Seoul Arts Center to mark 25th year with Korean World Star series

Seoul Arts Center will focus on reinterpreting classic Korean performances next year.

It will also present the “Korean World Star Series” featuring world-class musicians of Korean heritage, said Mo Chul-min, president of the center, on Wednesday.

Seoul Arts Center, which marks its 25th anniversary on Feb. 15, 2013, will widen public access to the arts while enhancing the quality of the facility as well as the quality of its programs, said Mo.

Towol Theater, reopening after extensive remodeling, will host “Resurrection of Classic” which will feature Korean dramas and musicals. The 1,000 seat theater will kick off the season with “Saljjagi Obseoye,” Korea’s first indigenous musical which premiered in 1966, incorporating 3-D and holograms.

“Asian Oncheon (hot spring),” written by Korean-Japanese Jeong Eui-shin and co-commissioned by the Japanese New National Theater and SAC, and will be staged from June 8-16.

Celebrating the 25th anniversary of SAC will be a concert by Korean ―American violinist Sarah Chang and the Bucheon Philharmonic Orchestra on Feb. 15. Top sopranos Shin Young-ok and Sumi Jo will perform on April 13 and April 30, respectively, while cellist Chang Han-na will perform on April 29 as part of the Korean World Star series.

The center offers various discount programs to make its events accessible to the wider public, which is considered a success, Mo said. Seoul Arts Center will also adopt seasonal programs starting from autumn to the following spring. The first one will be announced earlier next year.

By Bae Ji-sook (baejisook@heraldcorp.com)