Around Town 1
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Classical Concerts
Son Yeol-eum
Seoul Arts Center*
March 7
Pianist Son Yeol-eum will perform her first recital in southern Seoul. She has received numerous awards including the Silver Medal at the 13th International Van Cliburn Piano Competition and second prize at the 2011 Moscow Tchaikovsky Piano Competition. The pianist will play Charles-Valentin Alkan’s “Opus 39, No. 12, Le festin d’Esope,” Chopin’s “Ballade No. 2 in F major,” “Mazurka in a minor,” Prokofiev’s “Sonata No. 8 in B flat major” and Kapustin’s “Eight Concert Etudes Opus 40.” Tickets cost 30,000 to 70,000 won. For more information, call 1577-5266 or visit
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London Symphony Orchestra
Feb. 28-March 1
Maestro Bernard Haitink will lead the London Symphony Orchestra in Seoul. Portuguese pianist Maria Joao Pires, who is known as one of the greatest interpreters of Mozart, will also visit Korea for the first time in 17 years. She will play Mozart’s “Piano Concerto No. 17” and Beethoven’s “Piano Concerto No. 2.” The orchestra will also perform Beethoven’s “Symphony No. 7” on Feb. 28 and Bruckner’s “Symphony No. 9” on March 1. Haitink was a violinist and switched to conducting in his early 20s. He was with Amsterdam’s Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra for 25 years and visited Korea with the orchestra in 1977. Tickets cost 70,000 to 35,000 won. For more information, call (02) 599-5743 or visit
Great Composer Series — Tchaikovsky
Feb. 20
The Suwon Philharmonic Orchestra, led by conductor Kim Dae-jin, will perform on Feb. 20 at southern Seoul’s biggest concert venue. This will be the opener for the “Great Composer Series — Tchaikovsky” and the orchestra plans to perform five more times at the Seoul Arts Center this year. The first concert will feature the more famous works of Tchaikovsky’s music, including “Polonaise” from the opera “Eugene Onegin,” “Violin Concerto in D major Opus 35” and “Symphony No. 5 in E minor Opus 64.” Tickets cost 20,000 to 40,000 won. For more information, call (02) 580-1300 or visit
Big Tickets
Steve Barakatt
Feb. 17
Canadian composer and pianist Steve Barakatt will hold a concert in Seoul, a market where other new age pianists Yuhki Kuramoto and Yiruma have a massive following. Barakatt’s works such as “Rainbow Bridge,” “The Whistler’s Song” and “Flying” are already familiar to many Koreans as they have been frequently used in television commercials and dramas. Tickets cost 30,000 to 100,000 won. For more information, call (02) 751-9606 or visit
Museums
The Year of the Snake: The Many Faced Snake Between Imagination and Reality
National Folk Museum of Korea
Through Feb. 25
This exhibition at the National Folk Museum of Korea features the snake, which is the animal representing this year according to the Chinese zodiac, and is considered a creature of immortality to Koreans. About 40 items including craftwork, paintings and books are on display. Located near exit 1 of Anguk Station, subway line 3. For more information, call (02) 3704-3114 or visit nfm.go.kr.
History in Glass: 3,000 Years of Glassware from the Mediterranean and West Asia
National Museum of Korea
Through Feb. 17
This exhibition introduces the history of glassware production in the Mediterranean and West Asia regions where glassware was invented. A total of 375 pieces from the collection of the Hirayama Ikuo Silk Road Museum in Japan are on display. The show is comprised of three sections: early ancient glass; glassworks made by the blowing technique; and glassware of the Sassanid Persian Empire, which it invented using a new production method. Located near exit 4 of Ichon Station, subway line 4 and Jungang Line. Admission is free. For more information, call (02) 2077-9559 or visit
Pop & Jazz
JK Kim Dong-uk and Jazzpark Bigband
Yongin Cultural Foundation Big Harmony Yard
Feb. 24
Jazzpark Bigband, a 17-member Korean jazz group, and singer JK Kim Dong-uk will hold a concert at Yongin Cultural Foundation Big Harmony Yard, Yongin, Gyeonggi Province on Feb. 24. Kim who debuted in 2002 with his first studio album “Life sentence,” gained popularity by appearing in MBC’s show “I Am a Singer” in 2011. The singer who majored in jazz vocal at Humber College in Canada formed a jazz trio project “Zebra” in the same year. He will perform such numbers as “English Man in New York,” “summertime” and “Fly Me to the Moon” with the band. Tickets cost 20,000 to 40,000 won. For more information, call (031) 260-3355 or visit
‘2013 Amoebahood Concert’
Olympic Hall, Olympic Park*
March 16-17
Hip hop artists under the Amoeba Culture label, which includes Dynamic Duo, will hold a concert at the southern Seoul sporting venue. The label was established in 2006 by Gaeko and Choiza of Dynamic Duo. Supreme Team, Yankie, Zion. T, Planet Shiver, Rhythm Power and Dynamic Duo will perform in this concert. Tickets cost 77,000 to 99,000 won. For more information, call (02) 371-8567 or visit
Acoustic Cafe
Feb. 8
