Around Town -1
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Classical Concerts
Korean Symphony Orchestra with Albrecht Mayer
Seoul Arts Center*
July 18
The Korean Symphony Orchestra, led by conductor Choi Hee-chuhn, will hold its 187th regular concert at the Seoul Arts Center in southern Seoul on July 18. It will feature Albrecht Mayer, a principal oboist of the Berlin Philharmonic, who will be performing Bach’s “Concerto for oboe,” Handel’s “Verdi Parti Concerto for Oboe D’amore” and Mendelssohn’s “Symphony No. 3 in A Minor.” Tickets cost 10,000 to 50,000 won. For more information, call (02) 523-6258 or visit
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‘L’Elisir d’Amore’
Sejong Center for the Performing Arts*
July 5
Italian composer Gaetano Donizetti’s 1832 opera “L’Elisir d’Amore,” known in the English-speaking world as “The Elixir of Love,” will be performed at the Sejong Center in Seoul on July 5. Tenor Jeong Neung-hwa will play the role of Nemorino, while soprano Kim Seong-eun has been cast as Adina. Tickets cost 20,000 to 30,000 won. For more information, call (02) 399-1111 or visit www.interpark.com.
Big Tickets
Hyundai Card Super Concert
Olympic Stadium
Aug. 17-18
Metallica and Muse will highlight a two-day rock concert on Aug. 17 and 18 at the Olympic Stadium in Seoul. Organized by credit card provider Hyundai Card, Muse will join Limp Bizkit and Korean band Jang Kiha and the Faces in the lineup on the first day, while Metallica and Rise Against will headline the second day. Tickets cost 165,000 won for a single day and 250,000 won for both days. For more information, call (02) 332-3277 or visit www.interpark.com.
Sarah Brightman
Bexco
July 21
Singer Sarah Brightman will kick off her Korean tour in Busan. Her songs such as “The Phantom of the Opera” from the eponymous musical, “Nessun Dorma” from the opera “Turandot” and pop numbers such as “Time to Say Goodbye” have been particularly popular among Koreans. Brightman will perform at the Kimdaejung Convention Center in Gwangju on July 23 and at the Olympic Gymnastics Arena in southern Seoul on July 26. The concert venue in Busan is located near exit 1 of Centum City Station, Busan subway line 2. Tickets cost 99,000 to 165,000 won. For more information, call 1566-5490 or visit www.interpark.com.
Museums
Art from the Islamic Civilization
National Museum of Korea
Through Oct. 20
The National Museum of Korea holds a special exhibition highlighting Islamic artifacts. A total of 367 Islamic treasures, which were made from the eighth to 18th centuries, including pottery, glass, jewelry and miniature paintings from the al-Sabah Collection will be on display. Tickets cost 8,000 for children and 12,000 for adults. Located near exit 4 of Ichon Station, on subway line 4. For more information, call (02) 2077-9000 or visit www.islam2013.com.
Pop & Jazz
Three Arrows with Lee Boo-young
Audioguy
July 15
Jazz singer Lee Boo-young and Japan-based band Three Arrows will perform at the stage made at the studio of local record label Audioguy in Seoul on July 15. The company occasionally holds mini concerts at its studio for jazz fans. Lee Boo-young introduced herself to the music scene after winning the grand prize of the Korea Singing Contest in 1993. She released her first jazz album in 2010. Three Arrows is composed of Japan-based American drummer Gene Jackson, Japanese bassist Kengo Nakamura and Japanese pianist Taikou Kikuchi. Tickets cost 30,000 won. For more information, call (02) 941-1150 or visit
2013 Incheon Pentaport Rock Festival
No. 23 Geunrin Park, Songdo, Incheon
Aug. 2-4
The annual Incheon Pentaport rock music festival will take place at Songdo in Incheon on Aug. 2-4. Skid Row, Porno Graffitti, Suede and Korean bands Deulgukhwa and YB are among the highlighted acts. Tickets cost 99,000 won for one day, 143,000 won for two days and 165,000 won for three days. For more information, visit pentaportrock.com.
Secret Garden
Sejong Center for the Performing Art
Aug. 28
The duo Secret Garden will give a concert at the Sejong Center on Aug. 28. Comprised of Irish violinist Fionnuala Sherry and Norwegian pianist Rolf Lovland, the duo has sold more than 3 million albums since its debut in 1995. Tickets cost 33,000 to 143,000 won. For more information, call (02) 720-3933 or visit
Sunny Kim
Auteur
July 19
Jazz vocalist Sunny Kim will perform at Auteur in Hongdae, Seoul on July 19. Debuting as a vocalist of Roswell Rudd’s jazz band in 2007, Kim released her first studio album “Android Ascension” in 2008, and has performed both in Korea and overseas. Recently, she released her second album “Painter’s Eye” on American jazz label, Sunnyside Records. Located near exit 3 of Hapjeong Station, subway line 2. Tickets cost 30,000 won. For more information, call (02) 941-1150 or visit www.interpark.com.
