News

2025 Korea Season in Spain: Captivating Spain in one dance, "Two Cultures, One Heart"

2025/07/09 11:36

Over in Europe. An annual event aimed at promoting Korean culture is taking place in Spain, and a signature dance performance has become the bridge, bringing the two nations together as one. Our Choi Soo-hyung was there. Spain is a country renowned for its dance and passion. And in its capital, Madrid, stands a cultural landmark, the Matadero Art Theater. There, a special performance unfolded, blending the past and present of Korean dance. A dancer walked through a dream. Traditional Korean sounds, pansori, janggu and jing, filled the space, setting the stage for a soulful dance. The swishing of hanji, Korean traditional paper, mimicked the sounds of waves, telling people what Korean dance is. Modern styles like b-boying, hip-hop and street dance also caught the eye. Through intense movements, dancers told stories of conflict in modern society, showing how far Korean contemporary dance has come. The final stage presented a dynamic blend of tradition and modern emotion, filled with color and energy. And in the encore, the entire audience danced together to the Korean folk song, "Ganggangsullae," a circle dance, as one a true moment of cultural harmony. "Amazing. I enjoyed every second of it, the dancers, the body language, and the expression. At first, I thought I would not understand because we've come from different cultures, we may have different artistic languages, but it was so enjoyable. The expression and the story were super clear." "The performance was amazing. It was a mix between what you can know about contemporary dance and things you didn't know about Korea, but you can interpret or think about." Since 2022, South Korea's Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has selected one country each year with strong potential for spreading Korean culture, offering a year-long series of cultural programs on site. This year, Spain was chosen. On Friday, July 4, the performance titled "A Dance Between Cultures," showcased the spirit of the 2025 Korea Season. Featuring acclaimed Korean teams recognized both at home and at international festivals like the Edinburgh Fringe, the event brought Korea and Spain together through dance. "Koreans and Spaniards both love music and dance. Through sharing that energy, it's a great way to connect emotions, and open hearts. We wanted to show performances that people would want to see again, even years later, with a more open mind and a positive mindset." Spain's cultural scene also said why dance can play such an important role in helping Spain understand Korea. "It's very funny, we are so far but we have the same system to protect our identity through the culture, through the tradition, through the idea to move the tradition to another way to be, to express. So the past and the future always together, always dancing together." "Under the theme 'Two Cultures, One Heart,' the performance blended Korean traditional and contemporary dance with Spanish artistry, marking a powerful highlight of this year's Korea Season. Choi Soo-hyung, Arirang News, Madrid.

[NEWs GEN] K-Classic Phenomenon: How has it captivated audiences both home and abroad?

2025/07/09 09:33

[NEWs GEN] K-Classic Phenomenon: How has it captivated audiences both home and abroad?

2025 Korea Season in Spain: Captivating Spain in one dance, "Two Cultures, One Heart"

2025/07/08 22:50

Over in Europe This year's Korea Season is unfolding in Spain, and in the last week, a signature dance performance has become the bridge, bringing the two nations together as one. Our Choi Soo-hyung shares some exciting moments with us. Spain is a country renowned for its dance and passion. And in its capital, Madrid, stands a cultural landmark, the Matadero Art Theater. There, a special performance unfolded, blending the past and present of Korean dance. A dancer walked through a dream. Traditional Korean sounds, pansori, janggu and jing, filled the space, setting the stage for a soulful dance. The swishing of hanji, Korean traditional paper, mimicked the sounds of waves, telling people what Korean dance is. Modern styles like b-boying, hip-hop and street dance also caught the eye. Through intense movements, dancers told stories of conflict in modern society, showing how far Korean contemporary dance has come. The final stage presented a dynamic blend of tradition and modern emotion, filled with color and energy. And in the encore, the entire audience danced together to the Korean folk song, "Ganggangsullae," a circle dance, as one a true moment of cultural harmony. "Amazing. I enjoyed every second of it, the dancers, the body language, and the expression. At first, I thought I would not understand because we've come from different cultures, we may have different artistic languages, but it was so enjoyable. The expression and the story were super clear." "The performance was amazing. It was a mix between what you can know about contemporary dance and things you didn't know about Korea, but you can interpret or think about." Since 2022, South Korea's Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has selected one country each year with strong potential for spreading Korean culture, offering a year-long series of cultural programs on site. This year, Spain was chosen. On Friday, July 4, the performance titled "A Dance Between Cultures," showcased the spirit of the 2025 Korea Season. Featuring acclaimed Korean teams recognized both at home and at international festivals like the Edinburgh Fringe, the event brought Korea and Spain together through dance. "Koreans and Spaniards both love music and dance. Through sharing that energy, it's a great way to connect emotions, and open hearts. We wanted to show performances that people would want to see again, even years later, with a more open mind and a positive mindset." Spain's cultural scene also said why dance can play such an important role in helping Spain understand Korea. "It's very funny, we are so far but we have the same system to protect our identity through the culture, through the tradition, through the idea to move the tradition to another way to be, to express. So the past and the future always together, always dancing together." "Under the theme 'Two Cultures, One Heart,' the performance blended Korean traditional and contemporary dance with Spanish artistry, marking a powerful highlight of this year's Korea Season. Choi Soo-hyung, Arirang News, Madrid.