Japanese band Acoustic Cafe holds a concert in southern Seoul. Comprised of cellist Ayako, pianist Rie Nishimoto and violinist and keyboardist Norihiro Tsuru, the group was formed in 1990. They held their first concert in Korea in 2008 after their song “Last Carnival” gained popularity here. The band will perform hits such as “For Your Loneliness,” “For Your Memories” and “For Your Tears.” Tickets cost 30,000 to 120,000 won. For more information, call (02) 338-3513 or visit
Adam Lambert
Uniqlo AX
American singer-songwriter Adam Lambert will hold a concert in Seoul. He debuted in 2009 through TV program “American Idol.” In his first visit to Korea, he will sing such hits as “Whataya Want from Me,” “Time for Miracles,” “Better than I Know Myself” and “Cuckoo.” Located near exit 2 of Gwangnaru Station, subway line 5. Tickets cost 119,000 won. For more information, call (02) 407-2589 or visit
Baek Ji-young
Jamsil Indoor Gymnasium, Olympic
Park*
Feb. 16
Pop and ballad singer Baek Ji-young will hold a concert in southern Seoul. Baek debuted with the dance number with Latin beats “Choice” in 1999 and recently released her new single “Hate,” which was composed by pianist Yiruma. She will sing her hits such as “Like a Bullet Hit Me,” “Dash” and “My Ear Candy.” Tickets cost 60,000 to 130,000 won. For more information, call (02) 532-5338 or visit
10cm
Olympic Gymnasium, Olympic Park*
Feb. 23
Acoustic duo 10cm will hold a concert to celebrate their second studio album “Fine Thank You and You?” They made their debut in 2010 and the band won the Best Pop Single at 8th Korean Music Awards in 2011 with “Tonight I’m Afraid of the Dark.” Comprised of vocalist Kwon Jung-yeol and guitarlist Yoon Cheol-jong, the group will perform hits such as “Americano,” “So Nice,”
“Hold Me” and “Tonight.” Tickets cost 55,000 to 77,000 won. For more information, call (02) 563-7110 or visit
‘K-pop Concert with Poseidon’
Kintex
Feb. 14
K-pop stars TVXQ, Super Junior K.R.Y, a subgroup of boy band Super Junior and ZE:A will hold a Valentine’s Day concert at the Kintex, Ilsan, Gyeonggi Province. The three bands participated on the soundtrack of KBS’s drama “Poseidon,” which aired in 2011. They will sing their hits and numbers from the soundtrack. Located near exit 2 of Daehwa Station, subway line 3. Tickets cost 60,000 to 150,000 won. For more information, call (02) 3487-5520 or visit
Plays & Musicals
‘Amy’s View’
Myeongdong Theater
Feb. 15-March 10
The translated version of the David Hare play “Amy’s View” will be staged at the central Seoul theater. Originally premiering in London in 1997, the plot revolves around the story of Amy, played by Suh Eun-keyong, her boyfriend Dominic, played by Jeong Seung-gil, and Amy’s mother Esme, played by Yoo So-jung. Esme, a veteran stage actress, dislikes Dominic, who thinks light of traditional theater and aspires to be a film director. Esme’s confrontational style breeds conflict with her daughter as well. Located near exit 6 of Myeongdong Station, subway line 4. Tickets cost 20,000 to 50,000 won. For more information, call 1644-2003 or visit
‘Rebecca’
LG Arts Center*
Through March 31
Based on Daphne du Maurier’s 1938 novel of the same title, the musical “Rebecca” is on stage in Seoul. The novel was also made into a film by Alfred Hitchcock in 1940 as his first American project, and won two Academy Awards. Yoo Jun-sang, Ryu Jung-han and Oh Man-seok perform as wealthy widower Maxim DeWinter who cannot forget his late wife Rebecca. Im Hye-young and Kim Bo-kyung will perform as “I” who falls in love with DeWinter while traveling to Monte Carlo. Tickets cost 50,000 to 130,000 won. For more information, call (02) 2005-0114.
‘Late-Night Diner’
Dongsoong Arts Center
People love visiting the small “Late-Night Diner,” which opens from midnight to 7 a.m. Though there is only one item on the menu, the owner chef can cook up anything upon request from customers including dishes such as fried Wiener sausages or eggs. The musical uses food as a medium through which to connect the customers, allowing them to share memories and comfort each other. Song Young-chang and Park Ji-il play the taciturn and genial proprietor in this musical, which is adapted from the Japanese comic book of the same title. Located near exit 1 of Hyehwa Station, subway line 4. Tickets cost 30,000 to 70,000 won. For more information, call (02) 766-3390 or visit
Dance
‘Romeo and Juliet’
Feb. 14-17
The Korea National Ballet presents a version of “Romeo and Juliet” created by legendary French choreographer Jean-Christophe Maillot of the Monte Carlo Ballet Theater. Kim Seh-yun, a principal dancer of the Spanish troupe Compania Nacional de Danza will perform as Lady Capulet, the mother of Juliet. Tickets cost 5,000 to 80,000 won. For more information, call (02) 587-6181 or visit
‘It Is Written There’
Gangdong Arts Center
Feb. 22-23
Japanese choreographer Zan Yamashita’s dance performance “It Is Written There” will be on stage with the Ahn Aesoon Dance Company. Since its first performance at the Itami Ai Hall in Hyogo, Japan, 2002, Yamashita has performed in Kyoto and Fukuoka in Japan, Brussels in Belgium and Istanbul, Turkey. In this piece, every audience member will be given a 100-page book on entrance, and will constantly be asked to turn the pages. The choreographers will perform different moves, as the stage host calls out the page numbers. Located near 4 of Godeok Station, subway line 5. Tickets cost 20,000 won. For more information, call (02) 440-0500 or visit