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
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By Baek Byung-yeul
Classical Concerts
Lee Yang-kyung
Seoul Arts Center*
March 5
Pianist Lee Yang-kyung will hold a piano recital at the Seoul Arts Center on March 5. Lee will play Bach’s “Italian Concerto in F Major, BWV 971,” Beethoven’s “Piano Sonata No. 31 in A-flat Major, Op. 110” and Chopin’s “24 Preludes Op. 28.” Tickets are 20,000 won. For more information, call (02) 515-5123 or visit
Choi Jung-hyun
Violinist Choi Jung-hyun will hold a violin recital at the Seoul Arts Center on March 5. Choi will play Schubert’s “Sonatina No. 1 in D Major, D. 384” and Brahms’s “Sonata for Piano and Violin No. 2 Op. 100.” Tickets are 20,000 won. For more information, call (02) 586-0945 or visit
ScenTrio Concert
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
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
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
The Millennium Symphony Orchestra, led by conductor Seo Hee-tae, will perform at the Seoul Arts Center on March 5. / Courtesy of Koreana Management
Millennium Symphony Orchestra
The Millennium Symphony Orchestra, led by conductor Seo Hee-tae, will perform at the Seoul Arts Center March 5 with guitarist Jang Seung-ho, mezzo soprano Lee Ah-kyung and baritone Choi Jong-woo. Tickets cost 30,000 to 120,000 won. For more information, call (02) 3487-0678 or visit
Primo Cantante
March 24
Primo Cantante, comprised of around 70 male vocalists, will perform its 17th concert at the Seoul Arts Center on March 24. Tickets cost 20,000 to 100,000 won. For more information, call (02) 581-5404 or visit
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
Big Tickets
Steve Barakatt
Seongnam Arts Center*
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
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
Bruno Mars
Gymnastics Gymnasium, Olympic Park*
April 8
Grammy-winning American singer-songwriter Bruno Mars will perform at the Gymnastics Gymnasium of Olympic Park in Seoul on April 8. He will sing his hits including “Just the Way You Are,” “Grenade” and “The Lazy Song.” Tickets cost 99,000 to 132,000 won. For more information, call (02) 3141-3488 or visit
Museums
‘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
‘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
Jung Dong-ha
New Millennium Hall, Konkuk University
Jung Dong-ha, former vocalist of the rock band Boohwal, will hold his first solo concert at Konkuk University in Seoul March 14-15. Located near exit 2 of Konkuk University Station, subway line 2. Tickets cost 99,000 won. For more information, call (032) 322-2121 or visit
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
INFINITE
Feb. 28-March 1
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
B.A.P
SK Handball Gymnasium, Olympic Park*
March 8-9
The six-member K-pop boy band B.A.P will hold a concert at the SK Handball Gymnasium in southern Seoul March 8-9. Tickets cost 88,000 to 99,000 won. For more information, call (02) 452-9802 or visit
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
Soran
March 6-23
Rock band Soran will perform at the Mapo Arts Center in central Seoul March 6-23. Located near exit 5 of Ewha Womans University Station, subway line 2. Tickets cost 44,000 to 55,000 won. For more information, call 1544-1555 or visit
Singer-songwriter Yoon Jong-shin will give a concert at the LG Arts Center in southern Seoul on Feb. 28 and March 1. / Korea Times file
Yoon Jong-shin
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
Rose Motel
Olympic Hall, Olympic Park*
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
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
Plays & Musicals
‘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
‘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
‘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
‘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
‘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
The Universal Ballet Company will perform Nacho Duato’s “Multiplicity” at the LG Arts Center in southern Seoul on April 25-27. / Courtesy of Universal Ballet
‘Multiplicity’
April 25-27
The Universal Ballet Company will perform the renowned Spanish choreographer Nacho Duato’s work “Multiplicity” at the LG Arts Center in southern Seoul April 25-27. The choreographic reflection is inspired by the music and life of Johann Sebastian Bach. Tickets cost 30,000 to 100,000 won. For more information, call (02) 2005-0114 or visit