2025 Korea Season in Spain: Captivating Spain in one dance, "Two Cultures, One Heart"

2025/07/08 19:52

Spain is the stage of South Korea's cultural program this year and a recent dynamic performance in Madrid has become the talk of the town for touching upon the bilateral interest in dance as a form of universal expression. Our Choi Soo-hyung was there. Spain is a country renowned for its dance and passion. And in its capital, Madrid, stands a cultural landmark, the Matadero Art Theater. There, a special performance unfolded, blending the past and present of Korean dance. A dancer walked through a dream. Traditional Korean sounds, pansori, janggu and jing, filled the space, setting the stage for a soulful dance. The swishing of hanji, Korean traditional paper, mimicked the sounds of waves, telling people what Korean dance is. Modern styles like b-boying, hip-hop and street dance also caught the eye. Through intense movements, dancers told stories of conflict in modern society, showing how far Korean contemporary dance has come. The final stage presented a dynamic blend of tradition and modern emotion, filled with color and energy. And in the encore, the entire audience danced together to the Korean folk song, "Ganggangsullae," a circle dance, as one a true moment of cultural harmony. "Amazing. I enjoyed every second of it, the dancers, the body language, and the expression. At first, I thought I would not understand because we've come from different cultures, we may have different artistic languages, but it was so enjoyable. The expression and the story were super clear." "The performance was amazing. It was a mix between what you can know about contemporary dance and things you didn't know about Korea, but you can interpret or think about." Since 2022, South Korea's Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has selected one country each year with strong potential for spreading Korean culture, offering a year-long series of cultural programs on site. This year, Spain was chosen. On Friday, July 4, a performance titled "A Dance Between Cultures," showcased the spirit of the 2025 Korea Season. Featuring acclaimed Korean teams recognized both at home and at international festivals like the Edinburgh Fringe, the event brought Korea and Spain together through dance. "Koreans and Spaniards both love music and dance. Through sharing that energy, it's a great way to connect emotions, and open hearts. We wanted to show performances that people would want to see again, even years later, with a more open mind and a positive mindset." Spain's cultural scene also said why dance can play such an important role in helping Spain understand Korea. "It's very funny, we are so far but we have the same system to protect our identity through the culture, through the tradition, through the idea to move the tradition to another way to be, to express. So the past and the future always together, always dancing together." "Under the theme 'Two Cultures, One Heart,' the performance blended Korean traditional and contemporary dance with Spanish artistry, marking a powerful highlight of this year's Korea Season. Choi Soo-hyung, Arirang News, Madrid.

[K-Enter] BTS ranks 34th on Apple Music's '10th Anniversary Most Popular Songs' list BLACKPINK’s Rosé also makes the list.

