Baek Byung-yeul is a journalist at The Korea Times focused on cultural content, including films and cultural events in South Korea. You can contact him at baekby@koreatimes.co.kr to share your insights.
Around Town 1
Classical Concerts
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The Scottish Chamber Orchestra, led by conductor Robin Ticciati, will perform at the Seongnam Arts Center in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province, on Feb. 23. / Courtesy of Seongnam Arts Center
By Baek Byung-yeul
Scottish Chamber Orchestra
Seongnam Arts Center*
Feb. 23
The Scottish Chamber Orchestra, led by conductor Robin Ticciati, will perform at the Seongnam Arts Center in Gyeonggi Province on Feb. 23 with pianist Maria Joao Pires. The performance will include Mendelssohn’s “Hebrides Overture,” Chopin’s “Piano Concerto No. 2 in f minor, Op.21” and Beethoven’s “Symphony No. 5 in c minor, Op. 67.” Tickets are 40,000 to 200,000 won. For more information, call (031) 783-8000 or visit www.snart.or.kr.
Yongin Philharmonic Orchestra
Feb. 25
The Yongin Philharmonic Orchestra, led by conductor Choi Se-hoon, will perform at the Seongnam Arts Center in Gyeonggi Province on Feb. 25. Tickets are 10,000 to 15,000 won. For more information, call 070-4118-7281 or visit www.snart.or.kr.
ScenTrio Concert
Seoul Arts Center*
March 10
ScenTrio, comprised of violinist Shin Eun-ryoung, cellist Kim Young-eun and pianist Son Young-kyung, will perform at the Seoul Arts Center on March 10. They will play Mozart’s “Piano Trio No. 6 KV. 548,” Lalo’s “Trio for Piano, Violin and Cello” and Mendelssohn’s “Piano Trio in C Minor, Op. 7.” Tickets cost 30,000 won. For more information, call (02) 586-0945 or visit www.sac.or.kr.
London Symphony Orchestra
March 10-11
The London Symphony Orchestra, led by conductor Daniel Harding, will perform at the Seoul Arts Center March 10-11 with pianist Kim Sun-wook. They will play Mussorgsky’s “Night on Bald Mountain,” Stravinsky’s “Petrushka” and Mahler’s “Symphony No.1 in D Major.” Tickets cost 60,000-320,000 won. For more information, call (02) 599-5743 or visit www.sac.or.kr.
Omar Sosa & Paolo Fresu
LG Arts Center*
March 15
Six-time Grammy-nominated Cuban composer and pianist Omar Sosa and Italian trumpet and flugelhorn player Paolo Fresu will perform at the LG Arts Center on March 15. They have collaborated on many projects since 2006. Tickets cost 40,000 to 80,000 won. For more information, call (02) 2005-0114 or visit www.lgart.com.
Evgeny Kissin
March 30
The immensely popular pianist Evgeny Kissin will perform Schubert’s “Piano Sonata No. 17,” Scriabin’s “Sonata No. 2” and “Four Sea Interludes from Peter Grimes” at the Seoul Arts Center on March 30. Tickets cost 60,000 to 180,000 won. For more information, call 1577-5255 or visit www.sac.or.kr.
‘Aida’
Sejong Center for the Performing Arts*
Through Feb. 23
An encore performance of “Aida” will be held at the Sejong Center through Feb. 23 to mark the 200th anniversary of Giuseppe Verdi’s birth. Soprano Lim Se-kyung, Son Hyun-kyung and Lee Eun-hee were cast in the rold of Ethiopian princess Aida, who is sent to Egypt as a slave and falls in love with Egyptian General Radames, played by tenor Shin Dong-won, Yoon Byung-kil and Kim Choong-sik. Tickets cost 20,000 to 120,000 won. For more information, call (02)399-1114 or visit
Big Tickets
Il Divo
Jamsil Stadium
Feb. 22
The world-famous crossover quartet Il Divo will perform in Korea. Located near exit 6 or 7 of Jamsil Integrated Sports Complex Station, subway line 2. Tickets cost 90,000 to 250,000 won. For more information, call (02) 407-2589.
