'No more BTS-style Cinderella stories': Young Korean fans and artists leave K-pop for trot“It is undeniable that trot singers are more skilled and have better attitudes than some K-pop idols caught up in scandals. Many trot singers have gone through hardships in life, and they have the determination to overcome them. It is no wonder they are becoming more popular.” The comment was posted under a members-only Hankook Ilbo article about why Koreans in their 20s and 30s are increasingly turning to trot music. The apparent resentment toward repeated controversies involving K-pop idols — whether another military service dispute surrounding a male idol or a government probe into tax evasion allegations — offers a glimpse into why some young Koreans are shifting their attention to young trot singers. Trot refers to a Korean popular music genre that predates K-pop. Influenced by Japanese enka and Western musical styles, it dominated Korea’s music scene for decades and remained a favorite among older generations even after K-pop took over the charts. For many younger Koreans, however, the genre long carried an image of being old-fashioned and tacky. Recently, however, trotMay 25, 2026By Hankookilbo
Dora Morelenbaum brings new Brazilian sound wave to SeoulA soft bossa nova breeze swept through western Seoul Thursday night as Brazilian singer-songwriter Dora Morelenbaum brought her genre-blurring sound to Korea for the first time, opening her Asia tour at a small venue in Hongdae. The concert at West Bridge Live Hall offered Korean listeners a rare chance to experience contemporary Brazilian music up close on a spring weeknight. Born in Rio de Janeiro in 1996, Morelenbaum is one of the most closely watched artists among Brazil’s new wave of musicians redefining Música Popular Brasileira (MPB). The daughter of cellist-arranger Jaques Morelenbaum and vocalist Paula Morelenbaum, who both performed with bossa nova legend Antônio Carlos Jobim and collaborated with the late Japanese composer Ryuichi Sakamoto, she grew up in a household where music was an everyday language rather than a separate profession. “My parents are musicians and that took a big part of my musical formation,” she said in an interview with The Korea Times before the show. “When I was little, I traveled a lot with my family for their shows. I was always surroundedMay 9, 2026By Lee Hae-rin
Pianist Sunwoo Yekwon explores lyricism behind Liszt's virtuosity in new albumFor pianist Sunwoo Yekwon, Franz Liszt was once a composer of empty virtuosity — all flash and little substance. But with his new album released Thursday, Sunwoo is peeling back the Hungarian composer's dazzling facade to reveal a profound human voice and dramatic lyricism. "Liszt is a composer full of splendor, but I wanted to create an album that remembers him for the human voice and lyricism within it," Sunwoo said during a press conference held in Seoul to promote the album, titled "Liszt." It marks the first studio album from the 37-year-old pianist who has firmly established his career since making history in 2017 as the first Korean to win the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition. He previously released his debut studio album, "Mozart," in 2020, followed by "Rachmaninoff, A Reflection" in 2023. During the press conference, Sunwoo revealed that while he frequently practiced Liszt during his middle school years, drawn to the immediate and flashy appeal of the music, he completely stopped playing the composer's works in his 20s. "I didn't feel much charm in it. I thought itMay 7, 2026By Yonhap
Soprano Sumi Jo marks 40 years on world stage, signs to SM with new album ‘Continuum’Soprano Sumi Jo is marking the 40th anniversary of her international career with a new album, a fresh partnership with K-pop powerhouse SM Entertainment and a yearlong slate of concerts and mentorship projects that she hopes will carry her legacy into the next generation. At a press conference in Seoul on Wednesday, the 61-year-old singer looked back on four decades of breakthroughs, beginning with her 1986 debut as Gilda in Verdi’s “Rigoletto” at Teatro Verdi in Trieste, Italy. Since winning major competitions and joining leading opera houses abroad, Jo has built a globe-spanning career that has taken her to the world’s top stages, from La Scala and the Metropolitan Opera to concert halls across Asia, Europe and the Americas. She became the first Asian to sweep seven major vocal competitions and star as prima donna at five of the world’s leading opera houses. Also, she became the first Asian and first Korean to win a Grammy for Best Opera Recording and Commandeur of France’s Ordre des Arts et des Lettres. Her exclusive recording contract with SM Entertainment is central to tMay 6, 2026By Lee Hae-rin
K-pop on violin? Ray Chen ventures out to become gateway to classical musicRay Chen is serious about bridging people with classical music. The Taiwanese Australian violinist is one of the most active YouTubers among star instrumentalists in his generation. A recent video features him playing “Soda Pop” from the Oscar-winning animation “KPop Demon Hunters.” He also founded the app “Tonic” to help musicians from all over the world connect and share effective ways to practice. Ahead of a recital in Seoul on June 4 at Lotte Concert Hall, Chen gave a written interview on The Hankook Ilbo. “Even if one is not a concertgoer, a familiar tune played in a way unheard before can make one stop scrolling and pay attention. In that moment of surprise — ‘K-pop on the violin?’ — a door opens.” The 37-year-old made his mark by winning the Yehudi Menuhin International Competition for Young Violinists in 2008 and the Queen Elisabeth Competition in 2009. Since then, he has remained active on the international stage, performing with major orchestras such as the New York Philharmonic, the London Philharmonic Orchestra and many others. He is also a classicalApr 23, 2026By Hankookilbo
