Latest news with #SeoulPerformingArtsCompany
Korea Herald
06-03-2025
- Business
- Korea Herald
Culture Ministry unveils long-term plan aimed to meet societal changes
Cultural initiatives to address regional imbalance, shrinking population, economic challenges The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism on Thursday unveiled a long-term plan called "Culture Korea 2035" that lays out guidelines for policies going forward. The comprehensive plan with 30 key initiatives is aimed at responding to the rapidly changing environment, a shrinking and aging population and growing non-Korean demographics, the ministry said. Additionally, the ministry seeks ways to leverage Korean content to drive the country's economy while also vowing to utilize cutting-edge technologies such as artificial intelligence and extended reality. 'It's a complex time and we debated whether it is appropriate. However, members of the ministry arrived at a consensus for a long-term vision and joined forces in creating this vision. I hope there won't be big changes (in the long-term vision),' Culture Minister Yu In-chon told reporters at a press conference Thursday. "In response to these evolving demands and circumstances, we must reflect on what actions to take now to shape a future where the values of 'creativity and innovation,' 'diversity and inclusivity' and 'openness and integration' in culture extend beyond individuals to society, the economy, regions and the world," Yu said. A key priority is achieving regional balance by strengthening cultural activities in underserved areas, according to the ministry. One proposed measure is relocating state arts companies outside of Seoul. The first step in this initiative will be the relocation of the Seoul Performing Arts Company to Gwangju next year, where it will become the resident art troupe of the National Asian Culture Center. This was a step back from an earlier position Wednesday when Yu told a session of the National Assembly Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee that SPAC would be moved to Gwangju within this year. Additionally, four national youth arts organizations in four areas, including Korean dance, will be established outside of Seoul and operate in collaboration with local cultural institutions, in an effort to promote decentralizaiton of cultural activities. The relocation of public cultural institutions will be implemented step by step, the ministry said, taking into consideration factors such as facility construction, alignment with Korea's designated cultural cities, regional specialization strategies and benefits expected from relocation. Through these initiatives, the ministry hopes to create a model where the central and regional governments can work together, involving regional governments in cultural acitivities and policies. Despite stalled inter-Korean relations, the ministry plans to review and create an archive of the past 35 years of cultural cooperation between the two Koreas. In the content sector, a series of large-scale projects will be launched to shape the next 30 years, including the development of a K-Content Culture Complex, a National Video Museum, a Hall of Fame for Popular Culture and Arts and a Game Complex. The ministry noted there is a need to expand leisure facilities nationwide and promote community sports, while considering the preferences and needs of policy beneficiaries, including children and the elderly. The ministry also recognized South Korea's transition into a multicultural society, with 6.8 percent of the total population having immigrant backgrounds, and emphasized the need to incorporate cultural differences and diversity into policymaking. Contrary to expectations, the plan did not include the administrative integration of five national arts groups, a proposal that sparked controversy after it was leaked last month. Yu reaffirmed that the plan would be scrapped if opposition remains strong, but emphasized that the ministry would continue discussions with the organizations going forward.
Korea Herald
01-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Korea Herald
Warm, moving and fresh musicals to enjoy
There's a good chance they'll bring you to tears Don't wait for spring to bring warmth. In the lingering chill, let these three musicals warm your heart instead. These productions may be recent, but they have made their mark. "A Thousand Blues" and "The Longest Nights" are making a swift return after their successful debuts last year. Meanwhile, "Chunja in Wonderland" made its debut this month but decided to extend its run for two more months. 'A Thousand Blues' In this musical by Seoul Performing Arts Company, audiences will encounter a diverse range of robots — real robots, puppets and human-performed robotic characters — offering a unique exploration of how the performing arts will adapt to advancing technology. However, this musical is more than a science fiction story. It delves into the emotional and philosophical dimensions of human-robot relationships, human connections, and ways that humans exploit animals and everything around them. Based on Cheon Seon-ran's bestselling sci-fi novel, "A Thousand Blues" is set in 2035. It revolves around an android named Collie, designed to be a jockey, and the racehorse Today. After a severe accident, Collie is rescued by a young girl, Yeon-jae, who believes in second chances. "A Thousand Blues" runs at the Haeoreum Grand Theater at the National Theater of Korea until March 7. Ticket prices range from 30,000 won to 110,000 won ($21-$76). English subtitles are displayed on the sides of the stage, while Japanese and Chinese subtitles are available for viewers who book seats with subtitle displays. Barrier-free subtitles are available for individuals with hearing impairments. 'The Longest Nights' The book "The Longest Nights" won the 21st Munhakdongne Children's Literature Award. But who says it's only for children? Both the musical produced by Library Company and the novel carry profound emotions, and it's adults who often find themselves in tears. The musical version is a minimalistic production that relies on symbolism and features only five actors. It tells the poignant story of an unlikely friendship between Noden, the last white boulder rhinoceros, and a young penguin hatched from an abandoned egg. They set off on a journey across the desert to reach the sea, facing numerous challenges through the longest nights. "The Longest Nights" runs March 12-May 25 at Interpark Seokyeong Square SKON2 in Daehangno, Seoul. Ticket prices range from 55,000 won to 65,000 won. 'Chunja in Wonderland' While "A Thousand Blues" and "The Longest Nights" showcase what happens when a great imaginative story meets theatrical ingenuity, "Chunja in Wonderland" resonates on a starker and more relatable level, reflecting the growing reality of dementia in Korean society. The number of people aged 65 and older diagnosed with dementia has already surpassed 1 million and is expected to reach 3 million by 2050, according to the National Institute of Dementia. The production unfolds along two intertwining narratives: the chaotic real-world journey of a family desperately searching for their missing Chunja, an elderly woman with dementia, and the fantastical world seen through her eyes. Chunja follows a "soul fish," which escaped from her loosening grasp on reality. Following this mysterious creature, Chunja embarks on an extraordinary adventure, drifting between imagination and reality, memories and regrets. Selected as part of the ARKO Selection by Arts Council Korea, "Chunja in Wonderland" runs through June 1 at the Zoom Art Center in Seoul. All tickets are priced at 55,000 won.