2025/07/08 17:37

Starting off with some news on Apple Music's "10th Anniversary: Most Popular Songs" chart and it won't be a surprise to some to see who made the list. According to Apple Music's "10th Anniversary: Most Popular Songs" chart released on Monday, BTS's "Dynamite" ranked 34th, breaking into the top 100 and making it the highest-ranking K-pop track on the list. "Butter" BTS's other song ranked 252nd, making it the second highest-charting K-pop entry. The list features the 500 most-streamed songs since the platform launched in 2015. Both "Dynamite" and "Butter" saw massive global success upon release, each reaching the top 5 on Apple Music's "Top 100: Global" chart. Also featured were Pinkfong's children's song "Baby Shark" at No. 351 and BLACKPINK's Rosé with "APT.," at No. 459. Topping the overall chart was Ed Sheeran's hit "Shape of You." From human idols to virtual idols let's jump into the digital world now. Virtual idol group PLAVE has taken the top spot for streaming on Melon, South Korea's largest music platform, for the first half of the year amassing over 950 million streams from January 1 to June 18, earning PLAVE the title of the "Most-streamed artist" in the first half of 2025. Their title track "Dash" from the third mini album "Asterum: The Shape of Things to Come – Part.1", released in February, recorded 185 million streams, making it the most-streamed song during that time. Since debuting on March 12, 2023, PLAVE have racked up more than 2.77 billion cumulative streams on Melon. In other news, G-Dragon claimed the top spot for most unique listeners, with around 3.12 million users tuning into his music. His boy group, BIGBANG, were the most-searched artist on Melon during the same period. Do we already see the take over of virtual K-pop artists taking over the genre? Only time will tell. Lastly, let's talk about the Korean box office. "Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning", starring Tom Cruise, has become the highest-grossing film released in Korea this year. According to the film's distributor, Lotte Entertainment, as of Monday morning, the movie has drawn an audience of about 3,379,000. This surpasses the previous record held by the Korean film "The Snitch" or "Yadang" in Korean, which had attracted roughly 3,377,000 viewers as of the same date. "Mission: Impossible 8" drew about 423,000 moviegoers on its opening day, May 17, and surpassed 3 million viewers by its 23rd day in theatres, which was June 8. Thanks as always Walter. Now we move onto to our not virtual K-pop artist, but virtual anchor Ari for more culture related news. Ari, over to you!

K-wave AI News

2025/07/08 17:36

Hello and welcome to your AI guide to the latest cultural updates from Korea. Here's our top story. The Hungarian original musical "Tesla" won the Grand Prize at the Daegu International Musical Festival, the largest musical festival in Korea. Produced by Budapest-based private performing arts company TBG Production, the musical portrays the life of electrical engineering pioneer Nikola Tesla through an epic and visually dynamic performance. It was praised for its outstanding quality which captivated both audiences and judges alike. This year's Daegu musical festival showcased 29 productions in over 100 performances, featuring acclaimed works from diverse countries, including Hungary, France, China, and Japan, alongside Korean original musicals that highlighted the strength of homegrown creativity. It came to a close on Monday evening with the grand DIMF Awards ceremony held at the Daegu Opera House. The first Korea-born twin giant panda sisters, Ruibao and Huibao, have joyfully celebrated their second birthday at Everland, their current home. These beloved pandas are younger siblings of Fubao who captured hearts across Korea before being sent to Sichuan, China, last April. A special birthday party was held attended by zookeepers and invited guests, featuring a giant bamboo cake and a variety of enrichment gifts, including cooled rocks and bamboo toys, to help the pandas stay cool and cozy during the summer heat. Born on July 7, 2023, Ruibao and Huibao arrived weighing just 180g and 140g, respectively, but now each weighs around 70kg, showing an astonishing 440-fold increase in weight. The Jeju National Museum is hosting a special exhibition titled "Dreams of a Butterfly in Jeju, Special Exhibition on Seok Du-myung in Celebration of the 80th Anniversary of Korea's Liberation from Japan." The exhibition showcases over 100 items, including Seok's butterfly collections, key publications on his Jeju studies, and traditional Korean butterfly crafts. Seok, known as "Dr. Butterfly," was a pioneer in Jeju studies and a multidisciplinary scholar who combined natural sciences with the humanities. To enhance engagement among children, the museum will offer educational programs and guided tours every Wednesday and Thursday from July 30 to August 14. The exhibition runs through October 19. That's all from me. Stay tuned to the Kulture Wave.

