Around Town 1

Classical Concerts

2019 KBS Symphony Orchestra
Gangdong Art Center
June 27

Originally affiliated with KBS, the KBS Symphony Orchestra became a professional arts organization in 2012 with the goal to provide world-class classical performances both domestically and internationally. The orchestra and its members participate in over 100 performances a year, and they have performed in a number of countries ― the United States, Japan and China to name a few. They also represented Korea at the United Nations and have performed in front of presidents and other honorable audiences. At this performance, they will be playing pieces by Khachaturian, Rachmaninoff and Shostakovich.
Tickets cost 30,000 won to 50,000 won. For more information, visit ticket.interpark.com or call (02) 1544-1555.

Flutist Cho Sung-hyun will be the next performer featured in this series. /Courtesy of Kumho Art Hall Yonsei

Beautiful Thursday Concert Series: Cho Sung-hyun
Kumho Art Hall Yonsei
June 20

The Kumho Art Hall is featuring a performer every Thursday to spread classical music culture in Korea. Flutist Cho Sung-hyun is the next performer featured in this series. Cho began studying the flute in Korea and later moved to the U.S. and then to Germany. He has been recognized internationally and was appointed as the lead flutist of Cologne's Gurzenich Orchestra in 2017. He has performed on many international stages such as in Berlin and Milano and has also won many prestigious competitions. At this performance, he will play works of Schumann, Brahms, Tchaikovsky and Prokofiev. He will be accompanied on the piano by Moon Jae-won.
Tickets cost 40,000 won. For more information, visit ticket.interpark.com or call (02) 1544-1555.

Big Tickets

Park Hyo-shin Live 2019 Lovers: Where is Your Love?
KSPO Dome
June 29 to July 13

Park Hyo-shin is one of the nation's most famous ballad singers and musical actors today. He was born in 1981 and made his debut in 1999, after which his music career skyrocketed. With 440,000 copies of his debut album sold, Park showed incredible potential from the very start of his career. To date he has released seven studio albums along with several compilation and cover albums. He has won the Golden Disc Awards, the KBS Music Awards and the Cyworld Digital Music Awards to name a few. He starred in musicals "Elisabeth," "Mozart!" and "Phantom" among several others.
Tickets cost 77,000 won to 164,000 won. For more information, visit ticket.interpark.com or call (02) 1544-1555.

Jason Mraz 2019 Good Vibes Tour
Olympic Park
July 24

American singer-songwriter Jason Mraz started off performing in local coffee shops in San Diego. He made his debut in 2002 with his first album "Waiting for My Rocket to Come," and he became widely popular when the album hit No. 55 on the Billboard charts. Since then he has released five more studio albums. He has also won several Grammy Awards, Teen Choice Awards and People's Choice Awards among many others. In addition to music, he is also an advocate of the environment and human rights issues and opened the Jason Mraz Foundation in 2011. He will be coming to Seoul this summer as part of his Good Vibes Tour.
Tickets cost 110,000 won to 132,000 won. For more information, visit ticket.interpark.com or call (02) 1544-1555.

Pop and Jazz

Thom Yorke Live in Seoul
Olympic Park
July 28

Thom Yorke is the lead singer of the band Radiohead, which formed in 1985 with five members. The band has been immensely popular for its rock music. In fact, the group was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame earlier this year for its legacy. Yorke was named by Rolling Stone as one of the top 100 singers of all time and has released several of his own solo albums. Yorke has also made a name for himself as an advocate for human rights and the environment, and uses his music as a platform to create social change. He will be coming to Seoul to perform for Korean audiences this summer.
Tickets cost 99,000 won to 132,000 won. For more information, visit ticket.interpark.com or call (02) 1544-1555.

Plays & Musicals

Another Country
Uniplex
Until Aug. 11

This play was originally written by Julian Mitchell, an English playwright. The play revolves around a gay student named Guy Bennett, who attends an English public school. After another gay student at the school hangs himself after being outed, Bennett is the next target of persecution from social pressures and school prefects. Bennett's best friend Judd is a Marxist who tries to help him. The two realize the difficulties of being outcasts and the flaws of the British class system. The Korean adaptation will show at Uniplex by a talented cast including Lee Dong-ha, Park Eun-seok and Yeon Joon-seok in the role of Bennett.
Tickets cost 44,000 won to 66,000 won.

