Oasis faces backlash in Korea over Rising Sun imagery ahead of Seoul concertBritish rock band Oasis has sparked outrage among Korean fans after releasing a promotional video featuring imagery reminiscent of the Japanese Rising Sun flag, a symbol widely regarded in Asia as representing Japan’s wartime aggression and colonial rule. On Aug. 8, the band posted a short clip on its official social media accounts with the caption, “Check out the brand new visualiser for ‘Morning Glory.’” The video, which visually reinterprets the cover art of their 1995 album, included a segment incorporating a design resembling the Rising Sun flag. The image drew immediate criticism, especially given the proximity to Korea’s Aug. 15 Liberation Day, which marks the end of Japanese colonial rule. The Rising Sun flag was used by the Imperial Japanese Army during World War II and remains a potent reminder of historical trauma for countries that endured Japan’s invasions and occupation, such as Korea and China. Korean fans flooded the comment section with remarks such as, “Do you realize you’re coming to Korea?” and “Take down the video and apologize,” urging the baAug 14, 2025By Hankookilbo
TXT to headline Korea's Liberation Day eve concert at Gyeongbok PalaceK-pop boy band Tomorrow X Together (TXT) is set to headline a special concert celebrating the 80th anniversary of Korea’s liberation from the 1910-45 Japanese colonial rule. Hosted by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the event, held under the theme “We Are Lights,” will begin at 8 p.m. on Aug. 14, the eve of the National Liberation Day holiday, in the square in front of Heungnye Gate at Seoul’s Gyeongbok Palace. Joining TXT on stage are pop icons across generations and genres: powerhouse vocalist Insooni, dance crew BUMSUP, “Joseon pop” fusion band sEODo BAND, show choir group Harmonize and K-pop girl groups fromis_9 and H1-KEY. Adding to the evening’s spectacle are performances by leading national arts institutions, including the National Dance Company of Korea, the National Chorus of Korea and the Seoul Performing Arts Company, bringing together voices rooted in the country’s traditions. The concert will be accompanied by immersive visual effects, combining media facade projections and artificial intelligence-powered lighting to create a fusion of heritage aAug 5, 2025By Park Han-sol
ReviewSweat, sound and 20 years of Pentaport: Why rock still mattersThe 20th Incheon Pentaport Rock Festival provided a revealing glimpse of how outdoor music events in Korea are evolving — not only in sound, but in spirit, structure and even scent. Arriving shortly after 7 p.m. on the first day of the festival on Friday Aug. 1, I stepped into Songdo Moonlight Festival Park just as Chang Ki-ha took the stage. Everything felt immediate — not just the music, but the heat, the crowd and the mist of citrus spray in the air. Unlike many festivals that unfold slowly, Pentaport hurled attendees into a fully activated space — one where preparation, participation and a surprising degree of personal care seemed to converge. New kind of preparedness Despite the blistering August heat wave, festivalgoers had claimed spots hours in advance, their picnic mats arranged in tight formations across the grass. Many came dressed not for style, but for survival — or, more accurately, for both. Outfits followed an unspoken code: lightweight cotton, hiking-grade sneakers and water bottles clipped to utility backpacks. It wasn’t fashion for show but fashion with a functAug 3, 2025By Kim Min-ji
How Bae Chul-soo broadcasts iconic radio show from Lollapalooza ChicagoCHICAGO — Inside a white container studio in Grant Park, tucked just steps from the thundering stages of Lollapalooza Chicago, Korea’s most iconic radio voice leans into the mic — not in Seoul, but in the middle of America’s wildest summer music festival. What’s Bae Chul-soo, the legendary host of Korea's longest-running radio program, "Bae Chul-soo's Music Camp," doing 10,000 kilometers away from his familiar Seoul studio, where he has helmed Korea’s most beloved pop music show for over three decades? To celebrate the 35th anniversary of his program, Bae and his team flew across the globe for a first-of-its-kind recording project, bringing "Bae Camp" to life from the heart of the Windy City. Surrounded by festival frenzy, the crew set up a makeshift studio in Grant Park, determined to capture the global pulse of pop music in real time. This milestone moment of Korea's most enduring radio show promised something historic for fans and industry insiders alike, but its journey was far from seamless. After a grueling 12-hour flight, even catching an Uber into downtown proved chalAug 2, 2025By Pyo Kyung-min
Incheon Pentaport Rock Festival marks 20th year with global acts, strong attendanceThe Incheon Pentaport Rock Festival, one of Korea’s most iconic music events, kicked off its 20th edition, Friday, at Songdo Moonlight Festival Park, drawing thousands of fans despite high temperatures and weather concerns. Running through Sunday, the three-day festival features 58 artists from around the world, including Britpop legends Pulp, marking their first-ever performance in Korea since their formation in 1978, and Grammy-winning American singer-songwriter Beck, performing here for the first time in nine years. Opening day highlights included Korea’s punk pioneers Crying Nut, who were celebrating their 30th anniversary, and Japanese rock band Asian Kung-Fu Generation closing out the show. Rising hip-hop artist Audrey Nuna, known for her work in Netflix’s "KPop Demon Hunters," will perform Sunday. With heat wave alerts issued around the country, the city of Incheon expanded medical cooling zones to 2,225 square meters and distributed 35,000 free water bottles to prepare for high temperatures. Incheon officials also said safety consultations and contingency plans were in plaAug 2, 2025By Kim Min-ji
