Kim Hong-park reflects on three decades with horn in debut album

After nearly 30 years as a horn player in South Korea and abroad, Kim Hong-park released his first album, "Schumann & Brahms," last Friday. The 42-year-old musician, who is also a professor at Seoul National University, discussed his inspiration to produce an album highlighting the instrument, which is pivotal in an orchestra due to its versatile contributions to melody, harmony, dynamic range, rhythmic support, color, texture and signaling cues. “Despite its significance a

July 11, 2024

[Exclusive] CJ ENM's 'KCON Saudi Arabia' canceled this year: source

KCON, the globally renowned K-pop music festival organized by CJ ENM, will not be held in Saudi Arabia this year, according to an industry insider. Earlier this year, CJ ENM announced its 2024 KCON schedule that included events in five locations: Hong Kong, Japan, Los Angeles, Europe and Saudi Arabia. While specific dates were released for the first three locations, the dates for Europe and Saudi Arabia were left unspecified. In June, CJ ENM announced that the European KCON would take place in F

July 11, 2024

NewJeans appointed honorary ambassadors for 2024 Korea Tourism

K-pop sensation NewJeans officially embarked on their role as 2024 honorary tourism ambassadors at a ceremony held at the Grand Hyatt Seoul in central Seoul on Thursday. The ceremony was attended by Culture Minister Yu In-cho who appointed the five members at the event -- Danielle, Minji, Hanni, Haerin and Hyein -- as the ambassadors for Korea tourism and Visit Korea Year 2023-24 campaign. Group member Hyein could not attend the ceremony for health reasons. Taking up the ambassadorial role, the

July 11, 2024

Violinist Clara-Jumi Kang hopes to offer 'healing power' of music during September recital tour

Clara-jumi Kang, a violin virtuoso, will embark on a nationwide recital tour in September with a new instrument and a program that holds a significant meaning to her. Kang is set to blend technical mastery with lyrical expression with a program consisting Tartini's "The Devil's Trill," Prokofiev's Violin Sonata No. 1, Chausson's "Poeme," and Franck's “Violin Sonata.” Regarding the program, Kang said, “I've chosen pieces that I p

July 10, 2024

[Herald Interview] Gwangju mayor strengthens city's heritage to promote it globally

A native of Gwangju, Gyeonggi Province, Bang Se-hwan took the office of Gwangju mayor in 2022. Asked about the characteristics of the city, Bang, who has lived in the city his whole life, stressed its history. “Gwangju has a very beautiful nature that has been maintained throughout its 1,000-year history. The city was named ‘Gwangju’ in 940 by King Taejo of Goryeo (918-1392),” Bang said during an interview with The Korea Herald on Friday at the city hall. Gwangju in Gyeon

July 10, 2024

Rain damages Seoul City Wall under UNESCO review

It could take more than a year to restore parts of a historic wall in Seoul that collapsed during heavy downpours earlier this week, according to an official handling the restoration efforts. On Tuesday morning, a passerby reported seeing a collapsed portion of the northern wall of Hanyangdoseong, also known as the Seoul City Wall, to the Jongno-gu office, which then relayed the discovery to the Korea Heritage Service, according to the state agency. Damage to the wall spans 30 meters, and no cas

July 9, 2024

'Flying Apsara' from China wins top prize at Daegu musicals fest

The 18th Daegu International Musical Festival concluded its 15-day run Monday with the DIMF Awards at the Daegu Opera House. The grand prize went to the Chinese musical "Flying Apsara," which uniquely and immersively combines traditional Chinese art and modern musical elements. The Jury Award went to "Missing Link," co-produced by DIMF and the Daegu Municipal Theatre Company. Based on the infamous scientific fraud known as the "Piltdown Man" hoax, the musical creati

July 9, 2024

Song Joong-ki, Katy Louise Saunders expect 2nd child

Actor Song Joong-ki is expecting his second child, following the birth of his first child a year ago, according to his agency. According to Song's agency, HighZium Studio, on Monday afternoon, Song's wife, British model and actor Katy Louise Saunders, is expecting their second child. The agency did not disclose specific details about the second child, including the gender or the due date. The news of Saunders expecting their second child arrives a year after the couple announced the bi

July 9, 2024

K-pop stars HyunA, Yong Jun-hyung to wed in October

Singers HyunA and Yong Jun-hyung, formerly a member of the group Highlight, are tying the knot after a six-month public relationship. The singers’ agencies confirmed HyunA and Yong’s upcoming marriage Monday afternoon, announcing the wedding will take place on Oct. 11. The announcement follows earlier local media reports that the two are expected to marry in October in Seoul. “The couple was a huge consolation to each other in their difficult moments. And their wedding ceremony

July 8, 2024

Annual summer classical music festival to celebrate 30 years of Sejong Soloists

Hic et Nunc! Musical Festival, an annual event founded and backed by Sejong Soloists, is returning with a program filled with premieres and innovations. From Aug. 16 to Sept. 2, Hic et Nunc, meaning "here and now” in Latin, will celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Sejong Soloists, founded by renowned Juilliard professor of violin Kang Hyo, by showcasing unique programs and world-renowned musicians who have been part of the Sejong Soloists. Since its foundation in 1994, the ensembl

