[EVENTS CALENDAR]

Exhibitions

"i-Robot": Soma Museum of Art is holding an exhibition dedicated to robots. Installation works, usually robots, by 16 artists including Paik Nam-june, Nancy Lang, Choi Woo-ram are on display. The robots appear to be a mixture of technology and the complex mental state of urbanites. Visitors can also learn the history of robots from around the world at the Robot History Room. The exhibition runs until tomorrow at Soma Museum of Art in Bangi-dong, southeastern Seoul. Tickets are 3,000 won for adults, 2,000 won for adolescents and 1,000 won for kids. For more information, call (02) 410-1336 or visit www.somamusuem.org

"Star Wars -episode III: New Future": UNC gallery presents 15 works of art by some of Korea`s hottest contemporary artists through its annual exhibition "Star Wars." The participating artists this year are Byun Kyung-soo, Yu Jin-young, Moon Ji-ha, Wee Young-il and Jokk Han. The artists express the ironies and problems that today`s individuals and society face through whimsical imagination. The exhibition runs through March 18 at UNC Gallery in Sagan-dong, central Seoul. For more information, call (02) 733-2789 or visit www.uncgallery.com

"Stage Reality": Salon de H presents works by five Korean contemporary artists -- Yoo Hyun-mi, Bae Chan-hyo, Chun Sung-myung, Jangpa and Park Cheon-wook. The artists turned the familiar everyday objects and scenes unfamiliar in their works. The exhibition runs through March 20 at salon de H in Cheongdam-dong, southern Seoul. For more information, call (02) 546-0853 or visit www.artcompanyh.com

"Les Fleurs": Kukje Gallery presents works by Louise Bourgeois, one of the most renowned feminism artists of the late 20th century. In Korea, she is well-known for her giant spider-shaped-sculpture "Maman" placed on the front yard of Leeum, Samsung Museum of Art in Hannam-dong, central Seoul. The 99-year-old French sculptor and painter made several new pieces for this exhibition during the last three years while sitting in her wheelchair. Her works cover many genres -- from elegant drawings and monumental bronzes to hand-sewn patchworks, dolls and room-sized installation works. At this exhibition, Bourgeois is displaying 29 paintings and three sculptures, including some that are showing for the first time. The exhibition runs through March 31 at Kukje Gallery in Sogyeok-dong, central Seoul. For more information, call (02) 733-8449 or visit www.kukjegallery.com

"Andy Warhol, the Greatest": More than 400 works that are lent from The Andy Warhol Museum in Pennsylvania are on display in this exhibition. Organized in 19 different divisions, the pieces cover Warhol`s lifetime from his famous Campbell soup can silk screens to works featuring deaths and portraits of famous figures like Marilyn Monroe, Michael Jackson or Mao Zedong. The most notable part of the exhibition is the "Time Capsule, Mirror that reflects the Era of Warhol" section. Visitors can take a peek into person Warhol instead of the artist Warhol. The exhibition runs through April 4 at Seoul Museum of Art in Seosomun-dong, central Seoul. Tickets are 12,000 won for adults, 10,000 won for adolescents and 8,000 won for kids. For more information, call (02) 548-8690 or visit www.warhol.co.kr

"Super Nature": Museum of African Art presents works by Kivuthi Mbuno, the most famous artist in Kenya. Mbuno is one of Africa`s representative artists along with Lilanga, a Tanzanian artist. Mbuno has a unique way of expressing humanity and nature on canvas. Most contain everyday lives of his tribe -- Akamba. The exhibition runs through April 13 at Museum of African Art in Sagan-dong, central Seoul. For more information, call (02) 730-2430 or visit www.africarho.co.kr

"Horn and Tail": Gallery Plant presents works by Lim Minouk, an up and rising Korean contemporary artist. After winning the Hermes Art Award in 2007, Lim participated in many exhibitions in and out of Korea. At this exhibition, Lim focuses on the relationships between memory and speed in societies that are going through modernizations through performances, installations or video works. The exhibition runs through April 15 at Gallery Plant in Hwa-dong, central Seoul. For more information, call (02) 722-2826 or visit www.galleryplant.kr

