What to see at Seongnam Artium this fall and winter

The Seongnam Cultural Foundation will present a range of performances spanning classical music, ballet, traditional Korean music, theater and film scores at the Seongnam Artium Grand Theater this fall and winter.

The fourth installment of this year's Seongnam Artium Classical Series, titled "Classic: Embracing Modern Romance," opens Oct. 24 at 5 p.m. The program pairs George Gershwin's Piano Concerto in F major with Sergei Rachmaninoff's Symphony No. 2, weaving together the sophisticated rhythms of New York and the deep lyricism of Russian late Romanticism. Conductor David Yi will lead the Gangnam Symphony Orchestra, with pianist Park Jong-hae as soloist.

On Oct. 31 at 3 p.m., the narrated ballet showcase "Ballet Signature" takes the stage. The program features nine works, including highlights from the classical repertoire — "Don Quixote," "Giselle" and "Swan Lake" — alongside "GAT-Yeoheukrip," an original ballet drawing on traditional Korean aesthetics. Artistic Director Yun Byeol, known for challenging the conventions of classical ballet, leads a cast of young Korean dancers including Kang Gyeong-ho, Kim Yu-chan and Jeong Seong-uk. Announcer Oh Jeong-yeon will provide narration to make the performance accessible to all audiences.

Singer Lee Hee-moon, a certified practitioner of Gyeonggi minyo — designated National Intangible Cultural Heritage No. 57 — will perform his new project "Project NAL" on Nov. 7 at 5 p.m. Lee has consistently pushed the boundaries of genre, building on the Gyeonggi folk song tradition to explore contemporary expressions of traditional art.

The theatrical adaptation of "The Uncomfortable Convenience Store," a bestselling novel by Kim Ho-yeon that has sold more than 1.5 million copies, will run for two performances on Nov. 14 and 15.

The season closes with a Christmas concert, "Film Music & Carols," rounding out Seongnam Artium's 2026 lineup.