July 8, 2024

With youthful story, musical 'Your Lie in April' draws younger audiences

“Your Lie in April,” a musical based on Japanese manga series of the same title and an original score by Broadway composer Frank Wildhorn, opened in Seoul last week, winning over younger audiences with the story of a piano prodigy who loses his ability to hear the piano after his mother's death and his experiences after he meets violinist Kaori Miyazono. The story written by Naoshi Arakawa delves into themes of trauma, healing, and the power of music. The Korean version, produce

July 8, 2024

Top Webtoon creators rake in millions amid income gap, SEC filing shows

Naver's webcomic platform Webtoon, boasting 170 million active users each month, has transformed the comics industry for the mobile era. Following its much-anticipated Nasdaq debut on June 27, attention has turned to the economic realities facing its vast pool of creators. The company's recent US Securities and Exchange Commission filing submitted ahead of its initial public offering confirms substantial incomes for top performers, but also reveals a deep divide within the creator ecos

July 7, 2024

Ye to hold first Korean standalone concert next month

American rapper Ye, also known as Kanye West, is holding his first-ever standalone concert in Korea on Aug. 23, according to Channel Candy. Channel Candy, a global media brand specializing in music, announced Saturday that its parent company Nextis will host Ye’s first concert in Korea at the Goyang Stadium in Ilsan, Goyang-si, Gyeonggi Province. Ye had previously performed in Korea 14 years ago in 2010 at the Summer Week&T festival held at Naksan Beach in Yangyang, Gangwon Province. &

July 7, 2024

[Drama Tour] Journey to dream-like travel spots of ‘The Sound of Magic’

ANSEONG, Gyeonggi Province -- If you are making a list of places to visit with your family and friends after the monsoon season, the filming sites of Netflix’s “The Sound of Magic” certainly needs to be on the list. “The Sound of Magic,” a 2022 fantasy musical drama, centers around Ah-yi, a schoolgirl who wishes to become an adult as soon as possible so that she may take care of her family. The series focuses heavily on the character’s emotional change after m

July 6, 2024

Park Hyatt Seoul brings Japanese gastronomy in Seoul

Park Hyatt Seoul, located in Gangnam, southern Seoul, is scheduled to offer a unique Japanese culinary experience to its guests at the hotel’s premium vinyl music and dining bar, The Timber House, starting from July 13. The upcoming event invites master Japanese chef Nobuhiro Yoshida to showcase “Tokyo Night in Seoul,” a special kaiseki menu, a traditional multi-course Japanese dinner that features small and artistically arranged dishes. Collaborating with The Timber House&rsqu

July 5, 2024

[Well-curated] Vintage cafe, house of horrors and running as art

Vintage cafe in timeworn Haebangchon Perched on the steep slopes of Seoul's Namsan, Haebangchon is a neighborhood where the past seems to exist alongside the present. Narrow uphill roads wind through a cluttered landscape where pedestrians and buses jostle for space, beneath the canopy of tangled power lines and weathered buildings. Tucked away in maze-like alleyways lies Tajagi, a cafe that embodies the neighborhood’s vintage charm. Its name, meaning "typewriter" in Korean,

July 5, 2024

Palace museum to host international meeting on heritage restoration

An international conference on the restoration of damaged cultural heritage will take place next week at the National Palace Museum of Korea in Seoul. The conference entitled “Damaged Cultural Heritage of the World: Its Restoration and Future,” hosted by the state-run museum, will bring together government officials and experts on heritage from Korea, Japan and France. The Wednesday gathering will draw on the three countries’ shared experience in restoring and using cultural he

July 4, 2024

[Herald Interview] As pianist and now actor, Yoo Sun Hee bridges cultures

Acclaimed Italian director Nanni Moretti’s latest film, “A Brighter Tomorrow,” which competed for the Palme d'Or at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival, features a Korean-Italian interpreter. The character is not just an interpreter of languages, but also a link across cultures, introducing for instance how to drink soju. Though it’s a small role, for pianist Yoo Sun Hee, who is expanding her artistic horizons by venturing into acting with this role, it signifies what she

July 3, 2024

Award-winning radio drama by Korean writer streaming on BBC World Service

Award-winning radio drama "Steady Eyes" by South Korean writer Kwon Hyuk-in, who also goes by her English name, Michaela Kwon, is available for streaming on the BBC World Service. The winning piece of the 28th International Radio Playwriting Competition, hosted biennially by BBC World Service and the British Council, premiered on June 16. The competition was held last October in two categories: English as a First Language and English as a Second Language. This is the first time a Korea

July 2, 2024

[Better Together] Lace up your running shoes and run Seoul together

GWACHEON, Gyeonggi Province -- An increasingly common evening sight at Seoul's Han River parks is groups of runners wearing glowing wrist bands. While some people choose to exercise alone, many Korean runners run together by joining “donghohoe,” a Korean term similar to club, whose members share similar interests and goals. Most of these running crews are area-based, gathering runners from nearby districts and running a fixed course. However, Seoul Ddimbak, a running crew formed

July 1, 2024