Korea Herald
23-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Korea Herald
K-pop stars Hyojung, Jinho talk about AI, robots
Taking the lead roles in musical "A Thousand Blues," K-pop singers discuss how the musical has changed them for better The musical adaptation of 'A Thousand Blues,' which premiered in May last year, is returning this month and bringing two K-pop stars back to musical theater -- Jinho of boy group Pentagon and Hyojung of girl group Oh My Girl. Seoul Performing Arts Company's production of "A Thousand Blues," a musical based on Cheon Seon-ran's acclaimed sci-fi novel of the same name, has changed both Jinho and Hyojung, the actors said in a recent joint media interview. Playing the role of Collie, a humanoid jockey, Jinho shared that his personality has shifted from a "Thinking" type (in MBTI terms) to a "Feeling" type. 'I am the biggest beneficiary of this work. I'm really bad at expressing myself. My usual personality is a bit stiff, and that's how others see me. But Collie starts stiff and gradually opens up. He expresses himself and unintentionally connects with people, which makes him open his heart a little more. I also became more comfortable expressing myself and talking to people. Now, I make small talk, share silly jokes, and fun stories, and I hear a lot that I've become brighter,' the singer, songwriter, composer and vocal coach, said. Performing a robot being accidentally equipped with a chip containing a thousand words and becoming interactive with humans has also changed his thoughts about robots. 'When I first received the script, I really wondered if I should play him completely like a robot. However, overserving how fast artificial intelligence like ChatGPT became commercialized in the past year and considering this work depicts 10 years later, I was thinking about how far AI would evolve and where it would go by then,' Jinho said. As a result, Jinho performs Collie with a burst of emotions by the musical's end. Set in 2035, when humanoid robots are commercialized, "A Thousand Blues" revolves around a humanoid named Collie, created as a jockey, and the racehorse Today. Two sisters, Yeon-jae and Eun-hye, their mother Bo-gyeong join the duo on their journey of recovery from devastating situations while exploring their connections. In her role as Yeon-jae, Hyojung, who debuted in musical theater with this production last year, stated that "A Thousand Blues" enabled her to imagine a future of coexistence with advanced technology. 'While working on 'A Thousand Blues,' I felt a lot that this might happen in the near future. I definitely felt that this is how the era is changing. For example, when Yeon-jae gets fired from a convenience store, service robot Betty comes out to do part-time work, just like how robots are delivering things at restaurants these days." The musical also allowed her to confront her own pain of loss. 'Like Yeon-jae's family, my dad passed away when I was young. It's been about eight years since I last talked about my dad, so I thought maybe Yeon-jae's deficiency might be similar to the deficiency I have. I didn't really know how to bring it up before, but now I'm thinking maybe it's okay to talk about it. I think about my mom a lot,' Hyojung said. Reflecting on the impact of advancing technology on their careers as K-pop artists and musical theater performers, Jinho expressed uncertainty about AI's potential to replace live emotional performances. "It might sound presumptuous, but I question whether AI can truly convey the raw emotion I feel while singing," he said. "Seeing a live show is a unique experience that I believe is hard to replicate, though I could be proven wrong." Hyojung added, "While the future is uncertain, I see the possibility of AI replacing some aspects of girl and boy groups. This technology fulfills a need, and I think it's amazing that AI could recreate me, bringing joy and memories to fans even if I were no longer here. I have faith in science and technology."
