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.1d agoBy 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
Bass Yoo Seung-ho wins 2nd prize at Sumi Jo In'tl Singing Competition in FranceAs the Sumi Jo International Singing Competition wrapped up its second edition in France, Saturday, Korean bass singer Yoo Seung-ho, 25, won second prize in the final round of the contest at La Ferte-Imbault Castle in the Loire region. The top honor went to American baritone Trevor Haumschilt-Rocha, 27, while Romanian soprano Paulo Iancic, 32, finished third. Yoo, a senior in vocal music at Seoul National Univeristy and top graduate of Gyeongbuk Arts High School, was competing abroad for the first time. “I didn’t expect much because all the other participants were so good, and it was my first international competition,” Yoo told reporters after the awards ceremony. “I’m happy to get such a good result. It doesn’t feel real. I want to tell my parents first, and when I return to Korea, I’ll keep studying hard and do my best,” he said. The competition, launched in 2024 as the first international vocal contest named after a Korean soprano, is held every two years for singers aged 18 to 32. Jo serves as part of the jury. This year’s edition drew more than 500 applicants from 5Jul 12, 2026By Lee Hae-rin
Ysaye Int'l Music Competition to stage final round in KoreaThe Ysaye International Music Competition, a global platform for young violinists founded in Belgium, will hold its final round in Korea this year for the first time, reflecting Asia's growing importance in the classical music world. The 2026 finals will take place July 10 and 11 at Incheon Arts Center in Gyeonggi Province, co-hosted by the Korea International Arts School and the Belgian organization. The competition, launched in 2018 in Liege, birthplace of Belgian violinist-composer Eugene Ysaye, has until now held all its stages in Belgium. This year, 121 applicants from 23 countries entered the competition, with preliminary and semifinal rounds already held in Belgium. Twenty violinists are expected to compete at the finals. Competition director and founder Elena Lavrenova said the decision to move the finals abroad for the first time was driven by both artistic philosophy and geography. “We chose Korea because we had the best partners in Korea,” she said during a press conference, adding that the majority of applicants now come from Asia. She stressed that the competition, builtJul 7, 2026By Lee Hae-rin
hathaw9y introduces ‘introvert’s way of loving’ with sophomore albumFor the three members of Busan-based indie-pop band hathaw9y, love is the anchor that best captures the stories they hold close to their hearts. What others may find cheesy or cliche sits opposite for the band, which recently released its sophomore album, “Lovers,” a record that explores the quiet, nuanced ways that introverts love. “I’ve always thought that all the countless emotions we feel in life are ultimately discovered within the biggest emotion of all, which is love. That thought still holds true for me today, which is why I think I keep coming back to the theme of love,” drummer Seyo told The Korea Times. Instead of loud declarations or grand gestures, the band gravitates toward what feels most natural to the members. For instance, the quiet, steadfast presence of the drummer’s childhood cat served as the inspiration for the title track, “Lover,” beautifully capturing the overarching theme of the album. “It’s interesting because we actually are introverts, and we’re becoming even more introverted over time,” main vocalist and guitarist Kiwi mused. While lJun 30, 2026By Mariel Abanes
K-pop rookie CORTIS' debut album racks up 600 mil. Spotify streamsK-pop boy band CORTIS' debut album, "Color Outside the Lines," has surpassed 600 million streams on Spotify, the group's agency said Thursday. The feat comes after the album surpassed the 100 million mark a month after its release in September, according to BigHit Music. Physical album sales have so far reached 2.1 million units, it added. The five-member group's second EP, "GreenGreen," ranked No. 61 on the Billboard 200 in the latest tracking week, after peaking at No. 3 last month.Jun 25, 2026By Yonhap
The Grateful Camp reimagines what music festivals can beAs music festivals in Korea continue to grow in size and scale, The Grateful Camp is going a different direction. The upcoming festival features at least 20 great local acts, including Galaxy Express, Seoul Electric Band, Windy City, Chang Kiha, Tiger Disco, CHS, hathaw9y and Radio Revolution, performing at at Jjangttungeo Beach in Sinan, South Jella Province, from Sept. 4 to 6. Rather than focusing only on bigger stages and larger lineups, The Grateful Camp aims to create a temporary world where music, nature and people come together. For the team behind the festival, the most important part is not what happens on stage, but what happens between people. The festival began in 2020, when tropical psychedelic groove band CHS held a small performance at a campsite in a forest in Gapyeong County, northeastern Gyeonggi Province. Surrounded by nature and a ree-spirited audience, the experience became the foundation of what The Grateful Camp wanted to create. Ahead of its next chapter, Kim Se-hoon, executive director of The Grateful Camp, spoke about the festival’s origins, philosophy and whyJun 25, 2026By Daniela P. Solano
