Performing Arts
Jan. 17-19
Ballad singer Kim Dong-ryul will hold a concert in Seoul. This is an encore of his nationwide tour last year. He has released 12 studio albums and 2 live recordings since he debuted in 1993. He will sing his hits “An Essay of Memory,” “The Truth in Wine,” “It Was Like That in Those Days,” “The Words of Loving You,” and “Because You Don’t Love Me.” Tickets cost 77,000 to 132,000 won. For more information, call (02) 399-1114 or visit
10cm
Olympic Gymnasium, Olympic Park*
Feb. 23
Acoustic duo 10cm will hold a concert to celebrate their second studio album “Fine Thank You and You?” They made their debut in 2010 and the band won the Best Pop Single at 8th Korean Music Awards in 2011 with “Tonight I’m Afraid of the Dark.” Comprised of vocalist Kwon Jung-yeol and guitarlist Yoon Cheol-jong, the group will perform hits such as “Americano,” “So Nice,” “Hold Me” and “Tonight.” Tickets cost 55,000 to 77,000 won. For more information, call (02) 563-7110 or visit
Choi Baek-ho
Blue Square
Jan. 19-20
Veteran singer Choi Baek-ho, having debuted in 1976, released his 19th studio album “On the Road Again” in October. He combined jazz, Latin music, tango, and swing in his new album. He will sing hits such as “Regarding Romantic,” “My Way,” “Father,” “Hey,”“My Mind to Nowhere” and “Yeongilman Friend.” Located between exit 2 and 3 of Hangangjin Station, subway line 6. Tickets cost 80,000 to 100,000 won. For more information, call (02) 549-5520 or visit
Park Wan-kyu
Olympic Hall, Olympic Park*
Vocalist Park Wan-kyu will perform in southern Seoul. He debuted in 1997 as a member of rock group Boowhal, and featured on the band’s 5th studio album “Discovery of Fire.” As a soloist, he has released four studio albums and many singles. In his concert titled “Rewind,” he will sing songs from Boowhal and his own hit numbers such as “Love Over Thousand Years” and “Alone.” For more information, call 1544-1555 or visit
Museums
History in Glass: 3,000 Years of Glassware from the Mediterranean and West Asia
National Museum of Korea
Through Feb. 17
This exhibition introduces the history of glassware production in the Mediterranean and West Asia regions where glassware was first invented. A total of 375 pieces from the collection of the Hirayama Ikuo Silk Road Museum in Japan are on display. The show is comprised of three sections: early ancient glass; glassworks made by the blowing technique; and glassware of the Sassanid Persian Empire, which it invented using a new production technique. Located near exit 4 of Ichon Station, subway lines 4 and Jungang line. Admission is free. For more information, call (02) 2077-9559 or visit
The Year of the Snake: The Many Faced Snake Between Imagination and Reality
National Folk Museum of Korea
Through Feb. 25
This exhibition at the National Folk Museum of Korea features the snake, which is the animal representing this year according to the Chinese zodiac, and is considered as a creature of immortality to Koreans. About 40 items including craftwork, paintings, and books about snakes are on display. Located near exit 1 of Anguk Station, subway line 3. For more information, call (02) 3704-3114 or visit nfm.go.kr.
Plays & Musicals
‘Jekyll & Hyde’
Through Feb. 9
The musical “Jekyll & Hyde,” based on Robert Louis Stevenson’s novel “The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde,” will be performed in southern Seoul. In the story set in London in 1885, Yoon Young-seok and Yang Joon-mo play Dr. Jekyll, a doctor who succeeds in separating the good and evil of the human personality while experimenting on himself, and Chung Myung-eun and Lee Ji-hye play Emma, Jekyll’s lover. Tickets cost 50,000 to 130,000 won. For more information, call 1588-5212 or visit
‘The Promise’
National Theater of Korea
Through Jan. 20
The musical, “The Promise,” sponsored by the Ministry of National Defense, is based on the Korean War (1950-1953). The musical is about soldiers who sacrifice themselves for their country. Lee Teuk of K-pop boy band Super Junior, actor Ji Hyun-woo, Lee Hyun of ballad group 8Eight, Jung Yun-hak of K-pop boy band Supernova and Kim Moo-yeol will perform as soldiers of South Korean army. Located near exit 6 of Dongguk University Station, subway line 3. Tickets cost 44,000 to 77,000 won. For more information, call 1666-8662 or visit
‘Bring Me My Chariot of Fire’
Jan. 30-Feb. 3
The play “Bring Me My Chariot of Fire,” written by Korean-Japanese playwriter Jung Eui-shin, will go on stage. It is set in Gyeongseong, the name of Seoul in the early 20th century, and is about the friendship between traveling entertainer Soon-woo (Cha Seung-won) and Naoki (Tsuyoshi Kusanagi) who runs a night school for poor people. Located near exit 6 of Dongguk University, subway line 3. Tickets cost 20,000 to 100,000 won. For more information, call (02) 2280-4114 or visit
‘Our Bad Magnet’
Daehangno Art One Theater
Through Jan. 27
A production of Scottish playwright Douglas Maxwell’s “Our Bad Magnet,” is underway in Daehangno, central Seoul. The play focuses on four friends who have known each other since the age of 9 in Girvan, Scotland. Now 29-year-old men, Fraser, Paul and Alan reunite, recalling memories of their late friend, Gordon. Located near exit 2 of Hyehwa Station, subway line 4. Tickets cost 35,000 to 50,000 won. For more information, call 1566-7527 or visit interpark.com.
Dance
Ballet with Commentary
The Korean National Ballet Company, led by artistic director Choi Tae-ji, will perform “Ballet with Commentary.” This performance was started in 1997 to popularize and familiarize the public with ballet by adding commentary. Located near exit 6 of Dongguk University Station, subway line 3. Tickets cost 20,000 won for adults and 15,000 won for those under 18. For more information, call (02) 2280-4115 or visit