"Homecoming after 500 years` absence": Some Joseon Dynasty paintings that had been taken by the Japanese over the centuries are home for good and will be on public display for the first time. Hakgojae Gallery in Sogyeok-dong, central Seoul, presents 30 pieces at this exhibition. It is part of the gallery`s collection of nearly 500 old Joseon paintings. During the last 10 years, Hakgojae searched for the paintings in overseas auctions, such as Sotheby`s and Christie`s, and met individual collectors in Japan. The exhibition runs through April 25 at Hakgojae Gallery in Sogyeok-dong, central Seoul. For more information, call (02) 720-1524 or visit www.hakgojae.com

"Adjective Life in the Nonsense Factory": Korean contemporary artist Han Yang-ah`s solo exhibition is underway at Art Sonje Center. In this exhibition, captures contemporary life. Her sculptures, video works and installations are on display. The exhibition runs through April 25 at Art Sonje Center in Hwa-dong, central Seoul. Tickets are 3,000 won for adults and 1,500 won for students. For more information, call 02-739-7067 or visit www.artsonje.org

"United Museum Collection": Led by the Savina Museum of Contemporary Art, 17 galleries and museums in Seoul are holding a 3-D exhibition together online. Clicking on the arrows placed on each side of the screen, visitors can move around the virtual museum. The exhibition is divided into five divisions displaying 17 representative works, one from each gallery. The only downside for now is that services are provided in Korean only. The show is underway at the website www.artseoul-museum.com and runs through July 31.

"Bobby Kim Live": Hip hop/soul vocalist Bobby Kim is set to hold a series of concerts on a cross-country tour beginning with a show in Seoul at the KEPCO Art Center until tomorrow. The concert will feature a special event commemorating White Day. Tickets range from 77,000 to 99,000 won and couple seats will go for 264,000 won. For more information, visit ticket.interpark.com or call (02) 512-9496.

"Love Concerts": The Seoul Arts Center holds two concerts with the theme of love for couples on White Day (March. 14). Pianist Kim Jung-won will play Liszt`s "Hamonies du Soir" while pianist Yiruma is set to perform his own composition, "Sere-monade" which he especially created for the concert. Pianist Yoo Yung-wook performs Liszt`s "Liebestraum" as well as Elgar`s "Salut D`amour" with cellist Song Young-hoon.

Tickets run from 30,000 won to 60,000 won for each concert. For details, call (02) 580-1300.

"YouTube Music Day": YouTube hosts a live concert on March 20 at 7 p.m., featuring A-class local musicians including 2AM, Clazziquai, Epik High and Leessang, at AX-KOREA hall in Gwangjang-dong, eastern Seoul. The concert will be simultaneously aired in Japan and Taiwan as well via the website`s official YouTube Music Day channel, www.youtube.com/youtubemusic. Tickets can be received for free at googlekoreablog.blogspot.com

"Jeff Beck First Live Concert in Seoul": Guitar legend Jeff Beck will perform in Seoul for the first time on March 20 at the Olympic Hall. Known for hit songs such as "Escape," "Freeway Jam," and "Dirty Mind," the concert promises a rocking good time for all fans of classic rock. Tickets cost from 55,000 to 165,000 won. For more information, visit ticket.interpark.com or call 1544-1555.

"Alexandre Tharaud & Jean-Guihen Queyras Duo": French pianist Alexandre Tharaud and his chamber music partner cellist Jean-Guihen Queyras gives a duo concert, comprised of French classical pieces, on March 23 at LG Arts Center in Yeoksam-dong, Seoul.

The two musicians together play Poulec`s "Serenade" and Sonata for Cello and Piano, plus Debussy`s "Nocturne and Scherzo" and Sonata for Cello and Piano.

The concert will be at 8 p.m. Tickets cost from 30,000 won to 70,000 won. For more information, call (02) 2005-0114.

"Leif Ove Andnes & Norwegian Chamber Orchestra": Noted Norwegian pianist and conductor Leif Ove Andsnes unites with Norwegian Chamber Orchestra for a concert on March 27 at Seoul Arts Center Concert Hall. Andsnes and the NCO will perform Mozart Piano Concerto No. 23 and 24, Mozart Symphony No. 35 plus Greig`s "Holberg Suite." The pianist also conducts the orchestra while collaborating with them as a soloist.

The concert will be at 8 p.m. Tickets run from 50,000 won to 130,000 won. For details, call (02) 541-6235.

