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Classical Concerts

‘Strauss Festival Orchestra of Vienna: New Year's Concert'

Seoul Arts Center

Jan. 19

The Strauss Festival Orchestra of Vienna will hold a New Year's Concert at Seoul Arts Center on Jan. 19.

The repertoire includes waltz pieces by Johan Strauss II and his family. In addition to the orchestra's performance, four ballet dancers will perform to the music, taking the audience back to a ballroom of 19th century Vienna.

Tickets cost 25,000 to 120,000 won. For more information, visit sac.or.kr or call (02) 599-5743.

‘Vienna Boys Choir New Year's Concert'

Jan. 21 and 22

One of the world's most renowned choral groups, the Vienna Boys Choir, will visit Korea for a New Year's Concert on Jan. 21 and 22 at Seoul Arts Center.

Since the choir's first visit to Korea in 1969, it has returned 26 times and held over 170 concerts around the country.

In this concert, the choir will perform under the theme of "smile," and present many songs to make the audience smile. The program includes Henry Purcell's hymns, traditional songs from various countries, soundtracks from movies and other classical pieces.

Tickets cost from 30,000 to 100,000 won. For more information, visit sac.or.kr or call 1577-5266.

‘KBS Symphony Orchestra 714th Subscription Concert’

Lotte Concert Hall

Jan. 25

KBS Symphony Orchestra will have a concert at Lotte Concert Hall on Jan. 25.

KBS Symphony Orchestra was founded in 1956, and became one of Korea’s leading orchestras. For this concert, the orchestra will perform the third symphony of Mahler, in collaboration with Canadian mezzo-soprano Susan Platts. Conductor Joel Levi, the music director of the KBS Symphony Orchestra and a Mahler specialist, will lead the orchestra.

Tickets cost 20,000 to 90,000 won. For more information, visit lotteconcerthall.com or call (02) 6099-7400

Big Tickets

‘2017 BTS Live Trilogy Episode III The Wings Tour in Seoul’

Gocheok Sky Dome

Feb. 18 and 19

Bangtan Boys (BTS) will have concerts on Feb. 18 and 19 at Gocheok Sky Dome, Seoul.

BTS is a K-pop boy band with seven members. The band debuted in 2013 with their first album "2 Cool 4 Skool." Since then, they have emerged as one of the most popular Korean boy bands in Southeast Asia, China and Japan. In 2016, BTS released their second studio album, “Wings” which was ranked at No. 26 on the Billboard 200 chart and became the best sold K-pop album in the U.S.

These concerts mark the beginning of BTS’s 2017 world tour, during which the band will visit various countries including the U.S, Chile, and Brazil.

Tickets cost 99,000 to 110,000 won. For more information, visit ticket.interpark.com or call (02) 446-2690.

Pop & Jazz

‘2017 Sechs Kies Yellow Note Final in Seoul'

Jamsil Indoor Stadium

The first generation K-pop idol band, Sechs Kies, will perform at Jamsil Indoor Stadium on Jan. 21 and 22.

Sechs Kies debuted in 1997 as a male idol group with six members. They instantly rose to stardom and released numerous hit songs including "Couple" and "School Byeolgok." For these concerts, the band will perform rearranged and remastered versions of their hit songs.

Tickets cost 99,000 to 143,000 won. For more information, visit ticket1.auction.co.kr or call (02) 1566-1369.

Plays & Musicals

‘Monte Cristo'

Chungmu Arts Center

Until Feb. 12

The Korean version of the musical "Monte Cristo" will be performed at Chungmu Arts Center through Feb. 12.

The musical is based on novel "The Count of Monte Cristo," written by French writer Alexandre Dumas. This musical is about Edmond Dantes, a young sailor who is falsely accused of a crime and goes to jail. In jail, he meets Priest Faria who becomes his mentor and tells him about a treasure on the remote Island of Monte Cristo. After he breaks out of jail, he goes to Monte Cristo and finds the treasure. With the newly gained wealth, Edmond pretends to be a nobleman, Count Monte Cristo, and sets off to Paris. In Paris, he plans to take revenge on the people who framed him.

Actor Ryu Jung-han, Um Ki-joon, Kai, and Shin Sung-rok play Edmond Dantes.

Tickets cost 50,000 to 140,000 won. For more information, visit ticket.interpark.com or call 1577-6478.

‘Phantom'

Blue Square

Until Feb. 26

"Phantom," a musical adaptation of Gaston Leroux's novel "Phantom of the Opera," will be performed at Blue Square Samsung Electronics Hall through Feb. 26.

"Phantom" is about Erik, a mysterious man living in the dark cellar of a Paris opera house. One day he hears someone singing and is enchanted by her heavenly voice. Discovering that the voice was of Christine Daee, he decides to make her the new diva of the Opera Theatre and begins to give her secret lessons every night. With the help of Erik, Christine has her debut, but it is ruined by Carlotta. Erik seeks revenge on her.

Park Hyo-shin, Park Eun-tae and Jeon Dong-suk star as Erik, the Phantom. Kim So-hyun, Kim Soon-young and Lee Ji-hye share the role of Christine Daee, and Jeong Young-ju and Shin Young-sook will alternate for Carlotta.

