2014.8.13 TICKET
The musical “Dracula” has been attracting hundreds of fans with K-pop star Kim Jun-su’s highly appraised lead role at the Seoul Arts Center. See THEATER, below. Provided by the organizer
INFINITE CONCERT
Blue Square Samsung Card Hall
To Saturday: Seven guys hotter than the sun are here to liven up your summer. Infinite, a boy band that debuted in 2010, returns to Korea after successfully completing their “One Great Step Returns” tour of 15 countries and 21 cities. With their recently released second regular album “Season 2,” fans can expect to hear the group’s most recent songs such as “Last Romeo.”
There will be seven performances in all.
Tickets are 99,000 won ($95).
Concerts start at 8 p.m. on Aug. 7, 8 and 14; 6 p.m. Aug. 9 to 10 and 15; and 5 p.m. Aug. 16.
Hangangjin Station, line No. 6, exit 2.
VIBE & IU: SOMEDAY IN AUGUST
Yonsei University Outdoor Theater
Aug. 23 and 24: Can summer nights get any sweeter? “Someday,” a concert series that has staged collaborations of Korea’s best live performers since March, continues to wow audiences, this time with singer-songwriter IU and VIBE.
Tickets range from 77,000 won to 110,000 won.
Concerts start at 8 p.m. on Aug. 23 and 7:30 p.m. on Aug. 24.
Sinchon Station, line No. 2 , exit 3 or 4.
WOUTER HAMEL
Olympic Park 88 Lake Waterside Stage
Sept. 13: Mark your calendar for the special day when jazz-pop artist Wouter Hamel from the Netherlands visits Korea. This Dutch native nicknamed “Mr. Silky Voice” grabbed the public’s attention with his hit song “Breezy” from his debut album “Hamel” in 2007. Hamel is loved for his smooth voice and modern music style and has performed several times in Korea. Having released his recent fourth regular album “Pompadour” here before any other country, his love for Korean fans can be felt once again through this concert.
All tickets are 88,000 won for the Seoul performance and 66,000 for the Busan performance.
The concert starts at 8 p.m. on Sept. 12 and 7 p.m. on Sept. 13.
Olympic Park Station, line No. 5, exit 3.
SHOW ME THE MONEY 3
Blue Square Samsung Card Hall
Sept. 20: Seven of Korea’s hottest rappers - Dok2, Tablo, San E, Swings, The Quiett, Masta Wu and Y.D.G. - who are all producers and judges of the survival reality TV show “Show Me the Money Season 3,” will perform together in central Seoul. The TV program where rising rappers are discovered and recruited has popularized the concert, which already had an established fandom. As a bonus, contestants from the TV show will make an appearance, making it hard to miss out on this night.
Tickets range from 66,000 won to 88,000 won.
The concert starts at 7 p.m.
Hangangjin Station, line No. 6, exit 2.
CREDIA PARK CONCERT
Olympic Park 88 Garden
Sept. 20 and 21: Get ready to greet fall with a cool breeze and classical music. There are many things to look forward to in this concert. First, classical violinists Richard Yongjae O’Neill and Shin Zia will perform together, and secondly, Japanese New Age pianist Yuhki Kuramoto will meet Korean pianist Yiruma onstage.
The magic continues the following night, but this time with vocalists. Experience a whole new world on the green grass as four singers perform classic Disney songs with the Ditto Orchestra. This will be a more relaxed and open environment for kids to enjoy music and nature, making it a good event for the whole family. Tickets range from 30,000 won to 200,000 won. Concerts start at 6 p.m. on Aug. 20 and 5 p.m. on Aug. 21.
Olympic Park Station, line No. 5, exit 3.
BAEK JI-YOUNG SHOW
Olympic Park
Sept. 20: The opportunity to see Korea’s ballad queen Baek Ji-young perform live is approaching. With a wide vocal range and clear emotional deliverance in her songs, Baek Ji-young has been releasing hits for 15 years.
During the 120-minute performance, Baek Ji-young will share her well-known melancholic ballads like “Don’t Forget,” “Like Being Shot by a Bullet” and “I Won’t Love.” She will then perform upbeat hits like “My Ear’s Candy” and “Dash.” Don’t miss out on her powerful live performance.
The show starts at 4 p.m. and 8 p.m.
Tickets range from 99,000 won to 132,000 won.
Olympic Park Station, line No. 5, exit 3.
THEATER
DRACULA, THE MUSICAL
Seoul Arts Center
To Sept. 5: Frank Wildhorn’s adaptation of the Gothic novel is being staged in Korea for the first time starring the nation’s most beloved performers. Kim Jun-su, who played Death in “Elisabeth” (2013), and Ryu Jung-han of “Frankenstein” (2014) will play the leads.
Performances start at 8 p.m. weekdays, with a 3 p.m. matinee Wednesday. On weekends, shows start at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. There are no shows on Monday.
Tickets range from 50,000 won to 140,000 won.
Nambu Bus Terminal Station, line No. 3, exit 5.
TOSCA
Sejong Center for the Performing Arts
Aug. 22 and 23: Italian composer Giacomo Puccini’s work is brought to life in Seoul with the staging of “Tosca.”