Steve Barakatt
March 14
Canadian composer and pianist Steve Barakatt will hold a concert in Seongnam. Barakatt’s works such as “Rainbow Bridge,” “The Whistler’s song” and “Flying” are already familiar to many Koreans as they have been frequently used in television commercials and dramas. Tickets cost 33,000 to 88,000 won. For more information, call (031) 783-8000 or visit www.snart.or.kr.
Rachael Yamagata
Baekyang Hall, Yonsei University
March 14-15
American singer-songwriter Rachel Yamagata will perform in Seoul on March 14-15. Debuting in 2004, the singer was acclaimed as the best new female artist by Rolling Stone magazine that year and her songs “Be Be Your Love” and “Duet” have been popular in Korea. Located near exit 2 or 3 of Sinchon Station, subway line 2. Tickets cost 88,000 won. For more information, call (02) 3143-5156 or visit
Museums
‘Jongga, the Head Family of a Respected Clan’
The National Folk Museum of Korea
Through Feb. 24
The National Folk Museum is holding an exhibition on the tradition and culture related to“jongga,” or head family of a respected clan. Located near exit 1 of Anguk Station, subway line 3. For more information, visit www.nfm.go.kr.
‘Taoist Culture in Korea: The Road to Happiness’
National Museum of Korea
Through March 2
This special exhibition displays a collection of Taoist cultural artifacts including paintings, books, crafts and archaeological achievements from ancient times to the Joseon Kingdom (1392-1910).The museum is located near exit 2 of Ichon station, subway line 4 or Jungang. For more information, call (02) 2077-9469 or visit www.museum.go.kr.
‘Hoping and Hoping’
Sookmyung Women’s University Museum
Through March 28
The special exhibition put on in collaboration with the National Folk Museum of Korea features a variety of traditional genres, including paintings of longevity symbols, household items covered by fortune patterns and folklore. Located near exit 10 of Sookmyung Women’s University Station, subway line 4. For more information, call (02) 710-9133 or visit museum.sookmyung.ac.kr.
Pop & Jazz
White Lies
Yes 24 MUV Hall
March 19
English rock band White Lies will hold a concert at the Yes 24 MUV Hall in Hongdae, Seoul on March 19. Located near exit 9 of Hongik University Station, subway line 2. Tickets cost 66,000 won. For more information, call (02) 332-3277 or visit www.interpark.com.
Lee Moon-se
Bucheon Indoor Gymnasium
Veteran singer Lee Moon-se will perform in Bucheon on Feb. 22. Tickets cost 99,000 to 121,000 won. For more information, call (02) 556-5910 or visit www.interpark.com.
Jazz vocalist Sunny Kim will perform at the Club Auteur in Hongdae, Seoul, on Feb. 23. / Courtesy of Plus Hitch
Sunny Kim
Club Auteur
Jazz vocalist Sunny Kim will perform at Club Auteur in Hongdae, Seoul on Feb. 23. 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. Located near exit 3 of Hapjeong Station, subway line 2. Tickets are 25,000 to 30,000 won. For more information, call (02) 941-1150 or visit www.interpark.com.
Brown Eyed Soul
Gymnastics Gymnasium, Olympic Park*
Feb. 22-23
R&B group Brown Eyed Soul will perform at the Olympic Park, in southern Seoul to promote their recently released 4th album “Thank Your Soul.” Located near exit 3 of Olympic Park Station, subway line 5. Tickets cost 88,000 to 132,000 won. For more information, call (02) 3446-3225 or visit www.interpark.com.
Teen Top
Olympic Hall, Olympic Park*
The K-pop boy band Teen Top will hold a concert at the Olympic Hall in southern Seoul Feb. 22 and 23. The band will perform their hits including “Crazy,” “Clap,” “To You” and “Miss Right.” Tickets cost 77,000 to 99,000 won. For more information, call 1544-1555 or visit www.interpark.com.
Yoon Jong-shin
Feb. 28-March 1
Veteran singer-songwriter Yoon Jong-shin will perform at the LG Arts Center in southern Seoul with pianist Kim Kwang-min and Cho Yoon-seung to promote his recently released album, “Just Piano.” Yoon debuted in 1990 as a vocalist for the pop band 015B and went on to enjoy a prolific career as a solo artist. Tickets cost 77,000 to 99,000 won. For more information, call 1544-1555 or visit www.interpark.com.
