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Classical Concerts
Gonjiam Woodwind Festival 2019: Wenzel Fuchs & Friends
Seoul Arts Center
Aug. 11
Extending upon the annual flute festival held by the Gonjiam Music Festival, this woodwind festival includes other instruments including clarinets, oboes, bassoons and more. This year's theme is music from famous movies and operas. Wenzel Fuchs, the principal clarinetist of the Berlin Philharmonic, will be the featured performer. He along with other rising stars Emily Beynon, Elrich Koella, Rando Kim, Jeongmin Song and others will perform six songs for attending audiences.
Tickets cost 20,000 won to 50,000 won. For more information, visit ticket.interpark.com or call (02) 1544-1555.
Beautiful Thursday Concert Series: Konstantin Lifschitz
Kumho Art Hall Yonsei
Aug. 1
The Kumho Art Hall features a different performer every Thursday to spread classical music culture in Korea. Pianist Konstantin Lifschitz will be coming to Korea in August as one of the upcoming performers in this series. Lifschitz was born in Ukraine and began piano at the young age of five. He also began his solo career when he was just 13 years old, and performed all over the world with orchestras such as the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and the Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra. He has also made a name for himself as a conductor and has led the Moscow Virtuosi and the Garbeli Choir Budapest among other ensembles. At this performance, he will play works of Bach and the Goldberg Variations.
Tickets cost 60,000 won. For more information, visit ticket.interpark.com or call (02) 1544-1555.
Big Tickets
Psy Summer Swag 2019
Jamsil Sports Complex
Aug. 9 to 11
Psy, one of the nation's best-known rappers and performers, released his debut album in 2001 called "Psy from the Psycho World!" Since then he has become one of the nation's most iconic performers. He was a worldwide sensation in his 2012 music video "Gangnam Style," which reached over 3 billion views on YouTube. He has released seven studio albums and has collaborated with international artists such as Snoop Dogg on the song "Hangover," which was released in 2014. He has held the "Summer Swag" series for the past few years. This will be his fifth summer concert tour series.
Tickets cost 121,000 won to 132,000 won. For more information, visit ticket.interpark.com or call (02) 1544-1555.
Ha Sung-woon 1st Concert 'Dive in Color'
Jamsil Sports Center
July 26 and 27
Ha Sung-woon made his debut in 2014 as a member of the group Hotshot. He then participated in the audition program "Produce 101" in 2017, after which he was a member of the group Wanna One until the end of 2018. He has received much attention for his incredible dance and vocal skills, and has also produced much of his own music. Ha released his first mini-album "My Moment" this past February, and will be giving his first solo concerts this summer.
Tickets cost 110,000 won. For more information, visit ticket.interpark.com or call (02) 1544-1555.
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| This festival will take place for two days on Aug. 31 and Sept.1 at Nanji Hangang Park./Courtesy of SA Communication. |
Someday Festival
Nanji Hangang Park
Aug. 31 to Sept. 1
Some of Korea's favorite artists will be performing this summer at the Nanji Hangang Park for music lovers of all genres. The festival will be split into two days, which a diverse line-up ranging from ballad music to hip-hop. Day 1 will have artists such as Kyu Hyun of Super Junior, Akdong Musician and Eric Nam while Day 2 will feature Beenzino, Henry and Ha:tfelt among many others.
Tickets cost 88,000 won to 109,000 won. For more information, visit ticket.interpark.com or call (02) 1544-1555.
Pop and Jazz
2019 Summer Holic Concert
Lotte Concert Hall
Aug. 9 to 11
This summer, Lotte is hosting its 2019 Summer Holic Concert, at which some of the nation's most talented vocalists will perform. This year, artists Lee Hi, Car, The Garden and Wheesung are the featured lineup. Lee Hi, who was the runner up of the first season of SBS' "K-Pop Star," has released three solo albums and received attention for her soulful vocals. Car, The Garden debuted in 2013 with his mini-album "Jackasoul" and has appeared on "You Hee-yeol's Sketchbook" on multiple occasions. Wheesung is a veteran in the Korean music industry and debuted in 1999. He has released six studio albums and many mini-albums and singles and has greatly contributed to music in the country.
Tickets cost 22,000 won to 99,000 won. For more information, visit ticket.interpark.com or call (02) 1544-1555.
Plays & Musicals
Another Country
Uniplex
Until Aug. 11
This play was originally written by Julian Mitchell, an English playwright. The play revolves around a gay student named Guy Bennett, who attends an English public school. After another gay student at the school hangs himself after being outed, Bennett is the next target of persecution from social pressures and school prefects. Bennett's best friend Judd is a Marxist who tries to help him. The two realize the difficulties of being outcasts and the flaws of the British class system. The Korean adaptation will show at Uniplex by a talented cast including Lee Dong-ha, Park Eun-seok and Yeon Joon-seok in the role of Bennett.
Tickets cost 44,000 won to 66,000 won.
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| This musical will play at the Sejong Arts Center until Aug. 4./Courtesy of EMK Musical |
Xcalibur
Sejong Arts Center
Until Aug. 4
The musical "Xcalibur" is about King Arthur and his adventures with Excalibur, his powerful and legendary sword. First performed in 2014 in Switzerland, the musical also revolves around Lancelot and other brave Knights of the Round Table, showing how they fought bravely for the sake of the kingdom. The Korean cast has adapted the musical to have more songs and a more intricate storyline. Full of top musical actors and singers, the cast includes Junsu, Kai and Lee Jee-hoon.
