PyeongChang Music Festival’s two artistic directors Chung Kyung-wha and Chung Myung-wha will leave their posts after the PyeongChang Olympics.At a press conference in Seoul to promote the upcoming PyeongChang Winter Music Festival, violinist Chung Kyung-wha and cellist Chung Myung-wha said that they would wrap up their seven-year journey with the music festival.“Though I leave the music festival after the Olympic Games, I will continue to perform for the betterment and improvement of Korea’s cla

A North Korean art troupe will perform at the Gangneung Art Center in Gangneung, Gangwon Province, on Feb. 8 and at the National Theater of Korea Haeoreum Grand Theater in Seoul on Feb. 11. This photo taken by the Joint Press Corps on Monday shows Hyon Song-wol, the leader of North Korea's advance team, inspecting venues for planned performances by a North Korean art troupe. (Yonhap)The Ministry of Unification said that North Korea notified the South on Tuesday that it would travel to the destin

North Korea will dispatch 15 women‘s ice hockey team members to the South, together with an eight-member advance team Thursday, the Ministry of Unification said late Tuesday night. The advance team is to be led by Yoon Yong-bok, a deputy director at North Korea‘s Sports Ministry. Additionally, the 15 members to join the South in forming an inter-Korean Olympic team include 12 players, a coach and two support personnel, according to the ministry.  Players from South Korea and North Korea pose for

The last album by late SHINee member Jonghyun was released online Tuesday, along with a music video for its lead track. Jonghyun’s album “Poet | Artist,” which was completed last year, comprises 11 songs showcasing the K-pop singer-songwriter’s distinctive musical tonalities. (SM Entertainment)The lead track “Shinin” is an electro-pop song with trap beats and tropical-tinged sounds. The music video for the track was released on streaming platforms including YouTube and Naver TV.The album also in

Kumho Art Hall this week begins its 2018 Rising Star Series, a classical music program dedicated to introducing Korea’s young talents. Starting with a recital Thursday featuring James Kim, the first prize winner of the 2006 International David Popper Cello Competition, Kumho Art Hall will highlight two other young artists -- pianist Shin Chang-yong and violinist Kim Gye-hee. Cellist James Kim (Kumho Art Hall)Cellist Kim has given solo recitals organized by New York classical music radio station

Newly opened second passenger terminal of Incheon International Airport is drawing attention not just for the numbers involved, but also its art.Under a project called “Artport,” Incheon International Airport has spent more than 18 billion won on displaying artworks throughout the terminal, ranging from paintings to installations. The latest 4.6 billion won project is highlighted by five artworks by renowned artists including French sculptor Julius Popp and German media artist Xavier Veilhan. Th

Korean filmmaker Hong Sang-soo’s latest work “Grass” will be screened at the upcoming 68th Berlin International Film Festival, the film’s overseas distributor said Friday.According to the distributor Finecut, “Grass” will be screened in the festival’s Forum section, which introduces avant-garde and experimental works, accompanied by discussions and workshops.  A still from “Grass” by director Hong Sang-soo (Finecut)No official awards are presented in the Forum section. Instead, independent jurie

The Sejong Center and Seoul Arts Center are celebrating milestone anniversaries this year with performances by internationally acclaimed artists. This year marks the 40th anniversary of the Sejong Arts Center, which has seen some 62 million people attend its shows since opening in 1978. It was the only classical music and performance venue in Seoul until the opening of the Seoul Arts Center in 1988 in time for the Seoul Olympics. The Sejong Arts Center has hosted numerous international and local

Following inter-Korean talks, an announcement was made Wednesday night regarding a joint cultural event at Kumgangsan in North Korea, raising speculations about the performance, its venue and also the possibility that it may mark the resumption of cultural exchanges between the two countries. According to the Unification Ministry on Wednesday, South and North Korea agreed to hold a cultural event at Kumgangsan around late January or early February. Details of the program will be decided through

Violinist Rainer Kuchl, who held the principal concertmaster post at the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra for 45 years, is to perform in Korea this week.Having started his career at the Vienna Philharmonic and Vienna State Opera in 1971 at the age of 20, Kuchl has performed with numerous acclaimed conductors, including Bohm, Bernstein, Karajan and Solti.Kuchl’s recital on Thursday at Kumho Art Hall in Seoul kicks off this year’s “Beautiful Thursday Kumho Art Hall Exclusive.” Violinist Rainer Kuchl

The Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by music director Jacek Kaspszyk, will perform Thursday at Lotte Concert Hall in southern Seoul.In 2016, the WPO performed in Korea along with the 2015 International Chopin Piano Competition prize winners, including the competition’s first-prize winner Cho Seong-Jin.  Jacek Kaspszyk, music director of the Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra (Vincero)This time, the Polish orchestra will perform with Austrian pianist Ingolf Wunder, a prize winner at the Chopi

Pianist Cho Seong-jin has been awarded the eighth Kumho Musician Award by the Kumho Asiana Cultural Foundation, the organization said Sunday.  Pianist Cho Seong-jin (left) poses with Kumho Asiana Group Chairman Park Sam-koo at the eighth Kumho Musician Award ceremony in Seoul on Friday. (Kumho Asiana)“It is a great pleasure to present the award at Kumho Art Hall Yonsei,” Kumho Asiana Group Chairman Park Sam-koo said during the award ceremony held Friday. “I am very proud of Cho Seong-jin, who ha

Tongyeong International Music Festival 2018 seeks to continue the legacy of the late Tongyeong composer Yun I-sang, known for his attempts to bridge the music of Europe and Asia as well as his experiments with different styles and sounds. This year’s TIMF will be held from March 30 to April 8, under the theme of “Returning Home.” World-renowned musicians from Korea and abroad will join the annual music festival to introduce musical works by Yun I-sang, as well as those of Western legends. (TIMF

Adding poetic elements to the public space was French artist Xavier Veilhan’s goal in creating “Great Mobiles” installed at the entrance of Incheon Airport’s Terminal 2.Veilhan is best known for his angular sculptures, as well as “Studio Venezia,” a giant recording studio that transformed the 1912 French Pavilion, introduced at the Venice Biennale 2017.“Great Mobiles” consists of two mobiles that stretch 18.5 meters wide, hanging near the two entrances of the newly built second terminal.  Xavier

Korean maestro Chung Myung-whun is to lead the One Korea Youth Orchestra’s debut performance in Seoul on Thursday, as part of efforts to continue his life’s calling to bring South and North Korea together. 　During Thursday’s performance at Lotte Concert Hall in Seoul, Chung’s project orchestra is to perform Beethoven Piano Concerto No. 3, in collaboration with pianist Sohn Jeung-beum, the first Korean winner of the piano category at the ARD International Music Competition in September last year.

The National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art of Korea will step up efforts to lead the contemporary art scene in Asia, it said. During a press conference held in Seoul on Wednesday, the MMCA Director Bartomeu Mari announced the museum’s 2018 exhibitions of acclaimed artists here and abroad, as well as projects underscored by its long-term vision of becoming a leading voice of the contemporary art scene in Asia. The MMCA Director Bartomeu Mari announces its 2018 programs during the press co

Violinist Yang In-mo expressed confidence in performing Niccolo Paganini’s 24 caprices for solo violin -- notorious for their difficulty -- during a showcase at Kumho Art Hall in Seoul on Monday.“I have always wanted to play the 24 caprices by Paganini. I remember my aunt buying me the album when I was about 7 or 8 years old. I listened and thought that I would also play them someday. Instead of overwhelming me, they encouraged me to play the string instrument,” said Yang, Kumho Art Hall’s artis

Pianist Cho Seong-jin on Thursday announced his first nationwide recital tour, scheduled to kickoff in Busan on Sunday. At a press conference held at the Seoul Arts Center on Thursday, Cho said that the program for the tour features his favorite pieces, including those by Beethoven, Debussy, as well as Chopin, for whom the Korean pianist is best known.Pianist Cho Seong-jin performs during a press conference held at the Seoul Arts Center in Seoul on Thursday. (Yonhap)“I have been wanting to play

The 2018 Contemporary Music & Performing Arts Season at LG Arts Center features an exciting line-up of 12 productions, ranging from the highly acclaimed international theatrical works to cross-genre performances. Michael Keegan-Dolan’s ”Swan Lake/Loch na hEala“ (LG Arts Center)Michael Keegan-Dolan‘s “Swan Lake/Loch na hEala” will perform from March 29 to March 31. The contemporary reinvention of the Tchaikovsky ballet, “Swan Lake,” by the acclaimed Irish director and choreographer features 13 mu

Chin Un-suk, Berlin-based composer of contemporary classical music, on Tuesday said that she has decided to leave the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra, where she has been its composer-in-residence since 2006. Chin also held the orchestra’s artistic adviser post since 2016, a year after maestro Chung Myung-whun left the SPO at the end of 2015 after 10 years. Chin Un-suk (SPO)“I hope to later return to make a contribution to Korean music,“ Chin said in the email she wrote to her colleagues and fans. “