"Nam Jin Concert": Popular singer Nam Jin, who ruled the `70s K-pop world with his sweet voice and jolly dances along with his rival Na Hoon-ah, holds a concert March 27 at Hanam Arts Center.

The singer will perform more than 30 of his hit-songs like "Nimgwa Hamkkae (With You)" as well as famous pop songs including "My Way," bringing back the memories of the `70s for elder audiences.

Tickets run from 40,000 won to 70,000 won. For details, call (031) 790-7979.

"The Rite of Spring": Acclaimed clarinetist Matthias Schorn, who is oftern called the best-ever soloist the Vienna Philharmonic has had so far, performs Stravinsky`s "The Rite of Spring" and premieres renowned composer Herbert Willi`s Clarinet Concerto on March 28 at Seoul Arts Center.

The concert will be accompanied by local Eirene Philharmonic Orchestra led by its artistic director and conductor Bae Jong-hoon, while being attended by Willi as well.

The concert will be at 2:30 p.m. For details, call (02) 749-1300.

"Windy Spring Concert 2010": Korean jazz vocalist Woongsan, who has been going back and forth between Korea and Japan with her huge popularity in both countries, returns to her homeland for a spring concert on March 27 and 28 at Sejong Center for the Performing Arts M Theater. Tickets run from 44,000 won to 66,000 won. For details, call (02) 720-3933.

"Bob Dylan Live in Seoul": Legendary singer-songwriter Bob Dylan will perform in Seoul for the first time. Known as the figurehead of the 1960s counter-culture revolution in America, Dylan has been regarded as the voice of his generation. Famous for such hit songs as "Knocking On Heaven`s Door," "One More Cup Of Coffee," and "Like A Rolling Stone," his first and only concert in Korea is set to kick off at the Olympic Park Gymnasium in southern Seoul on March 31. Tickets cost from 66,000 to 198,000 won. For more information, visit ticket.interpark.com or call 1544-1555.

"Kings of Convenience Live in Seoul": Norwegian indie folk-pop duo Kings of Convenience will perform at Olympic Park on April 4 in southern Seoul. The concert will feature hit songs such as "Stay Out Of Trouble," "I`d Rather Dance With You," as well as songs from the latest album, "Declaration Of Dependence." Tickets cost from 77,000 to 88,000 won. For more information, visit ticket.interpark.com or call 1544-1555.

Musicals

"Legally Blonde": The Broadway musical that revived the film version of the movie with the same title is showing at COEX Artium in Samsung-dong, Seoul. The Korean production features an impressive cast.

2006 Miss Korea Lee Honey, Jessica of girl group Girls` Generation and actress Kim Ji-woo each play Elle Woods who enters Harvard Law School breaking the prevailing stereotype of "dumb blonde." The show then will be staged April 10-18 at Busan Lotte Arts Hall and May 1-9 at Daegu Opera House.

Tickets cost from 40,000 won to 90,000 won. For more information, call (02) 738-8289.

"Miss Saigon": The musical which gained a huge success in its 2006 premiere run encores from today through April 4 at Goyang Aramnuri Theater. The show centers around a tragic love story between a U.S. soldier and a Vietnamese bar girl during the Vietnam War.

Lee Gun-myung and Korean-American musical actor Michael Lee double in the male leading role while actresses Kim Bo-kyung and Lim Hye-young share the role of the female lead.

The show continues its run April 14-May 1 and May 14-Sept. 12 at Seongnam Arts Center and Chungmu Arts Hall in central Seoul, respectively. Tickets run from 20,000 won to 110,000 won. For details, call (02) 518-7343.

"Hong Gil-dong": A popular character from a Joseon-era novel is the source of the latest musical in production. "Hong Gil-dong" is showing until April 18 at Woori Arts Hall at the Olympic Park in Bangi-dong, Eastern Seoul.

The show, based on "The Tale of Hong Gildong," by Joseon Dynasty-era author Heo Gyun, carries on the recent trend by the local musical industry of turning to historical figures for story materials. The show will not only highlight Hong`s adventures but try to portray his inner agony and love relationships.

Ye-sung and Sung-min of boy band Super Junior star in the leading role as Hong.

