Paik Kun-woo, at 80, says 'Music chose me'At 80, celebrated Korean pianist Paik Kun-woo says he feels freer than ever. "Reflecting on my past, I was under a lot of stress to perform and always offer something new, just like any other pianist. But now that I am 80, I feel all that is left for me is to enjoy music," Paik said at a press conference in Seoul on Monday. "From now on, I want to play freely. That is where my mind is right now," he said. Last week, Paik released a recording of Franz Schubert's Piano Sonatas Nos. 13, 14, 18 and 20 through Universal Music. To mark the release, he will embark on a nationwide recital tour next month. Expressing his admiration for the Austrian composer, Paik said he deeply connects with the famous saying that if one falls asleep while listening to Schubert, they will still wake up in heaven. "I am sometimes truly curious whether his music comes from heaven. Unlike some music where you can sense the human effort behind it, Schubert's seems to flow naturally, as if it were not made by human hands," he explained. Despite his deep admiration, Paik stressed that it was the music that chose him, notMar 30, 2026By Yonhap
Noridogam aims to 'bust truths' in 2nd album ahead of Asia tourSinger-songwriter Noridogam, the solo project of Silica Gel guitarist Kim Chunchu, has released his second full-length album, “TRUTHBUSTER,” ahead of an Asia tour set to begin next month. With a theme about confronting one’s truths, the artist sings about small, personal moments that reveal a more open sense of introspection. “You know the movie ‘Ghostbusters,’ right? It feels a bit like a parody of that,” Kim explained. “But instead of busting ghosts, it’s about busting truths.” The 11-track album — out Wednesday — includes the prereleased single of the same name, as well as “Hazard Course,” featuring Japanese artist mei ehara. “‘Truthbuster’ is the most emotional song among the tracks on the album,” he said. "I also felt that it represented the theme running through the whole album, so it became the album title as well." The inclusion of mei ehara as a featured artist was a deliberate choice, reflecting his intention to connect with talents beyond Korea. The record also features Noridogam’s own version of “Bucket Brigade,” originally from Kim'sMar 18, 2026By Mariel Abanes
Chamber music festival in Seoul highlights Mozart, young prodigiesThis year's edition of the Seoul Spring Festival of Chamber Music will mark Mozart’s 270th birthday with a two-week long program dedicated to the composer and young prodigy musicians slated for April 21 to May 3 in Seo Founded in 2006 by violinist and artistic director Kang Dong-suk in partnership with the Seoul Metropolitan Government, the festival has grown into one of the city’s representative arts events, serving as a launchpad for young virtuosos and challenging the notion that chamber music is difficult. Titled “Mozart and Prodigies,” the festival offers 13 concerts with a record lineup of 82 artists from Korea and abroad. Instead of simply repeating Mozart's greatest hits, the musicians are expected to explore two core keywords, “genius” and “beginnings.” The opening concert on April 21 pairs Mozart’s “String Quintet No. 5” with works by Camille Saint-Saens, Claude Debussy and Cesar Franck, all of whom are celebrated as prodigies or early bloomers in French music history. A subsequent concert on April 22 will focus on early works by Mozart, Beethoven and SchuMar 17, 2026By Lee Hae-rin
Potatoi displays 'Orange Courage' with first full-length albumPotatoi, the stage name of Cha Soon-jong, bassist of Korean indie rock band wave to earth, has dropped his first-ever studio album, “Orange Courage.” An ode to his youth, the musician combined “orange,” the color he associates with this period of his life, with “courage,” for his journey to fully embrace his artistry. “I needed courage to try new things — to experiment, and to acknowledge that I can do these things. It takes tremendous courage to do so,” he explained about the creation of the record. Released March 13 and composed of 10 tracks — including pre-released singles “100p,” “She Wanna Blue,” “See Ya” and “90s” — the record merges the mundane with imagined narratives. “The idea comes from daily life, but when I start adding flesh to it, I sometimes include a bit more fiction,” he said. He cited “See Ya,” as an example, inspired by saying goodbye to his wife when he had to take a flight for an overseas tour. He also mentioned how “Lion’s Tear” — a favorite and collaboration with his bandmate Daniel Kim — was born from an inMar 13, 2026By Mariel Abanes
40 years on stage, soprano Sumi Jo says music can 'change people'Renowned Korean soprano Sumi Jo has said she hopes to "share the love" she has received through music as she marks the 40th anniversary of her stage debut. "How did 40 years pass like this? People say life is but a midsummer night's dream," the 63-year-old told Yonhap News Agency in an interview ahead of her anniversary concert "Mad for Love," to be held at London's Cadogan Hall on Thursday. "Reading my diaries from those years, I realize I truly lived with all my heart." The Grammy-winning artist said the concert program reflects her artistic journey, spanning baroque repertoire, opera arias and Korean art songs. She invited young American baritone Edward Nelson as a guest performer, part of her effort to support emerging talent. Since taking the role of Gilda in Verdi's "Rigoletto" at the Teatro Verdi in Trieste, Italy, in 1986, Jo has performed in leading opera houses around the world. Her ties with Britain date back to her high school days, when her father visited London in the late 1970s and asked officials at the Royal Opera House how his daughter might one day debut there. DecadesMar 11, 2026By Yonhap