[Features reporter] First public art museum in Korea specializing in photography opens

2025/07/08 17:35

The SeMA Museum of Photography, is a branch of the Seoul Museum of Art and the first and only public space in Korea specializing in photography. This museum plans to offer diverse activities to become a new center for photographic art in Korea and Asia. Cha Yun-kyung has more. Photographer Jung Hae-chang held the first photo exhibition in Korea in 1929. Lee Hyung-rok showed the devastated land and the lives of people right after the Korean War; while Cho Hyun-doo has been evaluated as a pioneer in the field of abstract photography in Korea. Their work, which highlights the history of Korean artistic photography, can be seen at the SeMA Museum of Photography, the first public space in Korea specializing in photography. "As SeMA Museum of Photography has collected and conducted research on the collections of 26 photographers. So far we have displayed the work of 5 of the main main photographers in the history of Korean photography." Two special exhibitions are being held at the SeMA Museum. One elaborates on the history of Korean photography over a century, and the other displays various work by 6 contemporary photographers showing the construction of the museum. "We want to ensure that all visitors can experience the influence and artistic value of photography by putting on these special exhibitions." Located in Changdong, Dobong-gu District of Seoul, the museum features exhibition halls, darkrooms, a photo library, and education rooms for programs covering all age groups. The museum plans to run special exhibitions until October. Cha Yun-kyung, Arirang News.

[K-Travel] Where to travel in Korea this summer? Part 1: Gyeongbokgung Palace

2025/07/08 17:34

Starting today for a month, we want to introduce foreigners' favorite summer travel destinations in Korea. The first location is a "hotpeul" or hot spot in the heart of Seoul, where traditions and trends coexist. It's Gyeongbokgung Palace, one of the most popular attractions among foreign tourists who visit South Korea's capital Seoul. Today, for our first K-Travel series, we invite two young Seoul guides who know Gyeongbokgung inside out. They are Kylie Stecher and Nabilah Kamal! Welcome Kylie, Nabilah! Both of you are very interested in Korea and Korean culture. There is also a good reason for why you know Gyeongbokgung Palace so well. First, please introduce yourself to our viewers. Kylie, let's start with you. And Nabilah! Kylie, there are five major palaces in the capital Seoul, which are Gyeongbokgung, Changdeokgung, Deoksugung, Changgyeonggung, and Gyeonghuigung. Why is Gyeongbokgung known as the most representative palace and what makes it unique from the others? Nabilah, beyond the experience of touring around the palace, Gyeongbokgung Palace offers a variety of activities. What are they? Wearing a traditional Korean hanbok at the palace is one of the most popular activities among foreign tourists. How would you describe that experience, Kylie? Nabilah and for you? Nabilah, do you have any tips on how to take amazing photos at the palace, what we call "insaengshot" these days? Kylie, what did you find foreign visitors are most attracted by at the palace. or was there anything they were particularly surprised about? Nabilah, could you tell us about the different atmosphere at Gyeongbokgung Palace depending on the time of the day and season? In summer, temperatures in Korea can get quite high. But, the palace also has some go-to spots to cool off? Kylie, for people who are planning to visit Gyeongbokgung Palace, what's the best way to get there? Any tips? Finally, do you have recommendations on what to do or where to go nearby after touring around the palace? Nabilah? And Kylie? Alright, thank you so much for that "tour" to Gyeongbokgung Palace today. Thank you very much Kylie for joining us again on the show. Thank you Nabilah, it was a pleasure to have you.

[NEWs GEN] K-Classic Phenomenon: How has it captivated audiences both home and abroad?

2025/07/08 13:33

[NEWs GEN] K-Classic Phenomenon: How has it captivated audiences both home and abroad?

"KPop Demon Hunters" soundtrack climbs to No. 3 on Billboard chart

2025/07/07 22:38

The soundtrack for Netflix's animated film, "KPop Demon Hunters," has jumped five spots to No. 3 on the Billboard 200 chart. Billboard reported last Sunday that the album has become the top-charting soundtrack of the year, so far. It also marked the highest-charting animated film soundtrack since Encanto, which spent nine weeks at No. 1 in 2022. And just last Friday, the track "Your Idol" topped Spotify's U.S. Daily chart, adding even more momentum.

