HYBE's Latin boy band Santos Bravos debuts with sold-out concert in Mexico CityHYBE's new Latin American boy band, Santos Bravos, has officially launched their career with a sold-out concert in Mexico City, the company said Thursday. The multinational group — composed of Drew, Alejandro, Kenneth, Kaue and Gabi — performed their debut single, "0%," to a packed audience at the Auditorio Nacional on Wednesday (local time). The debut was also livestreamed on YouTube, attracting over 70,000 viewers who tuned in for the momentous occasion. Santos Bravos is the first major project from HYBE Latin America, formed earlier this year through a competitive audition program. Their creation is a key part of HYBE's global strategy of fusing the rigorous K-pop production and training system with local cultures to cultivate international talent. Following their selection, the members underwent six months of intensive K-pop style training, honing their skills in vocals, dance and stage performance for the debut.Oct 23, 2025By Yonhap
Oasis rocks 55,000 fans with first Korea concert in 16 yearsBritish rock legends Oasis made their long-awaited return to Korea this week, performing before a packed crowd of 55,000 at Goyang Sports Complex on Tuesday. The concert marked the band’s first visit in 16 years and was part of their new world tour, announced in August with the message, “The great wait is over.” The event held special significance for fans who had waited more than a decade since the band’s breakup in 2009, when tensions between brothers Noel and Liam Gallagher ended Oasis’ run at the height of their global fame. Tickets to the Goyang show sold out almost immediately, and many who could not secure seats gathered outside the venue to sing along as the music reverberated through the autumn night. The Gallaghers made their entrance hand in hand, opening the show with “Hello.” From there, they powered through a 120-minute set of anthems including “Acquiesce,” “Morning Glory,” “Some Might Say” and “Bring It On Down.” When the opening chords of “Cigarettes & Alcohol” rang out, the entire stadium moved in rhythm to the beat, echoing the band’sOct 23, 2025By Hankookilbo
Pianist Lim Yun-chan recalls ‘hellish’ student years in KoreaWorld-renowned pianist Lim Yun-chan, 21, who now resides in the United States, has drawn public attention after comments resurfaced from an interview in which he described his years in Korea as “hellish” and said he once “wanted to die.” In an interview published on Aug. 22 by Italian daily La Repubblica ahead of his performance at Teatro Petruzzelli in Bari, Lim spoke candidly about his painful memories of growing up in Korea’s high-pressure education system. Asked whether he missed Korea while living abroad, he replied, “No. My final years of study in Korea were extremely painful. It felt like being in hell, and at times I wanted to die.” He added that he now returns to Korea “only when I have concerts.” Lim pointed to Korea’s intense culture of competition as the main reason behind his struggles. “Korea is small and densely populated, so competition is fierce. Everyone wants to get ahead, and sometimes that leads people to hurt others,” he said. “When I began to gain recognition around the age of 17, even politicians and businessmen put unnecessary pressure onOct 14, 2025By Hankookilbo
Bamti Village Campground near Jeonju to host Picnic Forest music festivalMusic festivals in Korea tend to be crowded affairs, with massive lighting displays and checkpoints enforcing limitations on what you can bring or do in different viewing zones. If you are the type that enjoys indie music, but often finds festivals stifling or overwhelming, then consider a festival at the tail end of the Chuseok holiday that focuses on enjoying music in nature. Deep in the forests of Wanju, a North Jeolla Province county about 20 kilometers east of Jeonju, the Bamti Village Campground will be taken over by the Picnic Forest music festival for two days in October. The festival features three separate stages where over 40 artists from Korea and other countries will perform, including some who recently performed at the nearby Jeonju Ultimate Music Festival (JUMF) in August, one of Korea's largest. Picnic Forest takes place this Friday and Saturday, running from 2 p.m. to 11 p.m. each day. The first afternoon features several bands from Taiwan, including duo Crossing Road, acoustic group Paradise Lots and rock band Monkey Power. The day's headliners will be the all woman KOct 5, 2025By David Wagner
Seoul Int’l Music Festival returns with dance-inspired programThe Seoul International Music Festival (SIMF), one of Korea’s three major classical music festivals, is returning for its 17th edition later this month with a program inspired by dance. “I wanted to bring people fun and happiness through the festival,” said Ryu Jae-joon, the artistic director, at a press conference in Seoul on Tuesday, explaining why he chose dance-themed music for this year’s program. Along with the Tongyeong International Music Festival and Music in PyeongChang, SIMF is considered one of the country’s leading classical music events. All three festivals organize their own orchestras that are active during the festival period. The opening concert on Oct. 30 at Lotte Concert Hall will feature Astor Piazzolla’s “Histoire du Tango,” originally for flute and guitar but arranged for orchestra, as well as Mozart’s Divertimento No. 17 in D major; Haydn and Rosetti’s Concerto for Two Horns, M.C56Q; and Saglietti’s Suite for French Horn and String Quartet. “Just as translation was crucial for Han Kang to win the Nobel Prize in literature, so is arrangementOct 1, 2025By Kim Se-jeong
