When “Kinky Boots” returned in July 2022 for its fifth run, the lively musical gave audience members a much-needed chance to release their pent-up desires with cheers and shouting -- perhaps for the first time since the pandemic. In comparison, the sixth run -- which also marks the show’s 10th anniversary -- is best described as “record-breaking.” It is a record-breaking in many aspects: from audience numbers and the volume of their cheers to the number of participa

Culture Oct. 29, 2024

Author Yi Mun-yeol, 76, and theater director Kim Jeong-ok, 92, received the Geumgwan Order of Cultural Merit, the nation's highest honor is given to artists, on Friday. The two legendary cultural icons were honored for their contributions to literature and performing arts, respectively. Since his debut in 1979, Yi contributed to the popularization and advancement of Korean literature by crafting over 90 works spanning various themes and subjects that have garnered wide public acclaim. His w

Culture Oct. 26, 2024

The Salzburg Festival is more than a festival celebrating Mozart, although the connection between Mozart and the festival held in the city of the composer's birth continues to be strong. “I believe that Mozart plays a crucial role in the festival, but what truly sets the Salzburg Festival apart is its dedication to showcasing a diverse array of programs,” Kristina Hammer, the president of Salzburg Festival, told reporters in Seoul on Wednesday. Hammer, president of the festi

Culture Oct. 24, 2024

On the evening of Oct. 30, rising Korean cellist Han Jae-min, who is Lotte Concert Hall's in-house artist this year, will take the stage with promising Korean pianist Park Jae-hong, and renowned Hungarian violinist Kristof Barati. The three will perform at the Han Jae-min Trio Recital at Lotte Concert Hall, featuring Rachmaninoff’s Piano Trio No. 1 “Elegy,” along with Dvorak’s Piano Trio No. 4 “Dumky,” and Tchaikovsky’s Piano Trio in A minor “

Culture Oct. 22, 2024

The revitalization of the domestic literary market and critics' activities are prerequisites for Korea to achieve its next major literary milestone, according to experts in literature Wednesday. Less than a week after Han Kang was announced the recipient of the Nobel Prize in Literature, the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism gathered experts -- ranging from writers to translators -- at the Literature Translation Institute of Korea in southeastern Seoul to brainstorm ways to sus

Culture Oct. 17, 2024

High expectations can sometimes lead to disappointment and even anger. This was the case for some in the audience who had high expectations for the Korean premiere of renowned director Franco Zeffirelli's version of “Turandot,” Giacomo Puccini’s popular opera, known as the Arena di Verona’s “Turandot.” It wasn’t because of the production quality. As expected, it was a grand performance and its sheer scale -- featuring 200 actors, singers, chorus m

Culture Oct. 14, 2024

Two actors with quite different track records are taking the role of a billionaire in the latest musical production of “Annie.” Nam Kyung-ju, known for his extensive career on the musical stage spanning over 40 years, and Song Il-kook, a TV star who discovered the musicals' charm in his 40s, share the role of Oliver Warbucks, who is known for his wealth, power, and evolving relationship with the titular character, Annie. In an interview with reporters on Monday, the two talked

Culture Oct. 12, 2024

With writer Han Kang making history by winning the Nobel Prize in literature, another list she was on several years ago has resurfaced in the spotlight: the blacklist of the previous conservative Park Geun-hye government. During a national audit session Thursday, Rep. Kang Yoo-jung of the Democratic Party of Korea, a former literary critic, said that while everyone, regardless of party affiliation, was clapping and celebrating the news, she felt there was something important to say: "Today&

Culture Oct. 11, 2024

Major bookstores in Korea are experiencing a surge in sales of all of Han Kang's works following the announcement of her Nobel Prize in literature. On Friday day morning at Kyobo Bookstore in Gwanghwamun in central Seoul, people had lined up in front of the branch before it opened. Shortly after business began at 9:30 a.m., Han’s books were already sold out, and the special display set up to commemorate the award from the day before was empty. By around 10:30 a.m. that day, the shelves had

Books Oct. 11, 2024

October brings a flurry of opera productions and opera buffs can look forward to a array of performances, including outdoor productions, in Seoul and beyond. The lineup is impressively diverse, ranging from Puccini’s “Turandot,” Vivaldi’s “Orlando Furioso,” Bizet’s “Carmen” and Wagner’s “Tannhauser,” each captivating for its own reasons. "Turandot" : Grandiose Arena di Vernoa version This month's "Turan

Culture Oct. 10, 2024

Award-winning motion graphic designer Kim Gryun presented a unique video game that encapsulates his journey from the age of 25 to the present during his speech at the Herald Design Forum 2024 in Seoul on Tuesday. The game, which he developed over two months with the assistance of generative AI, captivated the audience as he recounted his experiences transitioning from Korea to the US and outlined his vision for the future in the era of artificial intelligence. The game is divided into three le

Culture Oct. 9, 2024

For cellists, Bach’s Cello Suites hold deep significance. Many renowned cellists have recorded their interpretations of the masterpieces — some multiple times throughout their careers, others only once in a lifetime. The 30-year-old Korean cellist Mun Tae-guk said he felt significant pressure about recording Bach’s Cello Suites but decided to take up the challenge. “Honestly, I felt a lot of pressure. When I first received the proposal, I had many doubts, wondering if

Culture Oct. 7, 2024

South Korean pianist Lim Yunchan won the Gramophone Classical Music Award in the piano category, becoming the first Korean pianist to receive the prestigious award. The 20-year-old pianist won the piano category with his album "Chopin: Etudes" and also received the young artist of the year award. Established in 1977, the Gramophone Classical Music Award is one of the most significant accolades in the classical recording industry. Another album by Lim, "Yunchan Lim -- Liszt: Transc

Culture Oct. 3, 2024

On Tuesday night, conductor and pianist Antonio Pappano stood before the Korean audience at the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts’ Grand Theater with the London Symphony Orchestra, marking the orchestra's first Korean tour under the new music director. The 64-year-old conductor took the helm of the LSO from Simon Rattle this summer, after leading the Royal Opera House since 2002. Pappano's extensive experience in the opera realm has profoundly influenced his conducting style.

Culture Oct. 2, 2024

Motion graphic designer Kim Gryun recently achieved all the goals he had set when first starting out in his career, culminating two Emmy Award wins and more. That which drove him to this success deeply resonates with the theme of this year’s Herald Design Forum: “Inspiration, limitless.” “When I first chose this career path, I had what seemed like impossible dreams, but believing in those dreams was the embodiment of 'limitlessness.' Additionally, I always belie

Culture Oct. 1, 2024