"KPop Demon Hunters" soundtrack climbs to No. 3 on Billboard chart

2025/07/07 19:39

The soundtrack for Netflix's animation "KPop Demon Hunters" has soared five spots to third place on the Billboard 200 chart. According to Billboard the animation's album currently stands as the top charting soundtrack of the year thus far. It is also the highest charting animated film soundtrack since Encanto which spent nine weeks at number one back in 2022.

Hallyu People_Just back from 'Animafest Zagreb', meet animation director Erick Oh

2025/07/07 17:34

The 'World Festival of Animated Film Zagreb', better known as 'Animafest Zagreb' is one of the world's top animation festivals. Today, we invite a renowned director of Korean origin whose works were invited to the event in Croatia's capital last month. It's former Pixar animator and Oscar-nominated filmmaker animation director Erick Oh who's joining us in the studio. Welcome Director Oh! 1) Director Oh, let's talk about the most recent big event. You and your works were invited to Animafest Zagreb, which ran from June 2nd to June 7th. How was it and which of your films were introduced there? 2) Animafest Zagreb is not the only prestigious film event you were invited to. Your works have been recognized at the animation festivals in Hiroshima in Japan, Ottawa in Canada, Annecy in France and many more. How does it feel to be at those events and which awards or nominations mean the most to you? 3) You also were a Pixar animator in the past. How did you get to work at one of the world's most popular animation studios? 4) How was the experience there? Which productions have you been involved in? 5) I'm sure you feel the Hallyu boom around you in the U.S. It's also evident in a recent American Netflix hit, "KPop Demon Hunters", which is full of Korean cultural elements. Do you make use of Korean elements in your films? 6) Another animated film that made headlines in the U.S. was "The King of Kings", a Korean animation production which was a huge box office success in North America. How do you think the status of K-animation has changed over the years? 7) Director Oh, your father, KAIST Professor Oh Jun-ho is known as the creator of "Hubo" a humanoid robot that was the world's first robot to participate as an Olympics torch bearer at the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics. Does your father influence or inspire your creative work? 8) Last but not least, do you have a message you want to share through your animations? And for viewers who want to know you and your works better, what would you recommend them to watch and how can they watch your films? Thank you very much Director Oh for coming in today and for sharing your story. We look forward to many more creative, amazing animated works by you. Thank you Walter as always, see you back tomorrow.

[K-Enter] "KPop Demon Hunters" OST continues to gain popularity, Saja Boys top Spotify

2025/07/07 16:36

Right, so let's kick off with K-enter news. What do you have? We knew it was going to be a good year for K-pop, the return of BTS, BLACKPINK, and also a massive year for debutants but I don't think many would predict the influence an animated K-pop demon hunting group would have on the music charts. On Friday, "Your Idol" from the "KPop Demon Hunters" soundtrack, and a song sung by the Saja Boys, TOPPED the U.S. "Daily Top Songs" chart on Spotify. Only three other K-pop songs have reached No. 1 on the U.S. Spotify chart: "Seven" by BTS's Jungkook , "Who" by BTS's Jimin, and "APT." by BLACKPINK's Rosé. Meanwhile, other soundtrack hits from "KPop Demon Hunters" also ranked high, including "Golden" at No. 2. Separately, on Sunday, Billboard reported in a chart preview article that the "KPop Demon Hunters" soundtrack album had climbed five spots from the previous week to reach No. 3 on the Billboard 200, the main U.S. album chart. Should I say look out BTS, the Saja Boys are coming? But Huntrix, the heroines in the film, might still have competition as BLACKPINK FINALLY returned over the weekend. Tell us more. I have to say it, "BLACKPINK in your area" and they have launched their new world tour "DEADLINE" with two concerts held over the weekend just outside of Seoul. Reunited, they performed in front of 39,000 fans per night, drawing a total of 78,000 "Blinks" over the two days. The girls played all the classics and also premiered their new track "Jump", marking their first full-group release in 2 years and 8 months following their second studio album "BORN PINK". BLACKPINK will perform a total of 31 stadium concerts across 16 cities. Sticking to the theme of concerts, now to a boy group. Boy group RIIZE held their "2025 RIIZE CONCERT TOUR 'RIIZING LOUD' IN SEOUL" from Friday to Sunday in Seoul. Over the course of three days, more than 31,000 fans attended the shows. The group also connected with a global audience through a live cinema screening on the first day and an online livestream on the final day, reaching fans in the U.S., U.K., Japan, China, Thailand, Indonesia, and more. The group delivered a total of 24 songs, including tracks from their debut mini album, such as "Get A Guitar" and "Boom Boom Bass". Following their Seoul shows, RIIZE will continue the tour with stops in 14 cities around the world. Thanks for the news as always Walter. It's now time for our AI anchor Ari to bring us more on the culture front. Ari over to you.

