Hahoe Festival, where Korean tradition meets modernityCan traditions be lost when they collide with modernity? Should we resist change, or, as social media and new technologies increasingly shape our lives, should we use the tools of modernity to help our traditions evolve and thrive? A good example of achieving this seemingly utopian balance is Hahoe Festival. Originating from Busan in Korea’s southeastern region, a unique music project now celebrating its sixth anniversary is hosting its annual electronic music festival on June 7 and 8 at Andong’s Korean Culture Theme Park. Here, they celebrate what, in their opinion, is the true essence of Korean culture: community. Led by cultural director Choi Ji-won, known as DJ OENN in the electronic music scene, Hahoe Festival proudly celebrates Korean culture in a way no other modern music festival does. This rare fusion of global modern culture and Korean folk tradition offers an answer to two questions increasingly asked in Korean society: Who are we? And how can we celebrate being authentically “us”? These aren't ungrounded assumptions but sentiments I´ve heard in heartfelt conversatioJun 1, 2025By Daniela P. Solano
ReviewAI too reveres Shakespeare in musical 'Voice of Hamlet'Shakespeare’s timeless classics inspired countless adaptations for centuries — and now artificial intelligence (AI) is entering the stage. Premiered May 16 at the National Theater of Korea's Haneul Theater, "Voice of Hamlet: The Concert" is the world's first musical created by artificial intelligence (AI) based on the Bard's iconic tragedy, "Hamlet." Reimagined as a rock concert-style one-person show, the show was developed using an original AI-powered script and a composition model built by the production company Emotional Theatre. Despite its tech-savvy origins, the musical closely follows the plot of the original play. At its center is Hamlet's quest to avenge his father, the former king of Denmark, who was murdered by his brother Claudius. The prince's internal struggle and descent into madness form the emotional core of the piece. But unlike the original, which unfolds through a cast of characters in dialogue, "Voice of Hamlet: The Concert" renders the drama as a solo performance. Hamlet is the sole character on stage, delivering more than 20 songs alone in a rock concert-style sMay 30, 2025By Pyo Kyung-min
Violinist Park Sue-ye wins prestigious Sibelius competitionKorean violinist Park Sue-ye has won the 13th International Jean Sibelius Violin Competition, one of the most prestigious competitions for the instrument in the world. Park was announced as the first prize winner of the competition, which took place in Helsinki from May 19 to 29, according to the competition's website Friday. "I am so happy to have won the competition," she was quoted as saying by her agency, Mok Production. "It means a lot to me, and I was delighted to be able to communicate through my music to the very end," she said. Yang received a cash prize of 30,000 euros ($34,000) and was also rewarded with a loan of a violin by Giovanni Battista Guadagnini made in 1777. Minami Yoshida received the second prize, while Claire Wells took third. The 25-year-old became the second South Korean violinist to win the quinquennial contest founded in 1965 for young violinists under age of 30. In 2022, Yang In-mo won the competition. Born in 2000, Park began playing the violin at the age of 4 and made her debut at 16 with a recording of Niccolo Paganini's 24 Caprices. In 2021, her album "JourMay 30, 2025By Yonhap
Seoul philharmonic music director Jaap van Zweden accused of workplace abuseRenowned Dutch conductor Jaap van Zweden, currently serving as music director of the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra (SPO), has been accused of workplace harassment, including making demeaning remarks to orchestra members and fostering a culture of fear in the orchestras where he previously worked. Van Zweden began his five-year term as music director of the SPO in early 2024 and is also set to begin a new post as music director of the Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France in 2026. Previously, he held top posts at several major orchestras, including the New York Philharmonic, the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra and the Dallas Symphony Orchestra. The allegations were presented in a 47-minute documentary released on May 22 by Pointer, an investigative journalism program produced by Dutch public broadcaster KRO-NCRV. The production team conducted a six-month investigation, interviewing about 50 orchestra members, staff and executives from around the world. Many of the musicians interviewed — most of whom spoke on condition of anonymity — claimed that van Zweden’s behavior was deeplyMay 29, 2025By Kim Se-jeong
INTERVIEW 'My music has no meaning, only sound': 19-year-old composer Lee HanurijKorean composing prodigy Lee Hanurij, born in 2006, is quickly gaining recognition for his abstract, sound-driven compositions that challenge expectations. From pianist Lim Yun-chan’s recent recitals in Korea and abroad to upcoming performances by the Seoul Metropolitan Traditional Orchestra, his works are being featured at some of the country’s most high-profile classical events. In an interview held at the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts on May 23, the 19-year-old shared his artistic philosophy: “I don’t compose to express a meaning or concept. I’m more interested in exploring the intrinsic possibilities of each instrument and the acoustic relationships between them.” Lee began his musical journey at the age of 4, learning piano and violin. A turning point came in elementary school when he first heard the second movement of Scriabin’s "Piano Sonata No. 3." Moved by the experience, he began scribbling on manuscript paper instead of practicing, prompting his parents to encourage him to pursue composition more seriously. In 2016, he joined the gifted program at the SeouMay 28, 2025By Hankookilbo
