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

Indonesian novel ‘Cigarette Girl,’ adapted for Netflix, introduced to Korean readers

An Indonesian historical novel exploring love, family and social change across generations has been introduced to Korean readers, marking another step in literary exchange between Southeast Asia and Korea. “Cigarette Girl,” written by Indonesian author Ratih Kumala, was recently published in Korean through the Hansae Yes24 Foundation’s Southeast Asian Literature Series, a program dedicated to introducing major works from the region to Korean audiences. Kumala said the Korean publication of her b

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

Korea selects 3 regional festivals to promote globally

South Korea has designated three regional events — the Boryeong Mud Festival, Andong International Mask Dance Festival and Jinju Namgang Lantern Festival — as new “global festivals,” as part of a government initiative to accelerate its goal of attracting 30 million foreign tourists. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism announced Thursday that the festivals will receive 800 million won ($540,000) annually for three years under the program, which aims to strengthen cultural festivals as key

March 12, 2026

Musical actor Nam Kyung-ju referred to prosecutors over alleged sex crime

Musical actor Nam Kyung-ju has been referred to prosecutors on allegations of sexual assault, while Hongik University, where he serves as an associate professor, said it has begun personnel procedures in accordance with its regulations. According to police, the Seoul Bangbae Police Station referred the 63-year-old to the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office on Wednesday for sexual intercourse by abuse of occupational authority. As outlined in Article 303, Nam could face up to seven years i

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

BTS’ RM backs Korean art catalog

A new catalog highlighting Korean paintings preserved in major museums around the world has been published with support from RM of BTS. The Overseas Korean Cultural Heritage Foundation, affiliated with the Korea Heritage Service, announced the publication of "It's ___ Here: Korean Paintings Shining Abroad," a richly illustrated catalogue that documents significant Korean paintings currently held in overseas museum collections. The project was made possible through a donation by RM in 2022, refle

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

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