K-wave AI News

2025/07/07 16:35

Hello and welcome to your AI guide to the latest cultural updates from Korea. Here's our top story. The world's largest darts tournament, the 'K-Darts Festival' took place in Incheon on Sunday. The event drew around 3,500 participants from 16 countries, who demonstrated remarkable focus and precision. Among the competitors were 500 professional players from around the globe. Organizers highlighted that the global profile of "K-Darts" is on the rise, with Korean companies now exporting soft-tip dart machines to over 30 countries, accounting for 50% of the global market. The southern coastal city of Yeosu has been selected as the host of the 7th annual 'Island Day' celebration, scheduled for August 8 next year. Designated as a national commemorative day, Island Day aims to highlight the cultural and environmental value of Korea's islands, with events held in various island regions. Yeosu was chosen for its strong transportation and tourism infrastructure, as well as its rich island resources. The city also earned high marks for its potential synergy with the 2026 Yeosu World Island Expo, set for September. The former Hakchon Theater in Daehangno, once an iconic landmark of Seoul's vibrant theater district, has been reborn as a dedicated venue for children and youth performances. Now named the 'Arko Kkumbat Theater,' it reopened following renovations made possible through public support. At the reopening ceremony, Arts Council Korea Chairman Choung Byoung-gug expressed confidence that the theater will continue to thrive with the help of meaningful contributions from supporters. Backed by more than 7,000 donations, the upgraded facility is expected to offer a variety of performances and programs tailored to young audiences. That's all from me. Stay tuned to the Kulture Wave.

[Features reporter] "An Exhibition Without Borders": 9 artists with development disabilities soar beyond limits

2025/07/07 16:34

A special exhibition is taking place in Türkiye by a group of South Korean artists whose works of art prove that developmental disabilities do not hinder creative ability. Our Choi Soo-hyung has their story. A hot air balloon floats gently on a small canvas, showing the beauty of Cappadocia, Türkiye. Flowers, recreated with Korean colors and lines, also catch the eye. All of these works are made using tape. Artist Park Tae-hyun visited Türkiye in 2017, and ever since, he has dreamed of going back to hold an exhibition there. "He rode a hot air balloon and sailed on a cruise ship in Türkiye, which left a strong impression. After returning to Korea, he made many related artworks and has always dreamed of exhibiting them." Since June 16, a special exhibition has been held at the Korean Cultural Center in Ankara, Türkiye, featuring work from Art Brut Korea by nine artists with developmental disabilities, including Park and Jeong Do-woon. More than 40 pieces of art grab the attention of visitors with their bold colors and unique perspectives. "I thought many Korean residents would come, but many locals visited instead. They listened carefully to the stories behind each artwork, asked questions, and showed their respect. Our artists felt very happy, and I was truly proud." "We thought it would be meaningful to share Korean culture through pure and unique perspectives. By introducing artworks about Türkiye seen through Korean eyes, we also hoped to highlight the strong friendship between Korea and Türkiye." Over the past 10 years of their artistic journey, the artists' disabilities have become a driving force for their art, not a limitation. "People with developmental disabilities often have sensitive hearing or vision, giving them a unique view of the world. With strong intuition and focus, it feels like the picture is already complete in their mind, and they simply transfer it onto the canvas." There were many doubts and stereotypes about how people with developmental disabilities could create such artwork. "One tough prejudice is people doubting that artists with developmental disabilities truly created the artwork themselves. It's a hurtful misunderstanding." From planning the exhibition to setting up the artwork, the parents do everything except create the pieces themselves. But the parents of Art Brut Korea say they want the world to recognize these works as those of true artists. "An Exhibition Without Borders" in Türkiye runs until July 25. Choi Soo-hyung, Arirang News.

