Articles by Park Ga-young
Park Ga-young
gypark@heraldcorp.com-
Han Kang: From blacklist to Nobel laureate
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
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Han Kang drives readers to bookstores both online and offline
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
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[What to attend] October is opera season in Korea. Here's what not to miss
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
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[Herald Design Forum] Motion graphic designer Kim Gyrun shares inspirational journey in video game
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
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[Herald Interview] Cellist Mun Tae-guk takes up challenge of Bach Cello Suites earlier than expected
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
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Pianist Lim Yunchan double winner at Gramophone Awards
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
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[Herald Interview] Pappano connects LSO with Korean audiences
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
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[Herald Design Forum] Award-winning motion graphic designer on how 'inspiration' and 'limitlessness' have shaped him
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
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Ukraine's Odesa Philharmonic comes to Korea with message of hope, peace
The Odesa Philharmonic Orchestra, a renowned Ukrainian orchestra founded in 1937, will make its Korean debut at the Goyang Aram Nuri Arts Center Aram Concert Hall on Wednesday. Under the baton of conductor Hobart Earl, who has led the orchestra for 32 years and has been honored by the Ukrainian government as a People's Artist, the 75-member orchestra will perform music of hope beyond the pain of the ongoing war. Many of the orchestra members are women because of a ban on men leaving the cou
Culture Sept. 30, 2024
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Korean premiere of Zeffirelli version of 'Turandot' to be staged at KSPO Dome
A grandiose version of Giacomo Puccini’s opera "Turandot" is coming to Korea this October. Originally introduced by the late Italian director Franco Zeffirelli, this version was first staged at the historic Arena di Verona in 2010 and has since become a hallmark of grandeur in the opera world. “Korean audiences will be left speechless and moved by Zeffirelli’s original 'Turandot,’ which has set a benchmark in the history of opera,” said stage direct
Culture Sept. 30, 2024
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[Herald Interview] Dmytro Udovychenko, winner of Queen Elisabeth Competition, on uplifting Ukraine with violin
Dmytro Udovychenko, a Ukrainian violinist, is experiencing his busiest season after winning the 2024 Queen Elisabeth Violin Competition in June. With the latest triumph adding to a long list of prizes won at international competitions, including first prize at the Montreal International Violin Competition in 2023 and third prize at the International Jean Sibelius Violin Competition in 2022, Udovychenko is finally done with competitions and set to launch his journey as a musician in earnest. Reca
Culture Sept. 25, 2024
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[Herald Interview] Portraying a version of god for young people in 'Hadestown'
When Kim Min-seok sees veteran musical stage actor Choi Jung-won on stage during the musical performance of "Hadestwon," the singer-turned-musical-actor hopes the audience can see her up close from his perspective. "Her face is full of expression, giving a sense of warmth and courage," Kim, who portrays poor dreamy musician Orpheus, said during an interview with The Korea Herald on Sept. 12. And that is exactly how Choi, 55, intends to portray Hermes, a role originally create
Culture Sept. 24, 2024
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[Herald Interview] Violinist Kavakos on masterful pairing of Bach and Shostakovich for 2025 Classic Revolution
Greek Violinist Leonidas Kavakos, who performed with the KBS Symphony Orchestra earlier this month as part of the annual Classic Revolution, is set to return to Korea next year. When he returns, it will be as the new artistic director of the classical music festival organized by the Lotte Foundation for Arts. For next year, the violinist, who is also pursuing a career as a conductor, said that he will focus the music of Bach and Shostakovich. He explained that the inspiration for the 2025 pr
Culture Sept. 19, 2024
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Gheorghiu stands her ground over 'Tosca’ tantrums
The ongoing controversy between renowned soprano Angela Gheorghiu and the organizers of Puccini's opera Tosca intensified this week after the soprano's management issued a statement claiming that an agreement had been made for no encores, a claim later denied by the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts. On Wednesday, Gheorghiu’s management, Intermusica, released a statement saying, “Ms. Gheorghiu deeply regrets the circumstances that led to the incident at the Sejong Arts Center on
Culture Sept. 13, 2024
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Explicit, provocative shows breathe new life into staid National Theater of Korea
If you attend one of the two productions currently running at the National Theater of Korea, you might be surprised by the level of sexual explicitness in the performances. At the Daloreum Theater, the National Theater’s mid-sized theater with about 500 seats, the National Changgeuk Company of Korea’s adult-only production “Madam Ong” runs through Sunday. The changgeuk, or traditional Korean opera, has long been associated with themes of lust and obscenity. At the Han
Culture Sept. 12, 2024
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