Super Sonic 2013
Olympic Park*
August 14-15
The annual Super Sonic rock festival will take place for two days in southern Seoul, featuring a star-studded lineup. The first day of the concert on Aug. 14 will be highlighted by English duo Pet Shop Boys, veteran band Earth, Wind & Fire and New Zealand singer Willy Moon, along with Korean acts Dickpunks and Super Kidd. The performance on the next day will be highlighted by Cho Yong-pil, arguably Korea’s most influential pop musician. Rap singer Verbal Jint, rock band Jaurim, American rock band Hot Chelle Rae will also hit the stage. Tickets cost 150,000 won for two days. For more information, call (02) 6002-7577 or visit www.supersonickorea.com.
Daybreak
Olympic Hall
Aug. 24-25
Korean Indie band Daybreak will perform at the Olympic Hall in southern Seoul. Comprised of guitarist Jeong Yu-jong, bassist Kim Sun-il, keyboardist Kim Jang-won and Lee Won-suk on vocals, they have garnered a significant following for their three albums released since 2007. Tickets cost 66,000 to 88,000 won. For more information, call 1544-1555 or visit www.interpark.com.
Shinhwa
Olympic Gymnastics Stadium, Olympic Park*
August 3-4
Six-member boy band, Shinhwa will hold a concert celebrating their 15th anniversary. The K-pop group debuted in 1998 and became quickly established as one of the most popular acts in Korean music. Located near exit 3 of Olympic Park Station, subway line 5. Tickets cost 66,000 to 143,000 won. For more information, contact 1544-1555 or visit www.interpark.com
Roy Kim
Yonsei University Main Auditorium
July 13-14
K-pop star Roy Kim will hold a concert at the Younsei University Main Auditorium from July 13 to 14. The 20-year-old singer was a winner of the television singing contest, “Superstar K4,” last year. His debut single, “Spring, Spring, Spring” topped the music charts in Korea in the first few weeks of release. To get the venue, take the mini bus no. 3 or 4 from the exit 2 or 3 of Sinchon Station, subway line 2. Tickets cost 77,000 to 88,000 won. For more information, call (070) 8967-0901 or visit www.interpark.com.
BEAST
Olympic Gymnastics Arena, Olympic Park*
July 20-21
Six-member K-pop boy band BEAST will hold a concert in southern Seoul. The band debuted in 2009 and has released one studio album and several singles. Their single, “Will You be Alright?” released on May 29 topped major download charts in past weeks. Located near exit 3 of Olympic Park Station, subway line 5. Tickets cost 77,000 to 99,000 won. For more information, visit www.interpark.com.
INFINITE
Olympic Gymnastics Arena
August 9-10
Heart-throb K-pop boy band INFINITE will perform at the Olympic Gymnastics Stadium in southern Seoul on Aug. 9 and 10. The Seoul shows will kick off a worldwide tour, stopping by Japan, China, South America and Europe. Tickets cost 88,000 to 99,000 won. For more information, call 1544-1555 or visit www.interpark.com.
Plays & Musicals
Chicago
National Theater of Korea
July 6-Aug. 31
A Korean rendition of the Broadway hit musical “Chicago” will soon hit the stage in Seoul. Actress Lee Honey and Oh Jin-young have been double cast as Roxie Hart. Singer Insooni and musical actress Choi Jung-won will feature as Velma Kelly. To get there, take a shuttle bus provided by the theater at exit 6 of Dongguk University Station, subway line 3. Tickets cost 40,000 to 120,000 won. For more information, call (02) 577-1987 or visit www.ntok.go.kr.
Les Miserables
Blue Square
Through July 7
A high-profile list of Korean actors will stage the iconic musical at the theater near Itaewon. Comedian-turned-musical actor Jung Sung-hwa will play Jean Valjean, who is imprisoned for stealing a loaf of bread; Cho Jung-eun will be Fantine, a tragic woman who leads a difficult life of a factory worker, and Javert, a policeman who chases Valjean, will be played by Moon Jong-won. The venue is connected to Hangangjin Station, subway line 6. Tickets cost 50,000 to 130,000 won. For more, visit www.lesmis.co.kr.
Hedwig
Baekam Art Hall
Through Sept. 8
The musical “Hedwig” will be staged for Korean theatergoers again, as they bought more than 350,000 tickets for it when it was first performed here in 2005. Cho Seung-woo, the popular television and movie actor, will return as Hedwig, the struggling, transsexual rocker from East Germany. Located near exit 8 of Samseong Station, subway line 2. Tickets cost 50,000 to 66,000 won. For more information, call (02) 3485-8700 or visit www.baekamhall.com.
Spamalot
Yonkang Hall, Doosan Art Center
Through Sept. 1
Korean version of the Tony Award-winning Broadway musical will be staged in Seoul through Sept. 1. Adapted from the 1975 comedy flick, “Monty Python and the Holy Grail,” this musical follows King Arthur and Knights of the Round Table on their hilarious journey to find an ancient relic. Funnyman Jung Joon-ha and veteran actor Seo Young-joo alternate in the role of the King Arthur. Yonkang Hall is located near exit 1 of Jongno 5-ga Station, subway line 1. Tickets cost 66,000 to 88,000 won. For more information, visit www.interpark.com.
Dance
Onegin
July 6-13
The Universal Ballet Company will perform “Onegin,” a work by South African choreographer John Cranko at the Seoul Arts Center in July. The ballet is based on Alexander Pushkin’s tragic love story “Eugene Onegin.” The Universal Ballet Company will be only the second company to stage this piece after China’s National Ballet performance in 2008. Tickets cost 10,000 to 100,000 won. For more information, visit www.universalballet.com.