Paik Kun-woo returns to Schubert in album marking 80th birthday and 70 years on stage

South Korean pianist Paik Kun-woo will release a new album devoted to Franz Schubert, marking both his 80th birthday and the 70th anniversary of his debut. The album, titled “Schubert,” will be released worldwide on March 26, 2026, through Universal Music. The first single -- the first movement of Schubert’s Piano Sonata No. 13 in A major, D.664 -- was released on March 5. The two-disc recording brings together four of Schubert’s piano sonatas — Nos. 13, 14, 18 and 20 — works that Paik says refl

March 13, 2026

The return of ‘Death Note’ icons

The final cast of the musical “Death Note,” which has been running since October last year and continues through May, took the stage this week as the production enters the final stretch of its run. Ko Eun-sung and Kim Junsu lead the final lineup, appearing as Light Yagami and the enigmatic detective L. Both actors have a long history with the work. Kim Junsu, widely known for his musical theater career, first took on the role of detective L during the original Korean premiere in 2015, where his

March 12, 2026

South Korea investigates BTS ticket scalping after nearly 1,900 illegal listings detected

South Korea’s Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism said it had identified 1,868 suspected scalping listings tied to upcoming BTS concerts in Goyang and Seoul’s Gwanghwamun area after monitoring major online resale platforms. Authorities said four cases involving 105 tickets appeared to reflect organized attempts to resell seats at steep premiums, and those cases have been referred to the National Police Agency for investigation. According to data released by the ministry, the majority of susp

March 11, 2026

‘Minimalistic in very extreme way’: Sharon Eyal brings ‘Jakie’ to Seoul

For professional dancers, learning to pare themselves down can be challenging. As technique deepens, so does the instinct to add. And choreographer Sharon Eyal asks for the opposite. “I'm asking the dancers to reduce and to be most minimalistic in a very extreme way. This is very challenging because the more professional you are, you add stuff. But I think this effort brings what I said before -- not choreography but ‘experience.’” Eyal is working with Korean dancers for the first time, collabor

March 11, 2026

South Korea’s live performing arts market hit W1.73tr in 2025, up 18.8%

South Korea’s performing arts market surpassed 1.73 trillion won ($1.3 billion) in ticket sales in 2025, marking strong growth across concerts, musicals and dance performances, according to government data released Wednesday. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism published a report analyzing ticket reservation data from the Korea Performing Arts Box Office Information System, compiled with the Korea Arts Management Service. The report showed that total ticket sales in the domestic performi

March 11, 2026

'I need my heart to connect': Olivier winner on taking Korea's 'The Last Man' to London

In a cramped studio in Sillim-dong — a neighborhood where young Koreans gather to study for exams that can shape the rest of their lives — a young man prepares for a test he may never take. Outside, the city has collapsed. Inside, he may be the last person alive. It is the premise of a one-man Korean musical that British playwright and dramaturg Jethro Compton is now bringing to the British stage. Compton is serving as dramaturg for the UK premiere of "The Last Man," a Korean one-person rock mus

March 10, 2026

Beyond ‘The King’s Warden,’ changgeuk revisits other victims of Sejo’s coup

As surprise blockbuster film “The King's Warden” draws closer to the milestone of 10 million tickets sold at the local box office, renewed attention is turning to the final four months of the young dethroned King Danjong. Yet Danjong was not the only victim of King Sejo’s coup d’etat. Born the second son of King Sejong, Prince Suyang (later King Sejo) seized the throne in 1453 after overthrowing his young nephew Danjong and purging officials who stood in his way. His ruthless rise to power later

March 6, 2026

No borders, just music: Takashi Lorenz Waschkau’s journey from Berlin to Seoul

Violinist Takashi Lorenz Waschkau was shaped by more than one inheritance. Born in Berlin in 2001 to a German father and a Japanese mother, and later drawn to Seoul, the violinist embodies a generation of musicians whose identities are formed across continents. Waschkau began violin at 4 and piano at 6. His mother, a pianist and vocal coach who studied at the New England Conservatory, raised him in a household where music was both a language and a discipline. “She was a mom, but also a trainer,”