Soprano Sumi Jo receives prestigious French cultural honorRenowned Korean soprano Sumi Jo received France's Commandeur of the Order of Arts and Letters on Monday in recognition of her contributions to French arts and culture. The 62-year-old soprano was awarded the highest rank of the three-tier honor from the French Ministry of Culture during an award ceremony held at the Opera-Comique in Paris. "Receiving such an honor is beyond anything I could have imagined. It feels like I've reached the pinnacle today," Jo said at the ceremony. "While this honor is a great privilege, it also marks a new beginning. From now on, I want to dedicate myself even more to the younger generation by supporting and inspiring them," she added. Established in 1957, the honor is given to individuals who have demonstrated outstanding achievements in the fields of art and literature or who have contributed to promoting French culture globally. This recognition also highlights her recent contributions, such as launching her first international vocal competition in July last year at the historic Chateau de la Ferte-Imbault in France's Loire Valley, aimed at supporting taleMay 26, 2025By Yonhap
Soprano Sumi Jo to receive prestigious French cultural honorRenowned soprano Sumi Jo is set to receive France's Commandeur of the Order of Arts and Letters in recognition of her contributions to French art, the Korean Cultural Center in Paris has said. According to the center Wednesday (local time), the Korean soprano is scheduled to attend an award ceremony at the Opera-Comique in Paris on Monday to receive the highest rank of the three-tier honor bestowed by the French Ministry of Culture. Established in 1957, the honor is given to individuals who have demonstrated outstanding achievements in the fields of art and literature or who have contributed to promoting French culture globally. This recognition also highlights her recent contributions, such as launching her first international vocal competition in July last year at the historic Chateau de la Ferte-Imbault in France's Loire Valley, aimed at supporting talented young vocalists on the global stage.May 22, 2025By Yonhap
Maestro Chung Myung-whun likens La Scala appointment to long-awaited unionMaestro Chung Myung-whun, recently appointed music director of Italy's Teatro alla Scala, described the new role as the culmination of a long-standing relationship with the famed opera house, likening it to a marriage. "We have maintained a lovely relationship for the past 36 years and suddenly gotten married, to put it simply" the maestro said with a laugh during a press conference in the southeastern city of Busan on Monday. Last week, Chung became the first Asian appointed music director at the opera house in Milan, established in 1778. He will succeed Riccardo Chailly at the end of next year and will serve in the position until February 2030. His connection with La Scala dates back to 1989. He has been a constant presence, conducting nine opera productions over 84 performances and 141 concerts -- the highest number of appearances by any conductor not holding an official music director title, according to the theater. In March 2023, he also became the La Scala Philharmonic Orchestra's first-ever honorary conductor in recognition of his long-lasting relationship. "Even if someone is excMay 19, 2025By Yonhap
'Sons of the resistance': 4 punk bands from Gwangju speak upNone of them were around when it happened, but Gwangju's punk bands still feel the spirit of the 1980 Democratic Uprising and how it affected the country in fundamental ways. "Gwangju is definitely a city where the spirit of resistance is still alive," Yang Gun-yang, guitarist and vocalist of Gwangju skate punk band Monkey Pee Quartet, told The Korea Times. "We are the sons of the resistance." Although Yang wasn't born until after the May 18 uprising, he has since lived through two presidential impeachments. The band's 2017 song "My Old Virgin Sister" was released in the wake of the impeachment of Park Geun-hye. Yang said the song was written about the ex-president, but he began working on the song in 2013, early in her term. "'My Old Virgin Sister' was created in 2013 and completed in 2017," he said. "I couldn't finish the lyrics because of the further incidents that kept happening while I was making it. Whenever I tried completing the lyrics, there'd be a new development in president-related news (Sewol sinking, influence peddling impeachment)." Origins of Gwangju punk Punk music tracesMay 18, 2025By Jon Dunbar
Pianist Karam Kim to celebrate Ravel's 150th anniversary with recitalPianist Karam Kim will present a recital in Seoul next month to mark the 150th anniversary of composer Maurice Ravel's birth, offering a program that pays tribute to the French Impressionist master. Titled "Promenade with Ravel," the concert will take place on June 15 at 2 p.m. at the IBK Chamber Hall of the Seoul Arts Center. The performance explores the complexity of Ravel's piano works, which Kim interprets through her own artistic journey growing up in Paris. The program is set to evoke the atmosphere of a summer stroll through the French capital, highlighting some of Ravel's most intricate compositions. Among them is "La Valse," a swirling waltz piece originally composed for two pianos and later arranged for orchestra and solo piano. Kim will also take on "Scarbo," the final movement of "Gaspard de la nuit," widely considered one of the most technically demanding pieces in the solo piano repertoire. Kim studied at the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique de Paris under Georges Pludermacher and Claire Désert and at the Royal Academy of Music in London through the Erasmus proMay 16, 2025By Pyo Kyung-min
