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Korea Herald
26-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Korea Herald
'I Invite you to my funeral': 83-year-old actor stages her final farewell
On Sunday, on the windswept shores of Sunpo Beach in Gangneung, Gangwon Province, 83-year-old Park Jeong-ja broke into a shoulder-shimmying dance in a pair of red shoes, her green floral dress fluttering in the sea breeze. This was no ordinary festival, but a scene in her upcoming film, "Between Cheongmyeong and Gogu" (working title), directed by actor-director Yoo Jun-sang. The scene being filmed was a funeral -- specifically, that of the character 'She,' played by Park. But in a rare and deeply personal twist, the mourners weren't just anybody. Park had invited 150 friends and colleagues to be the bereaved. It was like a rehearsal, a trial run, for her funeral. Yoo's fifth directorial work follows the final days of an aging actress grappling with memory loss. He wrote the screenplay, based on the story of Park's life and career. Rather than a somber, solemn mood, the set reflected a request Park had sent to her guests a month earlier. The message, titled 'Obituary: Park Jeong-ja's Last Curtain Call,' outlined the date and location of her 'funeral' and included a poetic invitation: "I invite you to my funeral. Who decided funerals must be solemn? It will be different today." Instead of tears, bring laughter. Flowers are not needed, bring memories instead. Bring old stories and light jokes, and the moments we laughed together." Those who answered the call included some of Korea's foremost cultural figures: former Busan International Film Festival director Kim Dong-ho; actors Kang Bu-ja, Nam Myung-ryul, Yang Hee-kyung, Park Ji-il, Gil Hae-yeon and Jung Kyung-soon; musical actor Kim Ho-young; singer Jang Sa-ik; Seoul Foundation for Arts and Culture President Song Hyeong-jong; Sejong Center CEO Ahn Ho-sang and others. The attendees carried small banners that read the titles of Park's many plays. Her message concluded with a final note that hinted at her philosophy on life, death and performance. "This is not a farewell, but a pause. Not an end, but an intermission. My stage is not yet over, even if I am no longer seen."
Korea Herald
08-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Korea Herald
Blockbusters with a baton: film concerts bring screen legends to the stage
'Harry Potter,' 'Attack on Titan' and Disney soundtracks to be performed in Seoul The "Harry Potter" Film Concert series continues its spellbinding journey, returning to the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts in Seoul with two back-to-back installments. From May 16 to 18, "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince in Concert" takes center stage, followed by "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1 in Concert" from Oct. 24 to 26. These performances invite audiences to an elevated experience of the beloved film series, with a live orchestra performing the movie's full original score. Conductor Young Shih-heung, who has conducted the series in Korea since its debut in 2019, returns with the Seongnam Philharmonic Orchestra. The sixth installment's music by Nicholas Hooper, nominated for a Grammy, and the seventh's score by Academy Award-winner Alexandre Desplat, known for "The Grand Budapest Hotel" and "The Shape of Water," will be performed in their entirety. Tickets are available through the Sejong Center's website and major ticketing platforms. Prices range from 30,000 won to 150,000 won ($22-108). A limited number of premium 'suite' seats, offering enhanced viewing experiences, are available exclusively via the Sejong Center. 'Disney in Concert': A family affair On Saturday and Sunday, "Disney in Concert: Beyond the Magic" will take place at the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts in Seoul. Designed for family audiences, the concert blends heartwarming visuals from Disney and Pixar's most iconic films with live vocal performances by some of Korea's top musical theater artists and the Ditto Orchestra led by conductor Lee Byung-uk. The program features timeless classics such as "The Little Mermaid," "The Lion King," "Aladdin" and "Beauty and the Beast," as well as fan-favorite hits from "Coco," "Moana," "Frozen" and more. Notably, songs from "Moana 2," a 2024 release that drew over 3.6 million viewers in Korea, will be performed live for the first time. The cast includes musical actress Lee Areum-sol, praised for her pitch-perfect dubbing of the character Matangi in "Moana 2," alongside Song Eun-hye of "Phantom of the Opera," rising star Kim Kyung-rok and charismatic performer Lee Jong-suk. Tickets for "Disney in Concert" at Sejong Center range from 44,000 won to 110,000 won, and are available through the Sejong Arts Center website and affiliated ticketing sites. The same concert will also take place at the Geoje Arts Center in Geoje, South Gyeongsang Province, on May 15. Ticket prices are between 60,000 won and 80,000 won. 'Attack on Titan': Anime epic goes symphonic For fans of darker, high-intensity narratives, "Attack on Titan: Beyond the Walls World Tour" heads to Korea May 31 and June 1 for four concerts. Featuring original music from the anime, composed by Hiroyuki Sawano and Kohta Yamamoto, the performance fuses rock energy with full symphonic force. Signature tracks such as "at'aek ON taitn," "counter・attack-mankind," and "Footsteps of Doom" will be performed live, accompanied by synchronized scenes from the anime series. The Korean leg of the world tour, which kicked off April in Los Angeles and visits 25 cities worldwide through November, will take place at Korea University's Hwajeong Gymnasium in Seoul. Tickets for "Attack on Titan: Beyond the Walls" are available through Interpark and range from 66,000 won to 132,000 won. gypark@
