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The Seoul Arena

Following its decision to build “Seoul Arena” as a specialized K-Pop performance venue in its Chang-dong neighborhood, the city of Seoul now plans to also establish a specialized classical music venue and support center for gugak (traditional Korean music) and indie music.

On Sept. 16, the city unveiled “Global Music City Seoul,” a blueprint for music industry development that includes investments totaling 481.8 billion won (US$405 million) between 2019 and 2023. Its aim is to enable all residents and visitors from overseas and elsewhere in South Korea to enjoy musical performances in a variety of venues.

The city plans to expand its performance and support infrastructure to suit the characteristics of different musical genres, including K-Pop, classical, indie, and gugak. A music complex opening this month on Nodeul Island is to be a space for “lifestyle music,” including music composition and music programs. Seoul Arena, which is scheduled to open in Chang-dong in December 2023, is to be used as an exclusive venue for K-Pop performances. Also in the works are “Seoul Classic Hall,” an exclusive classical music venue with a target opening date in 2024, and the “Southwest Performance Center,” also scheduled to open in 2024.

The plans also have the “Seoul Gugak Center” opening in 2022 as a facility to support gugak creation and overseas expansion, and the “Seoul Indie Music Support Center” to support production, distribution, and marketing for indie music, particularly from the scene surrounding Seoul’s Hongik University. The “Music Business Academy,” an institution to train music industry experts, is set to open in May 2023 in a “Startup and Culture Industry Complex” being built on the site of a transfer parking facility near Changdong Station.

Performance development policies for different genres are also being discussed. The number of regular performances by the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra is to be increased from 40 this year to 60 in 2023 and 80 following completion of the exclusive Seoul Classic Hall venue. Support is also to be directed toward independent music, with the aim of increasing the number of live performances from 70 this year to 100 by 2023.

Additionally, the city is providing increased opportunities for all residents to learn and experience music. The number of “lifestyle and culture support centers,” which provide rehearsal and performance spaces for music clubs along with instrument learning and other programs, is to be increased from 25 to 107. The Nagwon Lifestyle and Culture Support Center, which opens in December, is to be used to provide donated musical instruments to students in need of them, along with support with repairs and education.

Seasonal musical festivals are also being planned. In addition to the existing Seoul Drum Festival in May and Indie Music Festival in September and October, other new offerings are to include the Seoul Gugak Festival in June, the Han River Summer Music Festival in August, the Seoul Music Festival in September and October, and the Seoul Classical Music Festival in November and December.

By Chai Yoon-tae, staff reporter

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