Tickets cost 60,000 to 140,000 won. For more information, visit ticket.interpark.com or call 1577-6478.

‘The Underdog'

Uniplex

Through Feb. 26

A musical featuring the life of abandoned dogs, "The Underdog" will be staged until Feb. 26 at Uniplex.

Jin is an abandoned Jindo dog. One day, he is caught and taken to a dog shelter, where he meets other abandoned dogs, each of whom has their own tragic stories. However, he finds out the horrible truth about the dog shelter, and tries to escape with his new friends.

Actor Kim Joon Hyun and Lee Tae Sung play the main character Jin.

Tickets cost 33,000 to 88,000 won. For more information, visit ticket.interpark.com or call 1522-6561.

‘The Bodyguard'

LG Arts Center

Until March 5

A musical adaptation of the movie "The Bodyguard" will be staged at LG Arts Center through March 5.

The musical features numerous popular songs from the original soundtrack of the movie "The Bodyguard," such as "I Will Always Love You" by Whitney Houston. After its premiere in London, 2012, the musical has won extensive recognition in Europe, Australia and the U.S. This is the first time for the musical to be staged in Asia. One of the best musical actors in Korea, Jung Sun-ah, will play the main character, Rachel Marron, and actor Lee Jong-hyuk and Park Sung-woong will play the role of her bodyguard, Frank Farmer.

Tickets cost from 60,000 to 140,000 won. For more information, visit ticket.interpark.com or call 1544-1555.

‘Our Friends, the Humans’

French author Bernard Werber’s play, “Our Friends, the Humans,” will be staged at the Seoul Arts Center until March 5.

Raoul is a timid scientist who works on animal testing, and Samantha is a short-tempered, attractive tiger trainer who loves animals. They find themselves within a glass wall, without knowing where they are, and why they are there. They try to figure out what is happening to them, gradually putting clues together.

Actor Go Myung-hwan, Oh Yong, Park Kwang-hyun, and Jeon Byeong-wook play Raoul, and Ahn Yu-jin, Kim Na-mi, and Stephanie Kim play Samantha.

Tickets cost 34,000 to 49,000 won. For more information, visit sac.or.kr or call 1577-3363.

Dance

‘The Pen, The Sword, The Dream, The Dance'

Arko Performance Arts Center

Jan. 18 and 19

Korean creative dance performance, "The Pen, The Sword, The Dream, The Dance" will be staged at Arko Performance Arts Center on Jan. 18 and 19.

This performance is a combination of two dance pieces, "The Great Teacher Confucius" and "Hero Yi Sun-sin," both choreographed by Lim Hak-Sun. The first half of the performance will portray the philosophy and hardships of Confucius, and the second half will present the life of Admiral Yi Sun-sin.

Tickets cost 30,000 to 50,000 won. For more information, visit ticket.interpark.com or call (02) 2263-4680.

Clubs

Club Octagon

Nonhyeon

Near the New Hilltop Hotel in Nonhyeon, this club is notable for its stylish interior and elite clientele. The club offers a stage, lounge bar and dining area to satisfy any night out after work or on the weekend. It is near exit 4 of Hakdong Station on subway line 7. For more information, call (02) 516-8847.

Club Globe Lounge

Itaewon

Club Globe Lounge is famous among women looking for a place to throw birthday parties or enjoy a light dinner. From 7 p.m. to 10 p.m., it serves as a bar, changing into a club after 10 p.m. Every Thursday, Club Globe Lounge has a Happy Hour buffet for guests. Club Globe Lounge is located near the Hamilton Hotel by exit 2 of Itaewon Station, subway line 6. For more information, call (02) 792-1127.

Club Evans

Hongik University

Club Evans is a live jazz club that has served as a platform for emerging jazz artists for a decade. It operates jazz recording studios and a jazz academy as well, producing albums for many local jazz artists. Club Evans provides jazz concerts and leads music sessions every Monday and Tuesday. Club Evans is located near exit 1 of Sangsu Station, subway line 6. It opens at 7:30 p.m. For more information, visit clubevans.com or call (02) 337-8361.

Once in a Blue Moon

Apgujeong

Once in a Blue Moon is one of the best-known and well-established jazz clubs in the city. It features live jazz sets from two different bands every night, usually starting at 7:30 p.m. It is located between the Hakdong Intersection and Galleria Department Store in the posh district of Apgujeong. For more information, visit onceinabluemoon.co.kr or call (02) 549-5490.

Club Answer

Cheongdam

Club Answer, chosen as one of the five hottest clubs in Seoul by CNN, provides a spacious interior and brilliant lighting system with entertaining DJs on stage nightly. Club Answer is in the classy area of Cheongdam, a district known to lead the party culture of Seoul. It is located near exit 13 of Cheongdam Station on subway line 7. For more information, call (02) 514-4311.

Club Double Eight

Sinsa

Opened in 2010, Club Double Eight takes clubbing to its heights. Located in Gangnam, it provides diverse hotel promotions and features weekend lineups with exuberant DJs. It is located near exit 1 of Sinsa Station on Line 3. For more information, call (02) 543-8803.