K-wave AI News

Hello and welcome to your AI guide to the latest cultural updates from Korea. Here's our top story.

Just one month after joining Russia's Mariinsky Ballet, South Korean ballerino Jeon Min-chul has already been cast in a lead role.

The theater in St. Petersburg announced on Thursday that Jeon will perform as the male lead, Solor, in La Bayadère at the Mariinsky Theatre on July 17th.

La Bayadère, meaning "The Temple Dancer of India" in French, tells the story of a tragic love triangle between the warrior Solor, a temple dancer, and a royal princess. Jeon previously performed the role of Solor with Korea's Universal Ballet in September.

He is the second South Korean dancer to join Mariinsky Ballet company, following ballerino Kim Ki-min.

A special retrospective is being presented by the Korean Film Archive to mark the 100th birthday of the legendary Korean filmmaker Yu Hyun-mok, a pioneer of Korean realist cinema.

Under the title "Yu Hyun-mok Centennial: Time, Genre, Practice", the program will screen a total of 18 films, including his most acclaimed works as well as lesser-known melodramas, comedies, children's films, and experimental pieces.

The retrospective will also shed light on his contributions as a producer and educator.

In particular, the 4K restored version of the historical film "Im Kkeok-jeong", based on the novel of the same name, will be screened for the first time ever in Korea since its discovery in the U.S. in 2022.

Design Council Busan has launched its seventh annual Busan Design Festival at BEXCO on Thursday.

This year, under the theme of "Heung", a Korean term for joy or excitement, the dynamic energy and evolving identity of life in Busan will be expressed through the language of design.

Over 150 designers and brands will take part, divided into three categories: communication design, product design, and ESG, or environmental, social and governance, design.

Showcasing trends and talents across Korea's design scene, the festival runs through June 29th.

That's all from me. Stay tuned to the Kulture Wave.