South Korea’s performing arts sector grew almost 80 percent in terms of revenue in 2021, despite the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic, but insiders said uncertainty still looms over the industry in 2022. In 2021, revenue from theatrical plays, musicals, classical concerts and other performances stood at 307 billion won ($258 million), jumping 78 percent from 172 billion won recorded in 2020, data fro...

Despite the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic, the South Korean performing arts sector saw a steady recovery this year, data showed on Wednesday. In this month so far, revenue from theatrical plays, musicals, classical concerts and other performances stood at 47.7 billion won ($40.21 million), surpassing the 40-billion-won mark for the first time since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, according ...

Thinking of harder-hit theatrical communities across the world, Eom said, “Many actors and theater crew were forced to leave the stage and those lengthy pandemic shutdowns were long enough to hurt them in many ways.“ “These last two years, I believe, have been a very fortunate, precious time for Korean musical actors and crew, despite theaters operating less than usual,” Eom told The Korea Heral...

Indeed, as an artist pursuing her own dream, Lee can empathize with much of Park’s experience. “The hardships that Park experienced as a filmmaker will likely resonate with the experiences of many in this generation including me, which is why I hope this show gives both women and men both comfort and courage.” Lee said. This production, the brainchild of a 20-year collaboration between director...

Edwards and Tabhiha were both drawn to the show because of the main actor -- Jung Taek-woon, better known as Leo of boyband VIXX, who appeared as Anri in the show. Edwards admitted that she probably wouldn’t watch a musical that didn’t feature a well-known idol. It’s no exaggeration to say that one of this show’s primary lures is its headlining K-pop idols, a tactic that has been used by musical...

A team behind the translation of “Yi Sang: Selected Works” received a literary translation award from the US-based Modern Literature Association, the Literature Translation Institute of Korea said Monday. This is the first time the award has been given for a work of Korean literature, according to LTI Korea, which sponsored the book‘s translation and publication. Jack Jung, a visiting assistant...

The Literature Translation Institute of Korea on Tuesday awarded 13 translators for excellence in the translation of Korean literature into foreign languages, with the top prize going to Park In-won for her German translation of Kim Young-ha’s 2013 bestselling novel “Diary of a Murderer.” Park, a German literature professor at Ewha Womans University, won the top prize and 20 million won ($16,900...

The Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra has unveiled its schedule for the first half of 2022, with 15 concerts planned. SPO music director Osmo Vanska kicks off the season by taking the baton for Mozart‘s Requiem on Jan. 29 and 30. The music director, who has been leading the SPO since January 2020, will team up with violist Richard Yongjae O‘Neill on May 19 and 20. In March and April, Vanska will ...

Lotte Concert Hall, a major classical music concert venue in South Korea, on Monday unveiled two artists-in-residence and the programs they have designed. Pianist Shin Chang-young and cellist Mun Tae-guk will each present two concerts next year as its artists-in-residence. This is the second year that the concert hall is running the program. “The biggest attraction of the artist-in-residence pr...

Gina Alice Redlinger’s marriage to superstar pianist Lang Lang has perhaps dominated the headlines more than her professional career as a pianist, though this may be set to change. On Thursday, the 27-year-old Korean German musician, who has trained as a pianist for 23 years, released her debut album, “Wonderworld,” produced by Universal Music. Featuring 30 pieces that cover a variety of genres...

Meanwhile, in one of Ninbolt’s images, all of which are connected by plus signs, the artist paints a palm with the Chinese character for “king,” in reference to the character that was shown painted on the opposition candidate’s own palm during a television debate. The incident raised criticism that People Power Party presidential candidate Yoon Suk-yeol is superstitious. In another panel, Ninbol...

A campaign to promote carols in the holiday season launched jointly by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and major Protestant and Catholic organizations was met by strong opposition from the country’s largest Buddhist sect on Wednesday, which said it could take legal action to stop it. The Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism on Wednesday told The Korea Herald that it is “deeply shocked” by ...

LG Arts Center’s new CEO Lee Hyun-jung officially took the reins of the cultural institution Wednesday. The 50-year-old Lee replaces Sim Woo-seob. Her appointment was announced in the annual reshuffling of conglomerate LG Group’s executives last week. Lee joined LG Arts Center, operated by LG’s nonprofit organization LG Yonam Cultural Foundation, in 1996 as the group was gearing up to launch th...

Cardinal Andrew Yeom Soo-jung on Tuesday retired as the Catholic archbishop of Seoul, after some 10 years of service in the post. Yeom, who also held the post of apostolic administrator of the diocese, Pyongyang of North Korea, will soon leave Myeongdong Cathedral and move to Bishop’s Hall at the Catholic University of Korea Songsin Campus in Seoul where many of the country’s priests are educate...

“In addition, even if we play a significant role in representing Asia’s culture, we are not limiting our scope to this side of world and are considering expanding to connect with the rest of the world,” Lee said. At the moment, the center is showcasing “Posthuman Ensemble,” a collection of 15 artists’ works that navigates how humans can emerge from human-centered thought to exist in harmony with...