Tickets cost 70,000 won to 150,000 won. For more information, visit ticket.interpark.com or call (02) 1544-1555.
Mamma Mia!
LG Arts Center
Until Sept. 14
Well-loved musical "Mamma Mia!" will hit the Korean stage this summer. A musical based on the songs of legendary group ABBA, the musical includes hits such as "Dancing Queen," "The Winner Takes it All," and "Take a Chance on Me." It was adapted into a film in 2008, which was also widely popular. The plot revolves around Sophie, who is getting married but does not know who her birth father is. By delving into the story of three of her mother's past loves, Sophie learns more about her mother and her possible birth fathers. The Korean cast includes Luna and Lee Su-bin as Sophia as well as Choi Jung-won and Shin Young-sook as Donna.
Tickets cost 60,000 won to 140,000 won. For more information, visit ticket.interpark.com or call (02) 1544-1555.
Marie Antoinette
D-Cube Arts Center
Aug. 24 to Nov. 17
This musical first hit the stage in Japan in 2006 and is based on an original story by Shusaku Endo. It was adapted into a musical by lyricist Michael Kunze and composer Sylvester Levay. The story revolves around two women, the queen of France and a poor woman named Margrid Arnaud. Taking place in the late 18th century, the musical shows how the French Revolution drastically changed the status of these two women. Marie Antoinette will be played by Kim So-hyun and Sophie Kim, while Margrid Arnaud will be played by Chang Eun-ah and Kim Yeon-ji.
Tickets cost 70,000 won to 150,000 won. For more information, visit ticket.interpark.com or call (02) 1544-1555.
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| The Korean National Contemporary Dance Company will perform "Swing" by Ahn Sung-soo./Courtesy of KNCDC ⓒ Baki |
Dance
Korean National Contemporary Dance Company: Swing
Seoul Arts Center
Aug. 30 to Sept. 1
The Korean National Contemporary Dance Company seeks to bring its audiences contemporary genres while retaining its traditional dance roots. For this performance, they will be bringing back artistic director Ahn Sung-soo's "Swing," which saw record sales in 2018. The performance incorporates swing music and contemporary dance, and will be accompanied by the Gentleman & Gangsters, a Swedish jazz band. Chosun Ilbo acclaimed the performance as "a dance performance which feels like you're watching a musical." There will be 15 dancers in total onstage for "Swing."
Tickets cost 20,000 won to 50,000 won. For more information, visit ticket.interpark.com or call (02) 1544-1555.
Traditional
Saturday Performances
National Gugak Center
Throughout 2019
Every Saturday at 3pm, the National Gugak Center holds a performance showcasing Korean traditional music and dance. This series will take place all throughout 2018. Each week the series will exhibit the works of various gugak artists. Various performances throughout the month of July will include the piri, pansori, and sanjo. There will also be a traditional fan dance at the end of the month.
Tickets cost 10,000 to 20,000 won. For more information, visit www.gugak.go.kr or call (02)-580-3300
Gugak Concert DaDam
National Gugak Center
July 31
The National Gugak Center is continuing its DaDam concert throughout the year in which members of the public can come in to discuss various aspects of traditional Korean music and culture with experts as well as enjoy performances by professional gugak musicians. On July 31, Lee Jung-mo will be giving a talk on how to approach the sciences. He is currently the director of the Seoul Science Center and appears on science programs on EBS and MBC Radio. The Folk Music Group at the National Gugak Center will also be performing.
Tickets cost 10,000 won to 20,000 won. For more information, visit www.gugak.go.kr or call (02)-580-3300.
Clubs
Club Octagon
Nonhyeon
Located near the New Hilltop Hotel in Nonhyeon, Club Octagon is notable for its stylish interiors and elite clientele. The club features a performance stage, lounge bar and dining area and is the perfect place to unwind on a night out after work or on the weekend. It is near exit 4 of Hakdong Station on Line 7. For more information, call (02) 516-8847.
Club Globe Lounge
Itaewon
Club Globe Lounge is famous among women looking for a place to throw birthday parties or enjoy a light dinner. From 7 p.m. to 10 p.m., it serves as a bar, changing into a club after 10 p.m. Every Thursday, Club Globe Lounge has a Happy Hour buffet for guests. Club Globe Lounge is located near the Hamilton Hotel by exit 2 of Itaewon Station on Line 6. For more information, call (02) 792-1127.
Club Evans
Hongik University
Club Evans is a live music club that has served as a platform for emerging jazz artists for a decade. It also operates jazz recording studios, where it produces albums for many local jazz artists, and a jazz academy. Club Evans holds jazz concerts and music sessions every Monday and Tuesday. Opening at 7:30 p.m., Club Evans is located near exit 1 of Sangsu Station on Line 6. For more information, visit clubevans.com or call (02) 337-8361.
Once in a Blue Moon
Apgujeong
Once in a Blue Moon, one of the best-known jazz clubs in the city, features live jazz sets from two different bands every night, usually starting at 7:30 p.m. It is located between the Hakdong Intersection and Galleria Department Store in Apgujeong. For more information, visit onceinabluemoon.co.kr or call (02) 549-5490.
Club Vibe
Cheongdam
Opened on August 24, 2018, Cheongdam brings to partygoers its latest club. Its new facilities have a modern vibe. The club plays both EDM and hip hop music and has already had a guest performance by trending hip hop artist Sik-K at its opening party. For more information, call 010-8671-6323.
