InterviewWave to earth shrugs off K-pop, indie labels: 'a band, that is enough'For two years, wave to earth has been introduced abroad as proof that Korean music extends past K-pop, and at home as a band that never quite left the indie circuit. Asked which description fits, vocalist and guitarist Kim Daniel offered neither. "A band. That is enough," he said in a written interview with The Korea Times. The Seoul trio, made up of Kim, bassist Cha Soon-jong and drummer Shin Dong-gyu, who perform as Daniel, John and DongQ, released its new album "bad pieces" on Aug. 7, its first record in two years. The 11-track album arrives ahead of "the pieces tour," the band's largest run to date, which opens Sept. 4 in Vancouver. The album title is a play on the "Bed Peace" sign that hung behind John Lennon and Yoko Ono during their 1969 bed-in against the Vietnam War. "The photos of the Lennon and Yoko bed-in protests were something we stumbled upon while discussing the direction of this album early on," Kim said. "Lennon and Ono stayed in a bed and called it peace, and we liked that the gesture was that small. This album is a bed on a messed up earth." The band's 2023 debut albumAug 23, 2026By Pyo Kyung-min
Korean Chamber Orchestra to spotlight rising talent in 2026 debut concertThe Korean Chamber Orchestra (KCO) will bring together young musicians and a teenage composer for its 2026 Debut Concert on Sept. 12, offering a compact showcase of Korea’s next generation of classical musicians. The concert, set for 5 p.m. at Seoul Arts Center's Doam Hall, will feature musicians identified through KCO’s camps and competitions. The program opens with the world premiere of “Nachtlicher Monolog” (Nocturnal Monologue), a work by Lee Tae-hwan, winner of the 2026 KCO Composition Competition. The piece, written for clarinet, viola and piano, traces the unsettled thoughts and emotions, such as regret and anxiety, that surface during a sleepless night. A freshman at Sunhwa Arts High School, Lee began composing music in elementary school and has since developed an interest in both classical and contemporary genres. The evening will also feature violinist Park Ye-hoon, the grand-prize winner of the 2025 KCO Competition; violinists Yoo Ji-min, Yoo Ye-seul and Wang Ruiyi; cellist Moon Ji-won; and clarinetist Kim Ye-eun. Conducted by Kim Jae-yoon, the program pairs the musiciaAug 14, 2026By Lee Hae-rin
InterviewOrganists Olivier Latry and Lee Shin-young return to Seoul after 8 years for homecoming duetIt is a strikng image: two musicians sharing a narrow bench, their hands crossed crossing hands over keyboards as four feet delicately coordinate over pedals. For married organists Olivier Latry and Lee Shin-young, the organ is a stage where they work together as a single musical mind. The couple will bring their partnership to Seoul’s Lotte Concert Hall on Oct. 6 in “Four Hands,” their first Korean appearance together in eight years. The program moves from Rameau to Stravinsky, revealing the organ as a rhythmic, theatrical and orchestral instrument. From restraint to musical trust In a recent written interview with The Korea Times, the duo said their partnership began with a restraint. Latry, then 23 and a titular organist at Notre-Dame de Paris, said he fell in love with Lee years before she entered his class at the Paris Conservatoire. “That was not easy, not to show anything during her studies,” he said, adding that he waited eight years until she was no longer his student to reveal his feelings. Lee recalled him as disciplined and reserved, but exceptionally severe in her lAug 12, 2026By Lee Hae-rin
'Maybe Happy Ending' wraps Taiwan run with 97.5% paid attendanceIn a quiet theater in New Taipei City, two decommissioned helper robots — designed to care for humans but left behind in an isolated apartment complex — fall softly, unexpectedly in love. It is an intimate, gentle story that has captivated audiences in Seoul and New York. Now, it appears the charm of "Maybe Happy Ending" translated just as effortlessly across the Taiwan Strait. The acclaimed Korean musical concluded a 12-performance engagement in Taiwan Sunday, drawing a paid attendance rate of 97.5 percent — a near-total sellout that underscores the growing global appetite for Asian stage productions. Staged from July 31 through Aug. 9 at the New Taipei City Art Center, the run marked another milestone for the production’s international reach, according to ticketing and operations provider NHN Link. Set in a retro-futuristic version of Seoul, the show centers on Oliver and Claire, two aging "Helperbots" facing obsolescence. As they navigate their finite lifespans, they discover companionship, heartbreak and romance. Since its 2016 debut in Korea, the musical has maintained a raAug 10, 2026By Jhoo Dong-chan
Why BLACKPINK fans feel disappointed ahead of group's 10th anniversaryBLACKPINK approaches its 10th anniversary this Saturday. But with the major milestone less than three days away, the mood within the global K-pop group’s fandom is tinged with disappointment, if not outright frustration, over an apparent lack of projects and appearances featuring all four members together. The group debuted with the album “Square One,” which featured “Whistle” and “Boombayah,” and went on to take the global music scene by storm with hits such as “Playing with Fire,” “How You Like That,” “Pink Venom,” “Shut Down” and “Jump.” From 2023 onwards, however, its members took a "together but separate" direction by signing an exclusive contract with YG Entertainment only for the group projects and activities. Each member pursued solo careers with their respective agencies and found success, placing their solo albums on the Billboard charts and performing at recognized music festivals. As the group is set to mark its 10th year, some fans have begun expressing disappointment that even this landmark anniversary may pass without the four members celAug 6, 2026By Xportsnews