For more information, call (02) 523-3935 or go to www.musicalhonggildong.kr

"I Love You": The Korean production of the hit omnibus romantic musical from Off Broadway features the diverse love stories of around 60 characters played by just four actors. Veteran musical actor Nam Kyung-joo, who starred in the premiere run in 2004, made the shoe widely-popular through his experienced performance. The realistic description of the process of a relationship -- from the joyful beginning stage to the ennui -- as well as witty lines has appealed to the audience in previous runs.

The show will be staged through July 10 at Art One Theater in Daehangno, Seoul. Tickets run from 20,000 won to 45,000 won. For details, call (02) 501-7888.

"The Phantom of the Opera": The Korean production of the mega-hit West-end musical, "The Phantom of the Opera," returns through Aug. 8 at Charlotte Theater in Jamsil-dong, Seoul. A British troupe performed here in 2005 featuring popular musical actor Brad Little as the phantom. This year`s show will be more spectacular than previous years, with a reinforced set and stage settings. Musical actress Kim So-hyun from the show`s 2001 premiere run stars as Christine. Tickets run from 40,000 won to 140,000 won. For details, call (02) 501-7888.

"Singles": The musical adaptation of the mega-hit homemade movie of the same title is showing as an open run at PMC Jayu Theater in Daehangno, Seoul. The show stars Jeon Hye-bin who makes her musical debut through the piece. The musical deals with the lifestyle, friendship and love young people. For more information, call (02) 02-764-8760.

Dramas

"Owalaen Gyeolhonhalgeoya (I Will Get Married in May)": The hit Daehangno play has been gaining huge sympathy from young women viewers during its multiple encores. It features three female high school alumni who compete to get married, as only the first gets to take the "wedding fund" that they had been accumulating for the past 10 years. The piece is running through April 11 at Daehangno Art Madang Hall 2. Tickets are 25,000 won. For more information, call (02) 3675-3677.

"University of Laughs": The hit play from last year by theater venture group Yeongeukyeoljeon is showing at Daehangno Arts One Theater as well as at COEX Arts Hall in Seoul as an open run.

Based on the popular Japanese novel by Koki Mitani, the piece depicts a seven-day confrontation between an inspector trying to ban comic plays and a scriptwriter who values humor above all in his works, and the friendship that later develops between the two. Tickets run from 20,000 won to 40,000 won. For details, call (02) 766-6007.

"Rain Man": The play adaptation of the same-titled hit movie from 1988 starring Dustin Hoffman and Tom Cruise runs through March 28 at Seoul Arts Center Jayu Small Theater.

"Rain Man" centers around Charlie, a self-made businessman, who meets his autistic brother Raymond after his parents die. Charlie, who first only cared about his parents` inheritance, starts to genuinely love and care for Raymond.

Popular brother musical actors Nam Kyung-eup and Kyung-ju play Raymond and Charlie, respectively.

Tickets run from 33,000 won to 88,000 won. For details, call (02) 548-1141.

Dance

"River Dance": Traditional Irish dance performance, "River Dance" will be staged until March 14 at the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts. The show from Dublin has already achieved success in the United States and Europe.

It consists of traditional Irish dancing as well as other folk dances from around the world, including flamenco and Russian folk dance. It portrays a process where rivers unite with each other to become an ocean. Dancers express the nature like rain, river and sea.

Tickets run from 50,000 won to 150,000 won. For details, call (02) 541-6235.

"Forever Tango": Authentic Argentinean tango dance performance "Forever Tango" hits stage March 16-28 at Chungmu Arts Hall in central Seoul. The provocative yet sad dance was once banned by the church in Argentina but has since became one of the most popular social dances in Europe.

The show features diverse tango performances of seven couples. Since premiering in the Broadway in 1994, the show has been gaining success around the world.

Tickets run from 50,000 won to 90,000 won. For more information, call (02) 3443-9969.

"Burn the Floor": The fiery omnibus-style ball room dance, better known as sports dance here, visits Korea for the first time in three years. It will be staged April 2-7 at Sejong Center for the Performing Arts.

The show features pairs of dancers performing dances such as the salsa, tango and waltz being set to rock music and familiar tunes like "Sway" and "Sing Sing Sing." Two live singers accompany the dancers.

The retro and sensual costumes designed by Versace and Moschino add to the audiences` entertainment.

Tickets cost from 15,000 won to 40,000 won. Call 1544-6399 for more information.