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Unflinching Spanish stage performer dares audiences 'to confront their demons'
Spanish multidisciplinary artist and theater director Angelica Liddell has come to Korea with her searing and provocative play, “Liebestod. The Smell of Blood Does Not Leave My Eyes. Juan Belmonte.” “Liebestod,” which premiered at the 2021 Avignon Festival, marks the third installment in Belgian director Milo Rau’s “History of Theatre” series. The work draws on the legendary Spanish bullfighter Juan Belmonte and the “Liebestod” (Love-Death) from Wagner’s opera “Tristan und Isolde.” Death, blood,
May 1, 2025 -
‘Wicked’ cast excited to bring show back to Korea
The beloved Broadway musical "Wicked" is returning to Korea this summer — and this time, it’s the original English-language production that’s taking the stage for six months across Seoul, Busan and Daegu. The unusually long engagement far exceeds the typical duration of other touring productions that come to Korea, and reflects the enduring popularity of “Wicked,” one of the most successful musicals of all time, in the country. The show first premiered in Korea in 2012 with the English-language
May 1, 2025 -
In first, Korean museum looks at Oceanian cultures
The National Museum of Korea has opened an exhibition on Oceanian cultures, the first attempt by a Korean institution to focus on regions in the South Pacific spanning the East and Western hemispheres. “Mana Moana: Arts of the Great Ocean, Oceania” looks through some 180 items from the 18th century like canoes, the high-priority survival object essential to the Maori people, New Zealand’s Indigenous population. Gloves adorned with shark teeth, hooks in the shape of human faces and headgear made
May 1, 2025 -
Films worth catching at this year's Jeonju film fest
The 26th Jeonju International Film Festival, South Korea's premier showcase for independent and art-house cinema, kicked off Wednesday, bringing 224 films from 57 countries to the cozy North Jeolla Province city through May 9. This year's lineup features 80 world premieres amid a spectrum of narrative innovations and cultural perspectives. For those making the pilgrimage to Jeonju — the historic city known as much for its culinary heritage as its cultural significance — here are three standout f
May 1, 2025 -
'Produce 101' star hits new career high tackling school violence
Park Ji-hoon, who rose to breakout fame after finishing second among 101 trainees on the hit K-pop audition series "Produce 101: Season 2 (2017)," is experiencing another major career high -- not as an idol, but as a rising star in the acting world. The singer-turned-actor has gripped audiences with his performance as the lead in the "Weak Hero" franchise, playing a troubled yet calculating high schooler who confronts school violence head-on. The adrenaline-filled youth drama initially found suc
May 1, 2025 -
Jeonju film fest opens 26th edition
JEONJU, North Jeolla Province — The Jeonju International Film Festival kicked off its 26th edition Wednesday, with 224 films from 57 countries scheduled to screen across multiple venues in Jeonju, North Jeolla Province, during its 10-day run through May 9. The festival's opening ceremony at the Sori Arts Center drew film enthusiasts who filled the venue hours before the event. The red carpet welcomed an array of film professionals, including actor Lee Jung-hyun, who is the festival's "programmer
May 1, 2025 -
ISS astronaut Jonny Kim turns NASA rations into Korean-inspired burger in space
NASA astronaut Jonny Kim, the first Korean American to serve on a long-duration mission aboard the International Space Station, is drawing attention for adding a personal and cultural twist to space food — by making a burger with Korean gochujang. Kim posted photos on social media this week showing a floating burger made from standard NASA rations: beef steak, wheat snack bread, cheese spread and potatoes au gratin. The key ingredient was a generous squeeze of gochujang, a spicy Korean red peppe
May 1, 2025 -
Inside the Kinjaz journey: From viral dance crew to Korea’s choreography scene