INFINITE
K-pop boy band INFINITE will perform at the Olympic Gymnastics Stadium in southern Seoul on Feb. 28 and March 1. Tickets cost 88,000 to 99,000 won. For more information, call (02) 371-8380 or visit www.interpark.com.
Rose Motel
Indie rock band Rose Motel will perform at the Olympic Hall in southern Seoul on March 14-15. They will perform their hit songs including “You’ll Never Get Married Like This” and “Hey Bongsook.” Tickets cost 55,000 to 77,000 won. For more information, call 1666-9896 or visit www.interpark.com.
Shinhwa
Olympic Gymnastics Stadium, Olympic Park*
March 22-23
K-pop band Shinhwa will perform at the Olympic Gymnastics Stadium in southern Seoul, celebrating the 16th anniversary of their debut. Located near exit 3 of Olympic Park Station, subway line 5. Tickets are 66,000 to 143,000 won. For more information, call (02) 371-8380 or visit www.interpark.com.
Fred Hersch Trio
Mapo Arts Center
April 4
Fred Hersch Trio, comprised of American jazz pianist Fred Hersch, bassist John Hebert and drummer Eric McPherson, will perform at the Mapo Arts Center in Seoul April 4. Located near exit 2 of Daeheung Station, subway line 6. Tickets are 40,000 to 80,000 won. For more information, call (02) 941-1150 or visit
Plays & Musicals
‘Moon Embracing the Sun’
“Moon Embracing the Sun,” a musical adoption of a hit 2012 television drama, depicting a love story between a king and a courtesan set in the Joseon Kingdom period (1392-1910), is being staged at the Seoul Arts Center through Feb. 23. Tickets cost 60,000-110,000 won. For more information, call 1588-5212 or visit www.sac.or.kr.
‘Mamma Mia’
Blue Square
Through March 23
“Mamma Mia,” performed by the original Broadway cast is now being staged at the Blue Square in Yongsan, Seoul, through March 23. Located near exit 2 and 3 of Hangangjin Station, subway line 6. Tickets cost 50,000 to 150,000 won. For more information, call (02) 577-1987 or visit www.bluesquare.kr.
‘Wicked’
Charlotte Theater
Through March 30
The Korean rendition of Broadway hit musical “Wicked” will be staged at the Charlotte Theater in southern Seoul. Singer-turned-musical actress Oak Joo-hyun will star as Elphaba. Located near exit 3 of Jamsil Station, subway lines 2 and 8. Tickets are 60,000 to 140,000 won. For more information, call 1577-3363 or visit www.wickedthemusical.co.kr.
‘Vincent van Gogh’
Chungmu Art Hall
Through April 27
The musical based on Dutch post-impressionist painter Vincent van Gogh will be staged at the Chungmu Art Hall in Seoul through April 27. Located near exit 9 of Sindang Station, subway line 6. Tickets cost 50,000 won. For more information, call (02) 588-7708 or visit
Dance
‘30th Anniversary Special Gala’
Feb. 21-23
The Universal Ballet Company will perform at the Seoul Arts Center in southern Seoul to commemorate their 30th anniversary on Feb. 21-23. They will perform popular ballet pieces such as “Sleeping Beauty,” “Don Quixote,” “The Love of Chunhyang,” and “Kenneth MacMillan’s Romeo & Juliet.” Tickets cost 10,000 to 100,000 won. For more information, call (070) 7124-1737 or visit www.universalballet.com.
‘Kiss & Cry’
March 6-9
“Kiss & Cry,” a collaborative work between Belgian film director Jaco Van Dormael and his choreographer wife Michele Anne De Mey will be performed at the LG Arts Center in southern Seoul on March 6-9. Tickets cost 30,000 to 70,000 won. For more information, call (02) 2005-0114 or visit www.lgart.com.
‘Sachoom’
Sachoom Theater
Through March 31
Sachoom, an original Korean dance performance, comprised of diverse kinds of dance moves ranging from hip-hop and modern to traditional, is being staged at the Sachoom Theater in Seoul through March 31. Located near exit 5 of Jongno3-ga, subway line 1 and 3. Tickets cost 25,000 to 50,000 won. For more information, call (02) 3676-7616 or visit www.sachoom.com.