Around Town 1

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.

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

Thom Yorke Live in Seoul
Olympic Park
July 28

Thom Yorke is the lead singer of the band Radiohead, which formed in 1985 with five members. The band has been immensely popular for its rock music. In fact, the group was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame earlier this year for its legacy. Yorke was named by Rolling Stone as one of the top 100 singers of all time and has released several of his own solo albums. Yorke has also made a name for himself as an advocate for human rights and the environment, and uses his music as a platform to create social change. He will be coming to Seoul to perform for Korean audiences this summer.
Tickets cost 99,000 won to 132,000 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.

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
July 16 to 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.

The musical "Marie Antoinette" will play from Aug. 24 to Nov. 17./ Courtesy of EMK Musical

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.

The Korean National Contemporary Dance Company will perform "Ssang Ssang" from July 19 to 21./Courtesy of KNCDC ⓒ Aiden Hwang

Dance

Korean National Contemporary Dance Company: Ssang Ssang
Seoul Arts Center
July 19 to 21

The Korea National Contemporary Dance Company (KNCDC) seeks to bring its audiences contemporary genres while retaining traditional dance roots. For this performance, they have collaborated with Marcos Morau, a choreographer from Spain, to create a new performance, Ssang Ssang. Morau is currently the director of his own dance company, La Veronal, and has been widely acclaimed for his beautiful works. This performance, featuring 12 performers, is based off the themes of self-reflection and exploring deep into ourselves, even into the unconscious.
Tickets cost 20,000 won to 50,000 won. For more information, visit ticket.interpark.com or call (02) 1544-1555.

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.