Seoul is no stranger to dance trends, but when two of America's most influential choreographers land in the city at the same time, it feels like something bigger is happening. Mike Song and Anthony Lee, co-founders of the iconic Asian American dance crew Kinjaz, are back in Korea -- not just to visit, but to shape the country’s rapidly evolving dance culture from the inside out. Sitting down over beers for an episode of Werkhours, a podcast series by StudioH at The Korea Herald, Song and Lee sha
May 1, 2025 -
Embassy of Egypt expands interaction with Korean public through art
Khaled Abdel Rahman, Egypt’s ambassador to South Korea, sees a distinguished similarity between the two countries — a huge river that runs through the country, the Nile in Egypt and Han River in Korea. “We say the river Nile is the gift to Egypt, and here you also have the Han river. That was why there was civilization in Korea and Egypt,” the ambassador said during the interview on Wednesday at Walkerhill Hotel & Resort. “Water means you can have agriculture, and when you have agriculture, you
April 30, 2025 -
Ancient Egyptian history bro alive in immersive digital show
The immersive exhibition “Egyptian Pharaohs, From Cheops to Ramesses II” travels back in time to the era of the Pharaohs to shed light on ancient Egyptian civilization, which spanned more than 3,000 years. The 36-minute digital immersive installation at Walkerhill Hotel & Resort's Theatre des Lumieres, which kicks off Thursday, encompasses 10 themes related to ancient Egyptian history, art and myths. The narrative is first led by Scottish watercolorist David Roberts (1796-1864) who set out on a
April 30, 2025 -
Joseon royal archive home reopens to public
PYEONGCHANG, Gangwon Province — A museum dedicated to historical records from the Joseon era (1392-1910) has reopened following a 10-month renovation, with a focus on outreach to community. The National Museum of the Annals of the Joseon Dynasty houses the original “Joseon Wangjo Sillok” and “Joseon Wangjo Uigwe.” “Joseon Wangjo Sillok” documents 472 years of Joseon’s history chronologically from 1392 to 1863, highlighting the accomplishments of Joseon kings, from the first king, Taejo, to the 2
April 30, 2025 -
Incheon Pentaport Rock Festival unveils first line up for 20th anniversary edition
The Incheon Pentaport Rock Festival, one of South Korea’s premier rock festivals, has unveiled the first names on this year's lineup, which features a blend of legendary acts and rising stars from around the globe. Pulp, the iconic Britpop band often referred to as one of the "Big Four" of the genre, is the headliner of the festival, which celebrates its 20th year this year. The upcoming performance marks Pulp’s first-ever concert in Korea. Formed in 1978, the band rose to prominence in the 1990
April 30, 2025 -
Interview: A legend contemplates usefulness
"I'm constantly thinking about uselessness," actor Lee Hye-young says in a cafe in Seoul's Samcheong-dong Monday. Her raspy voice projects an unmistakable charisma that commands attention. It's not exactly a confession that shakes the foundation of her stature -- a 62-year-old veteran actor whose four-decade career spans theater, classic films and TV dramas. But Lee, who has established herself as Korean cinema's symbol of resilient womanhood, now finds herself contemplating obsolescence. And th
April 30, 2025 -
Neumeier’s ‘Camellias’ to bloom again in Seoul as its ‘best version yet’
Legendary choreographer John Neumeier’s “The Lady of the Camellias,” with which ballerina Kang Sue-jin became the first Asian dancer to win the Benois de la Danse award in 1999, will take the stage at the Seoul Arts Center, May 7-11. Neumeier and Kang, artistic director of The Korean National Ballet, have come together to create “the best possible version of this ballet that we can see right now.” “Ballet is an art of life,” said Neumeier during a press conference held Tuesday at the Seoul Arts
April 30, 2025 -
Interview: Pianist Bruce Liu: Multicultural voice interprets Russian Romantics
When pianist Bruce Liu last performed in Seoul in 2023, his recital was filled with electrifying technique and seven encores. Liu returns to Seoul in May as part of the 2025 Great Pianists Series, bringing with him an entirely new program centered on Russian Romanticism, featuring works by Tchaikovsky, Scriabin and Prokofiev. "With Tchaikovsky, I think there's this emotional vulnerability. His pain-dedicated personal moments, even larger-than-large gestures,” Liu, who catapulted to international
April 30, 2025