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Chung Myung-whun on ‘my Italian story’ that leads to La Scala music director post

In a nutshell, what led to the appointment of Korean conductor Chung Myung-whun as the next music director of Teatro alla Scala — the first Asian and only the second non-Italian in its 247-year history — was love. Love for Verdi, for pasta, for Italy, and for La Scala itself. “It feels like getting married after loving each other for 36 years,” Chung, 72, told reporters at a press conference held Monday at Busan Concert Hall. Since 1989, he has conducted 84 opera performances and 141 concerts at
Chin Unsuk's second opera premiers in Hamburg

"Die dunkle Seite des Mondes,” the second opera by South Korean composer Unsuk Chin, premiered Sunday at the Hamburg State Opera in Germany under the baton of Kent Nagano. For her second opera, multiple award-winning composer Chin drew inspiration from the life and work of physicist Wolfgang Pauli — pioneer of quantum physics, Nobel Prize laureate and, for a time, a professor in Hamburg — and from his relationship with the psychiatrist Carl Gustav Jung. "Die dunkle Seite des Mondes,” or "The Dar
'Maybe Happy Ending’ clinches Drama League and Critics' Circle awards

In a landmark season for Korean theater on the international stage, “Maybe Happy Ending” added two more accolades on Friday to its growing list of honors at the 91st Annual Drama League Awards. The Broadway adaptation of the beloved South Korean musical won outstanding production of a musical, and director Michael Arden was awarded outstanding direction of a musical. The wins mark another significant milestone in the show's journey from intimate Seoul theaters to Broadway’s spotlight. Earlier th
'The Rising World,' Seoul's new opera blends myth, invention and global vision

In its first venture into producing an original opera, the Seoul Arts Center has partnered with an international creative team — and chosen English as the language of performance. “The Rising World: The Spirit of Water,” set to premiere in May, draws inspiration from Korea’s historical water clock and the country’s rich folklore surrounding water spirits. According to the creative team, the opera is not an adaptation of an existing tale, but a newly imagined story that weaves Korean cultural mot
Culture Ministry overhauls hiring process for national arts leadership

In a significant policy shift, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism announced a sweeping overhaul of how leaders of national arts organizations are selected. The ministry will replace the long-standing, opaque recommendation-based system with an open and publicly accountable recruitment process — an approach it describes as “radical.” “We’re introducing an open recruitment process for national arts organizations, which we believe is quite radical,” said First Vice Minister Yong Ho-seong d
Korea brings together artists, producers, cultural leaders at ARKO Global Week

Arts Council Korea, a national institution dedicated to promoting arts and culture, is launching ARKO Global Week — a comprehensive celebration of global artistic exchange, cross-disciplinary collaboration and cultural vision. Scheduled from May 24-30, the cultural week brings together leading voices in the arts for a series of international programs in Seoul. Set within the event is the 10th World Summit on Arts and Culture, to take place from May 27-30 in Seoul. It is the first time this globa
Sohn Min-soo, Lim Yunchan join four hands

The celebrated teacher-pupil pianists Sohn Min-soo and Lim Yunchan will share the stage this July in a rare four-hands concert. The “Hyundai Card Culture Project 30: Sohn Min-soo & Lim Yunchan” concert, part of Hyundai Card’s Culture Project series, takes place July 14 at Lotte Concert Hall and July 15 at Seoul Arts Center Concert Hall. The program features a rare duo recital by two of Korea’s most renowned pianists. Sohn, a laureate of the Honens International Piano Competition and a respected
Pursuing living tradition: Architect Daniel Tandler on reimagining hanok tradition

For Korean German architect Daniel Tandler, understanding the essence of "hanok" is conducive not only to good design, but also to grasping the broader values embedded in Korean life. Over the past decade, Tandler has immersed himself in studying, designing and living with hanok — traditional Korean houses known for their harmony with nature, wooden joinery, "ondol" underfloor heating and open spatial flow. Through his Seoul-based practice, the Urbandetail Architecture co-founder and principal a
La Scala names Chung Myung-whun music director, first Asian to hold the position

In a historic move, Teatro alla Scala in Milan announced South Korean conductor Chung Myung-whun as its next music director Monday, appointing the first Asian musician to the post in the opera house’s 247-year history. Chung, 72, will take up the position following the conclusion of Riccardo Chailly’s tenure at the end of 2026 and will serve through February 2030. His appointment was unanimously approved by La Scala’s board of directors during a meeting Monday. “Over the years, Maestro Chung has
Korea’s ‘Popeye’ Lee Sang-yong dies at 81

Lee Sang-yong, affectionately known as “Popeye” to generations of South Koreans, died on Friday at the age of 81. According to his agency, Emade Entertainment, Lee collapsed on his way home after receiving treatment for cold symptoms at a hospital earlier that morning. He was rushed back to the hospital but ultimately passed away. Long associated with vitality and optimism, Lee was a cherished television host, philanthropist and cultural figure whose career spanned more than five decades. He bec
Korean festival, not in Korea: Spring celebration of K-culture returns to Nantes, France

Printemps Coreen (Korean Spring), a festival centered on Korean nature, art and culture in Nantes, France, presents its 12th edition this year from May 14 to June 1, featuring programs at major cultural venues throughout the city with a population of about 320,000. Organized in collaboration with the Korea Foundation’s Cosmopolis platform and local partners, including Stereolux and Salle Paul-Fort, the festival’s theme, “Harmonie et Grandeur de la Nature” (The harmony and grandeur of nature), of
Korean faith leaders look to Pope Leo XIV’s message of peace as hope for still-divided peninsula

Following the election of Robert Francis Prevost, now Pope Leo XIV, 69, as the 267th pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church, Korean religious leaders across denominations have extended messages of congratulations and reflection on Friday. Their responses highlight shared hopes for social renewal, interfaith cooperation amid profound global challenges and a lasting peace — both in the world and on the Korean Peninsula. Archbishop Chung Soon-taick, head of the Archdiocese of Seoul, called the new po
New Pope Leo XIV likely to visit Korea in 2027

Following tradition, it is highly likely that newly elected Pope Leo XIV will visit South Korea with Seoul confirmed as the host city for World Youth Day 2027. The visit may also rekindle hopes for a historic papal trip to North Korea — something that remained unfulfilled under Pope Francis. On May 8, the Vatican’s conclave elected Pope Leo XIV, an American-born prelate with experience in Latin America and a background in missionary work. Born Robert Francis Prevost, he is 69 years old. If Pope
Blockbusters with a baton: film concerts bring screen legends to the stage

The "Harry Potter" Film Concert series continues its spellbinding journey, returning to the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts in Seoul with two back-to-back installments. From May 16 to 18, "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince in Concert" takes center stage, followed by "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1 in Concert" from Oct. 24 to 26. These performances invite audiences to an elevated experience of the beloved film series, with a live orchestra performing the movie's full ori
William Kentridge returns with provocative works that ask rather than answer

This month, audiences in South Korea will once again encounter the haunting, layered world of the South African artist known for collapsing the boundaries between drawing, film, music and performance. William Kentridge, whose diverse works have previously been showcased at the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Korea, the Asia Culture Center and the Amorepacific Museum of Art, returns to Seoul with two of his recent works under the GS Arts Center’s Artists series: "Sibyl," and multi