Xdinary Heroes light up Lollapalooza ChicagoCHICAGO — The sun blazed down on Grant Park as waves of music lovers flooded through the gates Thursday, the opening day of Lollapalooza Chicago 2025. Under the sweltering heat, festivalgoers embraced the vibrant atmosphere, dressed in lightweight, expressive fashion — cowboy hats, bikini tops and jean cutoffs were common, while some attendees even braved the summer heat shirtless. Cans of beer and guava margaritas in hand, the crowd floated between stages at the park, most of them drenched in sweat while diving into equally filthy beats. One of the most influential music festivals in the world, Lollapalooza offers a strikingly different landscape from its Korean counterparts, not just in its massive scale, but in its overall vibes, genre diversity and sheer cultural breadth. Held annually at Chicago's Grant Park, the four-day festival draws nearly 400,000 attendees and continues to serve as a global touchpoint for contemporary music. This year's edition, running from Thursday to Sunday (local time), showcases more than 170 acts across eight stages, spanning pop, hip-hop, rock, EDMAug 1, 2025By Pyo Kyung-min
20th Incheon Pentaport Festival to bring rock to summer nightsThe annual Incheon Pentaport Rock Festival, one of Korea's largest summer music events, will kick off Friday for a three-day run. Hosted by the Incheon metropolitan government, the festival has been held every year in the Songdo district of Incheon, about 30 kilometers west of Seoul, since 2006. Now in its 20th edition, the festival will feature 58 teams of musicians from home and abroad, including iconic Britpop band Pulp, American alternative star Beck, Korean American R&B singer and rapper Audrey Nuna, and Korean rock mainstays Crying Nut and Jaurim. Drawing the most attention among them is Pulp, who will be making its first-ever appearance in Korea since its formation in 1978. Known for its hits like "Common People" and "Babies" and its distinctive, straightforward lyrics, the band will headline the second day of the festival. It is expected to showcase its new album, "More," its first in 24 years, along with its classic hits. Audrey Nuna will take the stage on the final day. She recently gained attention for performing songs as Mira, a member of the fictional K-pop girl group Huntr/xAug 1, 2025By Yonhap
K-Music Festival London returns with pianist Cho Seong-jinK-Music Festival, a decade-old celebration of Korean music in London, will return this October with a lineup led by internationally renowned pianist Cho Seong-jin. Since its launch in 2013, the festival — organized by the Korean Cultural Centre U.K. — has introduced European audiences to Korean music beyond K-pop, spotlighting contemporary, traditional and experimental artists. Cho will perform a piano concerto composed especially for him by Korean composer Shin Dong-hoon on Nov. 20, at Barbican Hall. The world premiere will take place with the London Symphony Orchestra. Cho and Shin previously collaborated in January, when Cho performed Shin’s "My Shadow" — an ensemble piece for two violins, clarinet, cello and piano — with members of the Berlin Philharmonic in Berlin. Composer and cellist Lee Ok-kyung will open the festival on Oct. 1 with a performance alongside U.K.-based electronic artist Mark Fell at Kings Place. On Oct. 5, Korean post-rock band JAMBINAI will return to the festival for a second time, performing with the London Contemporary Orchestra at the Barbican. Known fJul 27, 2025By Kim Se-jeong
From Beethoven to BTS: How K-pop hits sample classical musicClassical music and K-pop have seemed worlds apart — the former a centuries-old tradition, the latter a hyper-modern global phenomenon. But listen closely and you’ll hear just how often the two collide in unexpected harmony. Take BTS’ V, for example. On June 17, he surprised fans by attending a piano concert by world-renowned pianist Cho Seong-jin in Seoul. Just days earlier, singer and actor Cha Eun-woo also attended the Orchestre de Paris' concerts in Seoul, conducted by Klaus Mekele and accompanied by piano prodigy Lim Yun-chan at the Seoul Arts Center on June 11. Another BTS member RM posted a photo of himself with maestro Chung Myung-whun and acclaimed filmmaker Park Chan-wook, likely taken after Chung’s July 3 concert, offering a glimpse into his appreciation for classical music. These appearances aren’t one-off surprises, but hint at a growing appreciation for classical music within the K-pop world. K-pop artists, composers and producers are increasingly turned to classical music for inspiration, weaving iconic melodies into chart-topping tracks. So, which classical workJul 18, 2025By Kim Se-jeong
ReviewLim Yun-chan shines at final duo piano recital with his teacher“His power and energy to draw the audience into his performance is out of this world.” That’s how one fan described Lim Yun-chan, the 21-year-old piano sensation, following his final duo recital with his teacher Sohn Min-soo at the Seoul Arts Center on Tuesday. “I’m completely hooked,” said Seo Ji-eun, 60, a Seoul resident, standing outside the stage door after the performance. “I went to see him on Saturday and Monday too. Today, I couldn’t get a ticket, so I watched from the lobby on the screen,” she added, referring to the duo's concerts in Incheon on Saturday and at Lotte Concert Hall in Seoul on Monday. Monday and Tuesday's recitals were part of the Hyundai Card Culture Project. At this rare four-hands concert, the two pianists played Brahms’ Sonata for Two Pianos in F Minor, Op. 34b, Rachmaninoff’s Symphonic Dances, Op. 45 and the Rosenkavalier Suite for Two Pianos by Richard Strauss. Lim’s interpretation of these works — especially those originally written for other ensembles — impressed nearly 2,000 audience members filling the auditorium. His performanJul 16, 2025By Kim Se-jeong