Rapper Changmo to bring hip-hop to Sejong Center stage with orchestral concertRapper Changmo will bring hip-hop to one of Seoul's most prominent classical stages this spring, marking an unusual crossover between genres long associated with different cultural spaces. The artist is set to perform "CHANGMO: The Emperor," part of the 2026 Sejong Concert Series, at the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts' Grand Theater on May 9 and 10. The roughly 3,000-seat venue, traditionally home to classical performances, will host a large-scale concert combining rap with a live orchestra. Speaking at a press conference held Wednesday at the Sejong Center in central Seoul's Jongno District, Changmo said performing at the venue carried personal significance. "I never imagined the name 'Sejong Center for the Performing Arts' would appear in my career," he said. "When I was young, I played piano and once dreamed about performing in a place like this. After that dream fell apart, I moved on and focused on hip-hop. To return here feels like a great honor." The concert will unfold in four narrative chapters designed to merge classical and hip-hop elements. The opening section, "The DreMar 4, 2026By Pyo Kyung-min
'The Rose: Come Back to Me' traces Korean indie band's rise, struggles“The Rose: Come Back to Me” opens with a familiar image in K-pop storytelling — young musicians chasing a dream — but quickly turns into something less typical: a story about a Korean indie rock band determined to retain creative control, even when it costs them years in court. Released in theaters on Feb. 14, the documentary follows The Rose, a four-member band that has built a global following largely outside the traditional K-pop idol system. Rather than focusing on trainee camps, survival shows or major agencies, the film tracks how the group formed organically, wrote its own songs and tried to protect its creative voice in an industry built around tightly managed idols. That perspective sets it apart from recent Korean pop-centered documentaries. Streaming platforms have spotlighted major idol acts in polished behind-the-scenes features such as “BLACKPINK: Light Up the Sky” and “BTS Monuments: Beyond the Star,” as well as audition docuseries like “Pop Star Academy: KATSEYE.” While “The Rose: Come Back to Me” exists in the same genre of global K-pop documentFeb 19, 2026By Kim Se-jeong
English producer Gabriel to stage solo showcase in SeoulFresh off a Grammy nomination for a recent collaborative work, English producer and singer-songwriter Gabriel has returned to solo work, dropping his new track “YDP” in late January ahead of a solo showcase, “One Night in Limbo,” this Friday. The show, happening at Alive Hall near western Seoul's Hongik University, will feature SM Entertainment artist Min Jiwoon alongside a full band setup. As a producer and musician, Gabriel lent a hand in British trio FLO’s album “All Access Areas,” which earned a Grammy nomination for Best Progressive R&B album last year. He’s also worked with the likes of Dijon and Kehlani, as well as Korean R&B icons Crush and SUMIN. Juggling show preparations along with upcoming work — both solo and collaborative — and content creation, Gabriel looks at his hectic schedule positively. “Challenges are good for the brain,” he told The Korea Times. Despite having moved to Seoul just six months ago, the transition was quite easy for him. “Looking back, everything fell into place quite quickly,” he said. Even before officially nestling in SeoulFeb 16, 2026By Mariel Abanes
What K-pop and Bad Bunny have in common: Power of language, fandom, cultural prideBad Bunny’s Super Bowl LX halftime show carried an energy Korean audiences already recognize: the confidence of pop that does not need to translate itself to be understood. Before it became a spectacle of fireworks, choreography and the roar of the crowd, it was a statement about language as power — the idea that a global stage can be claimed without switching tongues, flattening accents or sanding away cultural specificity. The Puerto Rican singer transformed Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California, into a full-scale Latin celebration on Sunday (local time), making it the most-watched halftime performance in Super Bowl history with more than 135 million viewers tuned in. This was not merely another high-impact spectacle, but a cultural statement: For 13 minutes, Spanish dominated one of the most influential stages in U.S. entertainment, treated not as a niche language but as the default. Like BTS or BLACKPINK performing in Korean at global stages, Bad Bunny didn’t code-switch for mass appeal. Instead, in a sensitive sociopolitical climate, he brought the audience into his worFeb 10, 2026By Lucero Santiago
K-pop's 1st Grammy-winning song 'Golden' maintains No. 4 on Billboard chart"Golden" from the original soundtrack of Netflix's animated film sensation "KPop Demon Hunters" placed fourth on the latest U.S. Billboard singles chart. According to Billboard's chart released Tuesday (U.S. time), "Golden" remained at No. 4 on the Hot 100 for a second consecutive week, extending its streak to 32 weeks on the chart. The track won Best Song Written for Visual Media at the 68th Grammy Awards on Sunday, marking the first-ever Grammy victory for a K-pop genre song. Another track from the same soundtrack, "How It's Done," ranked 59th this week. Hybe's U.S.-based girl group Katseye placed two songs on the chart — "Gabriela" at No. 29 and "Internet Girl" at No. 80 — while its second EP "Beautiful Chaos" came in at No. 56 on the Billboard 200. The group's first EP "SIS (Soft Is Strong)" ranked No. 138. On the albums chart, the "KPop Demon Hunters" soundtrack stood at No. 8, while K-pop boy group Enhypen's latest album "The Sin: Vanish," which debuted at No. 2 last week, dropped to No. 21. Another boy group Stray Kids' "Do It" stayed at No. 88.Feb 4, 2026By Yonhap