Song Joong-ki and wife Katy Saunders draw attention after official public appearanceActor Song Joong-ki and his wife, Katy Louise Saunders, made their first official public appearance as a married couple Saturday, narrating a disability-inclusive classical concert at Seoul Arts Center. The couple's participation in Gaon Soloists’ seventh regular concert, "Kinderszenen," marked a deliberate shift from casual public sightings to actively spotlighting a social cause. The event commemorated the 46th National Day for Persons with Disabilities. Founded in 2021 and led by violist and music director Kim Yoo-young, Gaon Soloists is a chamber ensemble that unites classical musicians with and without disabilities. Kang Ja-yeon, the group’s representative, said on YTN Radio that Song’s team initiated the collaboration after learning about the ensemble through a mutual connection. “They heard about our performance through an acquaintance and contacted us first,” Kang said. “It was a great honor for us.” The couple posed for photos with audience members and fellow performers following the event. Musical actor Kim So-hyun and broadcaster Jang Sung-kyu, who also performed iApr 21, 2026By Xportsnews
Korean National Symphony Orchestra to amplify blockbuster soundtracks at Seoul Arts CenterThe Korean National Symphony Orchestra (KNSO) will bring Hollywood to the concert hall with a new film music program that immerses audiences in some of the most iconic blockbuster scores of the 21st century. The orchestra’s “Hollywood Blockbusters” concert will run May 1 and 2 at Seoul Arts Center’s Concert Hall, pairing symphonic sound with large-scale media art visuals. Led by British-based conductor Anthony Gabriele, a specialist in film music concerts, the program centers on Hans Zimmer, the German composer widely credited with redefining today’s blockbuster sound. While John Williams is often associated with the golden age of Hollywood scores, Zimmer pushed the genre forward by fusing traditional orchestral writing with electronic elements and propulsive rhythms in collaborations with directors such as Christopher Nolan and Ridley Scott. The evening will open with Zimmer’s music, featuring a suite from “The Dark Knight” and selections from “Inception,” “Pearl Harbor,” “Kung Fu Panda,” “The Da Vinci Code,” “Wonder Woman,” “The Lion King” andApr 19, 2026By Lee Hae-rin
ReviewChung Myung-whun brings ‘Carmen’ to Korea Times spring concertThe Korea Times Spring Concert, Friday, featured maestro Chung Myung-whun and the KBS Symphony Orchestra at Seoul’s Lotte Concert Hall, presenting French composer Georges Bizet’s opera “Carmen,” one of the most popular works among Korean audiences. Instead of a traditional staged opera, the performance presented a concert version, a format that places greater emphasis on the music rather than elaborate sets and staging. Premiered in Paris in 1875, “Carmen” is a tragic love story between the Romani woman Carmen and the soldier Don Jose, set in Seville, Spain. Unlike many operas centered on love and sacrifice, “Carmen” is driven by jealousy, desire and obsession, culminating in death. For this reason, it was initially criticized as vulgar and immoral. Over time, however, it came to be recognized as a masterpiece for its realistic portrayal of love as a clash between possession and personal freedom. “Carmen” is filled with melodies familiar to many in the audience. The 120-minute performance opened with the prelude and featured highlights including “Habanera,” “ToApr 18, 2026By Kim Se-jeong
From grieving mother to cancer patient, listeners thank AKMU for new song“My daughter passed away in 2022 at the age of 23. I never got to see the cherry blossoms with her. Hearing this song makes me cry because I miss her so much and want to see her again.” The comment was posted on the music video for sibling duo AKMU’s latest release, “Joy, Sorrow, A Beautiful Heart,” the title track from its fourth album, “Flowering.” It was one of many in which listeners shared their grief while also thanking the song for offering comfort. For many of them, the song has become a source of healing. AKMU unveiled the music video for “Joy, Sorrow, A Beautiful Heart” on YouTube on Tuesday. More than 5,300 comments have since been posted, many of them from listeners sharing their grief, personal struggles and the comfort the song brought them. “I’m about to begin treatment, and God knows how painful it will be this time,” one user wrote, identifying himself as a blood cancer patient in his 30s. “I was browsing YouTube to calm myself down when I accidentally came across this song. As I listen to it, my eyes fill with tears.” Some shared the sorrow ofApr 10, 2026By Hankookilbo
Korean Chamber Orchestra to salute Sofia Gubaidulina with Seoul memorial concertThe Korean Chamber Orchestra will honor late Russian composer Sofia Gubaidulina (1931-2025) with a memorial concert featuring two Korean premieres at Seoul Arts Center on April 26. The program, titled “Sofia Gubaidulina & Korean Chamber Orchestra,” will take place under the baton of conductor Park Tae-young. It will be the first memorial concert in Korea dedicated to Gubaidulina, widely regarded as one of the most influential voices in contemporary music. The event aims to spotlight the spiritual depth and experimental sound that made her a touchstone for performers and composers worldwide. Born in a small town in Russia, Gubaidulina defied Soviet conformity from her early years. She once said her desire was “to rebel and swim against the current.” She spent her life creating sonically daring works that pursued truth through art and a belief in art as a “beautiful prayer.” The evening will open with Ernest Bloch’s “Prayer” for solo cello and strings, framed by the orchestra as a musical requiem and tribute. It will continue with Dmitri Shostakovich’s Piano Concerto NoApr 10, 2026By Lee Hae-rin
