SEOUL, South Korea – South Korea is set to transform into a sprawling stage this fall as the '2025 Korea On Stage' campaign rolls out a massive lineup of 210 performances nationwide. Spearheaded by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MCST) and the Korea Arts Management Service (KAMS), the month-long initiative—running from October 14 to November 16—aims to boost public engagement in the performing arts by offering consolidated information and significant viewing benefits during the peak cultural season.
The campaign serves as a comprehensive platform, linking audiences to four major, interconnected arts events: the Seoul Arts Market (PAMS), the Seoul Performing Arts Festival (SPAF), the Re:bound Festival, and the Welcome Daehakro Festival.
Regional Excellence Takes Center Stage
A key highlight is the Re:bound Festival, running from October 16 to November 16 at the Seoul Arts Center’s Jayu Theater and other venues. This festival is designed to showcase the artistic vitality of regional troupes by bringing their most acclaimed productions to the capital.
Among the 15 regional groups featured is Theater Company San from Jeongseon, Gangwon Province, which will present the contemporary reinterpretation of the classic film Arirang in their play Beyond Arirang. Also, the Jeju Opera Lab will stage the original opera Haenyeok Sudeok at the Gangbuk Culture & Arts Center on October 16. This work tells a powerful story of trauma and growth experienced by a 16-year-old girl in a 1960s Jeju seaside village. Other regional works moving to the Seoul stage include traditional pieces like the Traditional Performing Arts Troupe Janchimadang's Geumdaraekgung and the Gunpo Prime Philharmonic Orchestra's musical exploration, Herman Hesse’s Musical World.
Global and International Connections
The 'Korea On Stage' umbrella also encompasses major events focused on both domestic and international exchange.
From October 14 to November 9, the Seoul Arts Market (PAMS) will take place at key venues, including the National Theater and Arko & Daehakro Arts Theater. PAMS is an essential mechanism for supporting the international circulation of Korean performing arts, featuring programs like 'PAMS Choice,' which introduces top domestic performances to foreign buyers, and 'PAMS Speed Dating,' a one-on-one business matching session.
Meanwhile, the Seoul Performing Arts Festival (SPAF), held from October 16 to November 9, will present 22 works in theatre, dance, and multidisciplinary arts under the theme of 'Entanglement and Friction.' SPAF promises to provide a glimpse into contemporary performing arts trends, featuring a blend of outstanding foreign invited works and new domestic-international collaborations.
Completing the lineup is the Welcome Daehakro Festival, running until November 2, which focuses on promoting Korean performance content to foreign tourists through performances, outdoor street shows, and a dedicated performance tourism market in the Daehakro area.
Encouraging Cultural Tourism
The MCST and KAMS have proactively partnered with KORAIL to integrate performance viewing with regional tourism. A special rail travel package is being offered via the KORAIL website, providing spectators with up to 30% off performance tickets and up to 40% off KTX high-speed train fares. Crucially, the discount is now available for travel in both directions—allowing Seoul audiences to travel to regional venues and vice versa—in a significant expansion of the previous year's program.
Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Choi Hwi-young, expressed his hopes for the campaign: "By organically linking performances across the country with major festivals and markets, and communicating actively with the audience, we expect 'Korea On Stage' to contribute significantly to the revitalization of the performing arts."
Full details on the 210 performances and ticketing can be found on the official 'Korea On Stage' website (www.kstagefesta.kr).
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