'Squid Game' composer to premiere ‘Inferno’ with Seoul Philharmonic OrchestraComposer Jung Jae-il, known for his haunting music in films and dramas such as "Parasite" (2019) and "Squid Game" (2021), is stepping into the classical spotlight with his first original orchestral creation written for the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra (SPO). The 15-minute piece, titled "Inferno," will premiere Thursday and Friday during SPO’s concerts at Lotte Concert Hall in Seoul. Next month, it will make its America debut during the orchestra’s U.S. tour, including a concert at Carnegie Hall in New York City. "What set this project apart from my previous works was that everything had to start and end with the music itself,” Jung, 43, said during a press conference on Tuesday. “In the process, I endured days of despair that felt like hell.” The composition, structured in four movements, draws inspiration from the final lines of Italo Calvino’s novel "Invisible Cities" (1972) and depicts a descent into inferno, then ascends toward peace through orchestral structure. Despite his impressive resume, the project pushed Jung to his limits. Without formal education in classical muSep 23, 2025By Kim Se-jeong
German cellist Daniel Muller-Schott brings solo recital to Seoul after 7 yearsRenowned German cellist Daniel Muller-Schott will return to Korea this fall for his first solo recital in seven years, performing Oct. 12 at the Seoul Arts Center with a program that spans centuries of German classical music. The evening centers on two milestones of the cello repertoire — Beethoven's Cello Sonata No. 3 and Brahms' Cello Sonata No. 2. Together they chart the instrument's growing presence, from Beethoven's balanced dialogue with the piano to Brahms' symphonic weight condensed into chamber form. Austrian composer Anton Webern's compact yet explosive Three Little Pieces, Op. 11 will add a jolt of modernist intensity, while Schumann's lyrical Fantasy Pieces, Op. 73 will close the program with fairytale warmth. Muller-Schott will be joined by pianist Cho Jae-hyuck. Praised by global outlets including The New York Times, Muller-Schott has performed with leading ensembles such as the New York Philharmonic, Berlin Philharmonic and London Symphony Orchestra. Known for his expressive bowing, refined phrasing and rich tone, he is regarded as one of today's foremost interpreters oSep 23, 2025By Pyo Kyung-min
'Emperor of Ballads' Shin Seung-hun returns with first album in decadeDubbed Korea's "Emperor of Ballads," singer Shin Seung-hun is finally back where he belongs — at the center of the genre he helped define. At 6 p.m. Tuesday, the veteran singer-songwriter will unveil his 12th studio album, "SINCERELY MELODIES," his first full-length work in 10 years and a project he says was written as if it might be his last. Since his 1990 debut, Shin has been one of Korea's most cherished voices, his delicate tenor earning comparisons to icons such as Cho Yong-pil. His hits, including "Reflection of You in Your Smile" (1990), "Invisible Love" (1992) and "I Believe" (2002), became cultural touchstones, resonating across generations as the soundtrack to heartbreak and nostalgia. The new album, released under his own Dorothy Company, features 11 tracks that Shin wrote, composed and produced himself. While his label called it "the culmination of a master musician's decades of craft," Shin himself described it more intimately during a press conference held in Seoul's Gangnam District on Monday, where he spoke directly with reporters. "It's called 'SINCERELY MELODIES' becaSep 22, 2025By Pyo Kyung-min
'Gugak' orchestra festival to showcase Korea's musical rootsFrom music by BTS, BLACKPINK and Seventeen to the soundtrack of the animated hit "KPop Demon Hunters," Korean pop music is heard everywhere. But for those curious about the roots of it — and Korean music more broadly — the upcoming Korea Traditional Orchestra Music Festival will offer a chance to explore. Running from Oct. 15 to 25 at the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts in central Seoul, the festival will feature performances by 10 gugak, or traditional Korean music, orchestras from across the country. “In the past two editions, we’ve seen growing interest and support for gugak among the public. This year, the popularity of 'KPop Demon Hunters' is a big boost,” Ahn Ho-sang, CEO of Sejong Center, said during a press conference in Seoul, Thursday. Gugak encompasses a wide range of traditions: music once enjoyed by the royals and aristocrats of the 1392-1910 Joseon Dynasty; folk genres such as pansori (musical storytelling) and sanjo (solo instrumental music); court music and dance; and ritual music tied to Buddhism and shamanistic practices such as salpuri. Reflecting on thSep 19, 2025By Kim Se-jeong
J-POP.ZIP 2025 brings Japanese music, culture to SeoulSeoul's Seongsu-dong, one of the capital's trendiest neighborhoods, is about to get a heavy dose of Japanese pop culture this weekend. From Friday to Sunday, an event dubbed J-POP.ZIP 2025 will take over Space S50, packing the sounds of Japan into a three-day festival hosted by Universal Music Japan, the powerhouse label behind some of the country's biggest acts. The three-day festival is billed as a music-and-culture campaign that "zips" the essence of J-pop for its Korean fans. Visitors can explore listening corners spotlighting J-pop, game zones featuring titles from renowned game developer SEGA and booths introducing Japanese travel destinations and regional specialties. On Thursday, organizers previewed the festival at a media day held one day before its official kickoff. Tamotsu Asai, directing manager at Universal Strategic Marketing (USM), emphasized its role in connecting audiences. "J-POP.ZIP is an experiential festival designed for Korean fans to engage with Japanese music. Last year's debut received an enthusiastic response, and this year we are able to expand with support frSep 18, 2025By Pyo Kyung-min