Soprano Sumi Jo becomes first Asian to win Maria Callas Special AwardKorean soprano Sumi Jo has become the first Asian musician to receive the Maria Callas Special Award, an annual Italian honor recognizing contributions to global opera and classical music, her PR agency said Monday. Jo received the 12th edition of the award Sunday (Italian time) in Verona, Italy, at a ceremony held as part of the International Maria Callas Festival, according to The PRM. The award was established in 2014 to commemorate Greek American opera legend Maria Callas, one of the 20th century's most influential sopranos. It is presented each year to individuals who have advanced the field of opera and classical music on an international stage. Previous recipients include Italian film and opera director Franco Zeffirelli and Italian baritone Leo Nucci. "As this award bears the name of a great artist who illuminated an era, I will cherish it as a precious moment for the rest of my life," Jo said in a statement following the ceremony.Aug 3, 2026By Yonhap
How Hurricane Kimchi found hope in country musicFor most listeners, country music evokes stories of heartbreak, perseverance and second chances. For Hurricane Kimchi, it became the only genre that felt honest enough to tell their own story. Hurricane Kimchi, also known as Heezy Yang, is known throughout Korea's LGBTQ+ community as a drag performer, activist and event organizer, having spent more than a decade entertaining audiences while advocating for greater visibility and inclusion. But their latest single, "Broken (Slay, Queens!)," marks a different chapter — one shaped not by the stage, but by illness. Released as their 10th original single, "Broken" draws on the artist's experience living with chronic health complications after contracting COVID-19 and influenza back to back in 2022. "I've been sick both on the outside and inside," they said. "Yet I'm still here today. This whole experience and the fact that I'm still alive while being broken — that's the message I wanted to convey." Although Hurricane Kimchi is best known for pop music and energetic drag performances, country music offered something they had been searchingJul 31, 2026By Antonia Giordano
Massive Attack, Pixies, 60 other acts head to Korea for Pentaport Rock FestivalFrom the hypnotic trip-hop of Massive Attack and the distorted guitars of the Pixies to the legendary noise of The Jesus & Mary Chain, 66 international and domestic acts are converging on Korea’s western coast this weekend for the 21st Incheon Pentaport Rock Festival. Opening Friday at Songdo Moonlight Festival Park, the three-day event returns under the banner "RE:BOOT." The slogan signals an ambitious expansion for one of East Asia’s most enduring outdoor music gatherings, blending legacy alt-rock icons, global crossover acts like Khruangbin and top-tier Korean talent including Hyukoh, Silica Gel and Lee Seung-yoon. This year’s edition marks a concerted push to elevate Pentaport’s profile on the international festival circuit. Beyond bringing in performers from Britain, the United States, Japan, Taiwan and China, organizers launched preliminary events beyond Korea's borders. A pre-festival showcase held at Shibuya’s WWW X in Tokyo — featuring indie acts like Parannoul and Say Sue Me — sold out, establishing a cross-border pipeline between the Korean and Japanese indie muJul 30, 2026By Jhoo Dong-chan
BTS draws French president to Paris concert ahead of World Cup halftime showK-pop powerhouse BTS drew French President Emmanuel Macron and first lady Brigitte Macron to its stadium concert in Paris on Friday (local time), highlighting the global influence of the band ahead of its historic upcoming performance at the World Cup final. President Macron shared a video of the concert on his social media on Saturday with a message in French saying "Bienvenue a Paris," which means welcome to Paris. The K-pop band held the European finale of its world tour, titled "BTS WORLD TOUR 'ARIRANG,’” at the Stade de France from Friday to Saturday. During the first show on Friday, the French leader and the first lady surprised the audience by watching the performance from the stands. The presidential couple appeared on the stadium's giant screens during the concert while the band members were moving around the stage to interact with the crowd. The stadium instantly erupted into cheers as the screens showed the couple smiling and holding the official BTS glowing fan light sticks. French media observed the concert took place as Korea and France celebrate the 140th anniversary oJul 19, 2026By Baek Byung-yeul
InterviewCharlie Puth returns to Korea for 1st stadium concertAmerican singer-songwriter Charlie Puth still vividly remembers the night a Seoul crowd refused to stop cheering. "There was this one moment when the crowd cheered for a straight five minutes nonstop. I was stunned," Puth said in a recent written interview with The Korea Times, recalling his first concert in Korea in 2016. "It was very early into my career and I just couldn't believe what was happening. I felt like my life changed overnight." A decade later, the 34-year-old hitmaker is set to return for his biggest Korean show yet. Puth will perform at Goyang Sports Complex in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, on Oct. 11 at 7 p.m., marking his first stadium concert in the country. The show, presented by Live Nation Korea as part of his "Whatever's Clever!" world tour, is his first standalone concert here in about two years. "Korea holds such a special place in my heart," he said. "Now seeing it grow to arenas and now a stadium, it's surreal. I'm so grateful for that consistent love over the years." That growth has been steady and striking. Puth's 2016 debut concert in Seoul sold out within 10 miJul 15, 2026By Pyo Kyung-min