March 6, 2026

Mapo Foundation launches morning concert series to make classical a habit

Mapo Arts Center will launch its new matinee program, the “MAC Morning Concert” series, offering 10 performances from March to December as part of an initiative to make classical music more accessible in everyday life. Beginning March 25, the concerts will take place at 11 a.m. on the fourth Wednesday of each month. Tickets are priced at 20,000 won. The series features commentary by concert guide and pianist Kim Yong-bae, who previously served as president of the Seoul Arts Center and led its fl

March 6, 2026

When machines learn empathy, humans grow mechanical

As artificial intelligence grows more fluent in empathy -- fielding questions at 3 a.m., dispensing comfort on demand -- some artists are beginning to wonder whether humans, by contrast, are becoming mechanical. That unease animates “X,” the latest work by SAL (Subverted Anatomical Landscape), the boundary-pushing contemporary dance company led by artistic director and choreographer Bae Jin-ho. Premiering March 19-22, as part of this year’s ARKO Selection, the piece explores a world in which met

March 4, 2026

BTS unveils 14-song track list for comeback album 'Arirang'

Global K-pop icon BTS on Wednesday unveiled the 14-song track list of its upcoming album, "Arirang" on their social media platforms. The album features a diverse collection of tracks -- "SWIM," "Body to Body," "Hooligan," "Aliens," "FYA," "2.0," "No. 29," "Merry Go Round," "NORMAL," "Like Animals," "they don't know 'bout us," "One More Night," "Please" and "Into the Sun." The title track, "SWIM," is described as an upbeat alternative pop song about navigating life's challenges, with lyrics co-wr

March 4, 2026

Korean dance crew The Stories reflects on second Vibe win

When The Stories were announced as the winner of the 2026 Vibe Dance Competition on Sunday in Costa Mesa, California, it marked the crew’s second title on the prestigious stage. But for choreographer Kalvin Kim, the moment was less about the trophy and more about something harder to measure. “I don’t even know how to put this joy into words,” Kim said in an interview with The Korea Herald on Tuesday. “To experience two victories on a stage I’ve dreamed of since I was young, representing Korea, s

March 3, 2026

BTS concert prompts closure of Gyeongbokgung, museums and theaters

Less than three weeks before BTS takes the stage at Gwanghwamun Square on March 21, the city is preparing for large crowds, with authorities announcing safety measures and temporary closures of nearby historic sites and cultural venues. The Korea Heritage Service said Gyeongbokgung, the main royal palace of Joseon (1392-1910) in Gwanghwamun, will be closed, with its parking lot shuttered and public access restricted. Officials said an emergency task force for palaces would be activated to conduc

March 3, 2026

Korean dance crew The Stories takes home Vibe Dance championship

The Korea-based dance crew The Stories took first place Sunday at the 2026 Vibe Dance Competition in California, organizers said. Led by choreographer Kalvin Kim, the team earned the highest score among 15 competing crews, finishing with 99.3 points out of 100 to claim the $5,000 grand prize. V Mo placed second with 95.89 points, followed by GRV with 95.29. The win marks another milestone for The Stories, which recently celebrated its 10-year anniversary. It won the competition in 2024, becoming

March 2, 2026

Seoul Metropolitan Ballet opens with ‘Bliss‘ and ‘Jakie,’ pairing joy and desire

Seoul Metropolitan Ballet, the country’s first public contemporary ballet company, will open its 2026 season next month with a double bill that pairs two contrasting sensibilities: rapture and raw instinct. From March 14 to 22 at the M Theater of Sejong Center for the Performing Arts, the company -- now in its third year and second full season — will present “Bliss & Jakie,” bringing together Johan Inger’s “Bliss” and “Jakie” by Sharon Eyal and Gai Behar. “Bliss,” which had its Asian premiere wi

Feb. 27, 2026