[Short-form] Korean Traditions in “KPop Demon Hunters”

2025/07/07 16:33

Short-form] Korean Traditions in “KPop Demon Hunters” Explore Korean traditions woven in Netflix’s mega-hit “KPop Demon Hunters.” It gets even more intriguing when you know the hidden details!

Ozzy Osbourne's farewell performance from black throne captivates fans

2025/07/07 11:38

Legendary artist and Black Sabbath frontman Ozzy Osbourne delivered his final live performance on Saturday in Birmingham, England, under the title, "Back To The Beginning." Seated on a symbolic bat-themed throne due to his Parkinson's and spinal issues, the 76-year-old singer launched into his solo hits, before being joined by Black Sabbath's original lineup. The 11-hour event also included performances from other rock legends such as Metallica and Guns N' Roses. The massive event drew 40,000 fans to the concert at Villa Park and over 5.8 million viewers via global livestream. Three charities are set to receive proceeds from the event, including Cure Parkinson's.

Korean musical theater reaches the world at 19th DIMF

2025/07/07 11:37

One of South Korea's largest musical festivals is taking place in Daegu. This year's event takes place amid enthusiasm for Korean musicals, especially after the musical 'Maybe Happy Ending' won six Tony awards. Byeon Ye-young has this report. This summer, Daegu once again transforms into a stage. Korea's largest musical festival, The Daegu International Musical Festival, or DIMF, brings creators and audiences together from all over. This year, showcasing 29 musicals from home and abroad. "The dress rehearsal for this year's closing performance, Panda, is about to begin. This Chinese production blends dazzling acrobatics with traditional martial arts, a real treat for the eyes." A visual and musical spectacle, Panda tells a heartfelt story about love, coexistence, and the care we owe to nature. It's a piece that's beloved by Korean audiences. This reading performance, part of DIMF's musical incubation program, offers young talents a rare chance to present their work. Some pieces even go on to become full-scale productions with funding and support. "I received a lot of overall support from DIMF throughout the production process. But what helped me the most was getting direct feedback from the mentor instructors. That was incredibly helpful in developing and improving the piece." "I think the best part of this program is getting to meet great creators, working alongside talented actors, and simply having opportunities like this. For actors like me, that's one of the most valuable aspects." With global success stories like Maybe Happy Ending, DIMF is more than just a festival. "As DIMF approaches its 20th anniversary next year, our hope is that musical fans from around the world will come to Daegu. To make that happen, we believe it's essential to connect the festival with tourism. Our goal, and also our challenge, is to grow DIMF into a truly global musical festival." It's a symbol of what's possible for Korea's creative industry. Byeon Ye-young, Arirang News, Daegu.

