After nearly 30 years as a horn player in South Korea and abroad, Kim Hong-park released his first album, "Schumann & Brahms," last Friday. The 42-year-old musician, who is also a professor at Seoul National University, discussed his inspiration to produce an album highlighting the instrument, which is pivotal in an orchestra due to its versatile contributions to melody, harmony, dynamic range, rhythmic support, color, texture and signaling cues. “Despite its significance a

KCON, the globally renowned K-pop music festival organized by CJ ENM, will not be held in Saudi Arabia this year, according to an industry insider. Earlier this year, CJ ENM announced its 2024 KCON schedule that included events in five locations: Hong Kong, Japan, Los Angeles, Europe and Saudi Arabia. While specific dates were released for the first three locations, the dates for Europe and Saudi Arabia were left unspecified. In June, CJ ENM announced that the European KCON would take place in F

K-pop sensation NewJeans officially embarked on their role as 2024 honorary tourism ambassadors at a ceremony held at the Grand Hyatt Seoul in central Seoul on Thursday. The ceremony was attended by Culture Minister Yu In-cho who appointed the five members at the event -- Danielle, Minji, Hanni, Haerin and Hyein -- as the ambassadors for Korea tourism and Visit Korea Year 2023-24 campaign. Group member Hyein could not attend the ceremony for health reasons. Taking up the ambassadorial role, the

Clara-jumi Kang, a violin virtuoso, will embark on a nationwide recital tour in September with a new instrument and a program that holds a significant meaning to her. Kang is set to blend technical mastery with lyrical expression with a program consisting Tartini's "The Devil's Trill," Prokofiev's Violin Sonata No. 1, Chausson's "Poeme," and Franck's “Violin Sonata.” Regarding the program, Kang said, “I've chosen pieces that I p

Gwangju city to host International World Association for Symphonic Bands and Ensembles Conference July 16-20

It could take more than a year to restore parts of a historic wall in Seoul that collapsed during heavy downpours earlier this week, according to an official handling the restoration efforts. On Tuesday morning, a passerby reported seeing a collapsed portion of the northern wall of Hanyangdoseong, also known as the Seoul City Wall, to the Jongno-gu office, which then relayed the discovery to the Korea Heritage Service, according to the state agency. Damage to the wall spans 30 meters, and no cas

The 18th Daegu International Musical Festival concluded its 15-day run Monday with the DIMF Awards at the Daegu Opera House. The grand prize went to the Chinese musical "Flying Apsara," which uniquely and immersively combines traditional Chinese art and modern musical elements. The Jury Award went to "Missing Link," co-produced by DIMF and the Daegu Municipal Theatre Company. Based on the infamous scientific fraud known as the "Piltdown Man" hoax, the musical creati

Actor Song Joong-ki is expecting his second child, following the birth of his first child a year ago, according to his agency. According to Song's agency, HighZium Studio, on Monday afternoon, Song's wife, British model and actor Katy Louise Saunders, is expecting their second child. The agency did not disclose specific details about the second child, including the gender or the due date. The news of Saunders expecting their second child arrives a year after the couple announced the bi

Singers HyunA and Yong Jun-hyung, formerly a member of the group Highlight, are tying the knot after a six-month public relationship. The singers’ agencies confirmed HyunA and Yong’s upcoming marriage Monday afternoon, announcing the wedding will take place on Oct. 11. The announcement follows earlier local media reports that the two are expected to marry in October in Seoul. “The couple was a huge consolation to each other in their difficult moments. And their wedding ceremony

The 7th Hic et Nunc! to feature a series of firsts including Kim Texu's 'With/out' and Tod Machover's 'Flow Symphony'

“Your Lie in April,” a musical based on Japanese manga series of the same title and an original score by Broadway composer Frank Wildhorn, opened in Seoul last week, winning over younger audiences with the story of a piano prodigy who loses his ability to hear the piano after his mother's death and his experiences after he meets violinist Kaori Miyazono. The story written by Naoshi Arakawa delves into themes of trauma, healing, and the power of music. The Korean version, produce

Naver's webcomic platform Webtoon, boasting 170 million active users each month, has transformed the comics industry for the mobile era. Following its much-anticipated Nasdaq debut on June 27, attention has turned to the economic realities facing its vast pool of creators. The company's recent US Securities and Exchange Commission filing submitted ahead of its initial public offering confirms substantial incomes for top performers, but also reveals a deep divide within the creator ecos

American rapper Ye, also known as Kanye West, is holding his first-ever standalone concert in Korea on Aug. 23, according to Channel Candy. Channel Candy, a global media brand specializing in music, announced Saturday that its parent company Nextis will host Ye’s first concert in Korea at the Goyang Stadium in Ilsan, Goyang-si, Gyeonggi Province. Ye had previously performed in Korea 14 years ago in 2010 at the Summer Week&T festival held at Naksan Beach in Yangyang, Gangwon Province. &

ANSEONG, Gyeonggi Province -- If you are making a list of places to visit with your family and friends after the monsoon season, the filming sites of Netflix’s “The Sound of Magic” certainly needs to be on the list. “The Sound of Magic,” a 2022 fantasy musical drama, centers around Ah-yi, a schoolgirl who wishes to become an adult as soon as possible so that she may take care of her family. The series focuses heavily on the character’s emotional change after m

Park Hyatt Seoul, located in Gangnam, southern Seoul, is scheduled to offer a unique Japanese culinary experience to its guests at the hotel’s premium vinyl music and dining bar, The Timber House, starting from July 13. The upcoming event invites master Japanese chef Nobuhiro Yoshida to showcase “Tokyo Night in Seoul,” a special kaiseki menu, a traditional multi-course Japanese dinner that features small and artistically arranged dishes. Collaborating with The Timber House&rsqu