Tosca is a singer who becomes overly jealous toward her lover Cavaradossi, only to find out too late that she has been manipulated by the evil Scarpia. With love, violence and religion entwined, Tosca is possibly Puccini’s most startling and powerful work. Produced by Sol’Opera, a Korean company that has successfully staged major Italian operas such as “La Boheme” and “Madame Butterfly,” the opera is generating the anticipation it deserves. The show is for those 19 years of age and older.
The opera begins at 8 p.m. on Friday on 5 p.m. on Saturday.
Tickets range from 30,000 won to 280,000 won.
Gwanghwamun Station, line No. 5, exit 1 or 8.
THE DEVIL
Doosan Art Center Yonkang Hall
Aug. 22 to Nov. 2: If you thought musicals were all bright and cheery, think again.
This upcoming musical directed by Gina Lee delves into a Dorian Gray-esque theme of trading the soul to the devil. Set in 20th-century New York, Wall Street broker John Faust makes a deal with Devil X for financial success. But the richer Faust gets, the greedier he becomes, until his wife, Gretchen, senses that something is wrong. A rock musical based on Goethe’s “Faust,” great musical actors like Han Ji-sang who previously starred in “A Tale of Two Cities” as Sydney Carton will fill the stage with tension. Tickets range from 50,000 won to 80,000 won.
Shows start at 8 p.m. weekdays, 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. Saturday, and 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. on Sunday and public holidays. There are no shows on Monday.
Jongno 5(o)-ga Station, line No. 1, exit 1.
MUSICAL ZORRO
Chungmu Art Hall
Aug. 27 to Oct. 26: Before Superman and Batman came about to protect the weak from evil and save mankind, there was Zorro, who was a century ahead of them as a hero with two identities. In the story, Diego, a runaway mine laborer, is saved by the gypsy Inez. Meanwhile, Ramon becomes the leader of a Californian town and starts to drive the townspeople into poverty under his tyranny. In this moment of hardship, Inez suggests that Diego should become the long lost hero Zorro. Based on the hit songs by the flamenco-infused band the Gypsy Kings, the musical is a fun watch. K-pop idols such as Key from SHINee and Yang Yo-seob from Beast will play Zorro.
The show starts at 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. on weekdays, 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays.
Tickets range from 50,000 won to 130,000 won.
Sindang Station, lines No. 2 and 6, exits 1 or 9.
PRISCILLA
LG Arts Center
To Aug. 31: Two drag queens and a transgender woman retell stories about the people they’ve met in their lives and the struggles they have faced in a society that does not accept them for being different. With more than 200 costume changes under flashing LED lights, “Priscilla” the musical is a spectacle. The songs will keep the audience dancing in their seats with 28 hits such as “I Will Survive” and “It’s Raining Men.” Keep an eye out for Jo Kwon from male group 2AM in the role of Felicia, a self-centered yet lovable drag queen.
Tickets range from 50,000 won to 130,000 won.
The musical starts at 8 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, 3 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, and 2 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Sunday. There are no shows on Monday.
Yeoksam Station, line No. 2, exit 7.
UNIVERSAL BALLET COMPANY:
CHUNHYANG PERFORMANCE
Sejong Center for Performing Arts
Sept. 27 to 28: The Universal Ballet Company is making this year’s performances even more special to celebrate its 30th anniversary. In commemoration of this, the company is performing “Ballet Chunhyang” once again. The first “Chunhyang” performance was held in 2007 in collaboration with the Goyang Cultural Foundation. The second, held in 2009, was praised for both commercial and artistic success. The show is bound to captivate the audience with elegant dancing by gisaeng, or geisha, along with powerful male performances. With enhanced directing, music, choreography and costumes, the ballet company will invite the audience to experience one of Korea’s traditional love tales.
The show starts at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Saturday and 3 p.m. on Sunday.
Tickets range from 10,000 won to 80,000 won.
Gwanghwamun Station, line No. 5, exit 1 or 8.
FESTIVAL
AIA REAL LIFE: NOW FESTIVAL 2014
Jamsil Sports Complex
Friday and Saturday: Pop star Lady Gaga will headline “AIA Real Life,” the two-day festival hosted by one of the nation’s biggest entertainment companies, YG Entertainment. Big names from the agency such as Psy, Big Bang and 2NE1 will also perform. The second day, when Lady Gaga is slated to perform, will have rock band Galaxy Express and quirky girl group Crayon Pop introducing hit tracks. The concert starts at noon each day.
Tickets are 126,000 won for a one-day ticket and 185,000 won for a two-day ticket.
Sports Complex Station, line No. 2, exit 6 or 7.
GRAND MINT FESTIVAL
Olympic Park
Oct. 18 to 19: The Grand Mint Festival (GMF) marks its eighth anniversary this year. Now with a bigger lineup and programs, the festival is sure to be a hot attraction during the cool fall days. The first lineup includes the melancholic yet sweet band 10cm, iconic a cappella group Sweet Sorrow, adorable duo J Rabbit and many more. Beloved singers like Lee Juck and John Park will perform, too. More bands and musicians will be announced for the second lineup on Aug. 22.
Aside from music, the festival aims to convey the importance of nature preservation by holding flea markets.
A one-day pass is 88,000 won (Choose between Oct. 18 or 19). A two-day pass costs 140,000 won, but 10,000 won is added to each ticket on the day of the festival.
Olympic Park Station, line No. 5, exit 3.
*Event information is collected from the Korea Tourism Organization and tickets for most events are available at ticket.interpark.com/global or by calling 1544-1555.
with the Korea JoongAng Daily
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