[Arts&Culture] Korean musical theater reaches the world:19th DIMF

2025/07/04 22:38

It's Friday, which means it's time for Arts and Culture. We have our culture correspondent Byeon Ye-young in the studio. Welcome, Ye-young! Thank you for having me. So, Ye-young, what do you have for us today? I recently went to Daegu for the 19th Daegu International Musical Festival, which is Korea's largest musical festival. Even though the weather was really hot, what I saw and experienced there made the trip completely worth it. Let's take a look together. This summer, Daegu once again transforms into a stage. Korea's largest musical festival, The Daegu International Musical Festival, or DIMF, brings creators and audiences together from all over. This year, showcasing 29 musicals from home and abroad. "The dress rehearsal for this year's closing performance, Panda, is about to begin. This Chinese production blends dazzling acrobatics with traditional martial arts, a real treat for the eyes." A visual and musical spectacle, Panda tells a heartfelt story about love, coexistence, and the care we owe to nature. It's a piece that's beloved by Korean audiences. This reading performance, part of DIMF's musical incubation program, offers young talents a rare chance to present their work. Some pieces even go on to become full-scale productions with funding and support. "I received a lot of overall support from DIMF throughout the production process. But what helped me the most was getting direct feedback from the mentor instructors. That was incredibly helpful in developing and improving the piece." "I think the best part of this program is getting to meet great creators, working alongside talented actors, and simply having opportunities like this. For actors like me, that's one of the most valuable aspects." With global success stories like Maybe Happy Ending, DIMF is more than just a festival. "As DIMF approaches its 20th anniversary next year, our hope is that musical fans from around the world will come to Daegu. To make that happen, we believe it's essential to connect the festival with tourism. Our goal, and also our challenge, is to grow DIMF into a truly global musical festival." It's a symbol of what's possible for Korea's creative industry. Now, to my understanding, this year's DIMF has garnered more interest than ever before because of a Korean musical that swept the Tony awards. Could you tell us more about that? Of course, this year's festival was quite auspicious because it comes after the Korean musical, "Maybe Happy Ending," won Tony awards in six categories, including Best Musical. And the roots of that triumph? They trace back to this very festival. Composer Will Aronson and writer Park Chun-hue actually first met through a different project called "Bungee Jump" at the DIMF in 2012. They must have had good chemistry, because "Bungee Jump" was met with very good reviews. They later collaborated again and created "Maybe Happy Ending." Like this, DIMF acts as a place to foster new relationships and create amazing pieces together. People are on the hunt for the next big show. Exactly what kind of support does DIMF provide to young talent, so that the next "Maybe Happy Ending" might be made? The reading performances that we saw in the video were part of the musical incubation program, which offers young talent mentorship and funding to put their creations on stage. Without stage props and costumes, it allows the viewer to focus solely on the storyline, which is the core of any musical. These performances seemed to be well-received by the audience. Five student pieces were put on stage, and if any of them are well-received by investors, they can receive funding and later be premiered at DIMF as a "creative support musical," which is how the writer and the composer of "Maybe Happy Ending" met. "In 2008, a composer named Aronson had his work 'My Scary Girl' selected for creative support through DIMF. The following year, we even staged it in New York as part of DIMF's outreach. Through that kind of process, 'Maybe Happy Ending' was eventually born." Perhaps because of that legacy, this year's creative support productions are seeing reservation rates over 30 percent higher than in previous years. I think we can be optimistic about the future of Korean musicals. We'll be on the lookout. Thank you for coming in today, Ye-young. It was my pleasure.

Korean musical theater reaches the world at 19th DIMF

2025/07/04 19:38

Korea's southeastern city of Daegu is hosting its annual International Musical Festival and this year the event takes place amid fresh enthusiasm as it follows news of a South Korean original musical winning six Tony awards including Best Musical. Byeon Ye-young files this report. This summer, Daegu once again transforms into a stage. Korea's largest musical festival, The Daegu International Musical Festival, or DIMF, brings creators and audiences together from all over. This year, showcasing 29 musicals from home and abroad. "The dress rehearsal for this year's closing performance, Panda, is about to begin. This Chinese production blends dazzling acrobatics with traditional martial arts, a real treat for the eyes." A visual and musical spectacle, Panda tells a heartfelt story about love, coexistence, and the care we owe to nature. It's a piece that's beloved by Korean audiences. This reading performance, part of DIMF's musical incubation program, offers young talents a rare chance to present their work. Some pieces even go on to become full-scale productions with funding and support. "I received a lot of overall support from DIMF throughout the production process. But what helped me the most was getting direct feedback from the mentor instructors. That was incredibly helpful in developing and improving the piece." "I think the best part of this program is getting to meet great creators, working alongside talented actors, and simply having opportunities like this. For actors like me, that's one of the most valuable aspects." With global success stories like Maybe Happy Ending, DIMF is more than just a festival. "As DIMF approaches its 20th anniversary next year, our hope is that musical fans from around the world will come to Daegu. To make that happen, we believe it's essential to connect the festival with tourism. Our goal, and also our challenge, is to grow DIMF into a truly global musical festival." It's a symbol of what's possible for Korea's creative industry. Byeon Ye-young, Arirang News, Daegu.