Xcalibur
Sejong Arts Center
June 15 to Aug. 4

The musical "Xcalibur" is about King Arthur and his adventures with Excalibur, his powerful and legendary sword. First performed in 2014 in Switzerland, the musical also revolves around Lancelot and other brave Knights of the Round Table, showing how they fought bravely for the sake of the kingdom. The Korean cast has adapted the musical to have more songs and a more intricate storyline. Full of top musical actors and singers, the cast includes Junsu, Kai and Lee Jee-hoon.
Tickets cost 70,000 won to 150,000 won. For more information, visit ticket.interpark.com or call (02) 1544-1555.

This musical will play at the LG Arts Center this summer./Courtesy of Seen See Company

Mamma Mia!
LG Arts Center
July 16 to Sept. 14

Well-loved musical "Mamma Mia!" will hit the Korean stage this summer. A musical based on the songs of legendary group ABBA, the musical includes hits such as "Dancing Queen," "The Winner Takes it All," and "Take a Chance on Me." It was adapted into a film in 2008, which was also widely popular. The plot revolves around Sophie, who is getting married but does not know who her birth father is. By delving into the story of three of her mother's past loves, Sophie learns more about her mother and her possible birth fathers. The Korean cast includes Luna and Lee Su-bin as Sophia as well as Choi Jung-won and Shin Young-sook as Donna.
Tickets cost 60,000 won to 140,000 won. For more information, visit ticket.interpark.com or call (02) 1544-1555.

Anna Karenina
Blue Square
Until July 14

This musical is set in 1870s in Russia and revolves around Anna, who is unhappy in her marriage. When she meets the young and handsome Count Vronsky, she falls in love with him, starting a complicated and secret relationship. Count Vronsky has love complications of his own, after having pursued a different woman at court before meeting Anna. The musical is based on the original novel by Leo Tolstoy, and was adapted into a musical with music by Konstantin Khvatynets. A star-studded Korean cast including Kim So-hyun and Cha Ji-yeon playing the role of Anna will perform the Korean adaptation of this musical.
Tickets cost 60,000 won to 140,000 won. For more information, visit ticket.interpark.com or call (02) 1544-1555.

The Korea National Ballet will be performing "Mata Hari" on June 18 and 19. /Courtesy of the Korea National Ballet

Dance

Korean National Ballet: Mata Hari
Seoul Arts Center
Until June 19

Mata Hari (1876-1917) was a Dutch dancer who was eventually executed under the suspicion of being a spy for Germany in World War I. Although her exotic dance style caused great controversy, as it was deemed highly provocative at the time, her influence contributed greatly to dance for generations to come. In her honor, the Korean National Ballet will perform a ballet showing her life story. This ballet is choreographed by Renato Zanella, an Italian choreographer, and will be performed by the Korean National Ballet.
Tickets cost 5,000 won to 50,000 won. For more information, visit ticket.interpark.com or call (02) 1544-1555.

Clubs

Club Octagon
Nonhyeon

Located near the New Hilltop Hotel in Nonhyeon, Club Octagon is notable for its stylish interiors and elite clientele. The club features a performance stage, lounge bar and dining area and is the perfect place to unwind on a night out after work or on the weekend. It is near exit 4 of Hakdong Station on 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 on Line 6. For more information, call (02) 792-1127.

Club Evans
Hongik University

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

Once in a Blue Moon
Apgujeong

Once in a Blue Moon, one of the best-known jazz clubs in the city, 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 Apgujeong. For more information, visit onceinabluemoon.co.kr or call (02) 549-5490.

Club Vibe
Cheongdam

Opened on August 24, 2018, Cheongdam brings to partygoers its latest club. Its new facilities have a modern vibe. The club plays both EDM and hip hop music and has already had a guest performance by trending hip hop artist Sik-K at its opening party. For more information, call 010-8671-6323.