Programs

KOREAN CULTURAL CENTER

  • Programs
  • Performing Arts/Exhibitions/Films
  1. SAC On Screen - The Chunhyang

    Post Date : 07.05.2025
    Event Date : 14.05.2025
    Wednesday, 14 May 2025               6PM                      Korean Cultural Centre SA 267 Waterkloof Road, Brooklyn, Pretoria Join us at the Korean Cultural Centre in Pretoria for the launch of this year’s On Screen Series, featuring captivating stage and screen performances straight from Seoul Arts Center (SAC) — one of Korea’s most prestigious performing arts venues. We’re kicking off the series with a special screening of the acclaimed Korean romantic comedy opera THE CHUNHYANG, a vibrant reimagining of a beloved classic. THE CHUNHYANG (Romantic Comedy Opera, 90 Min) The Chunhyang is a modern romantic comedy opera inspired by the classic Korean folktale The Tale of Chunhyang. In this reimagined version, Chunhyang is no longer a passive heroine waiting for rescue — she takes matters into her own hands and escapes from prison. The story is full of unexpected twists, turning traditional roles upside down. Byeon, the satto (magistrate), is a surprisingly romantic and sincere man, while Mongryong is a perpetual civil service exam student with little direction. Blending witty dialogue, slapstick humour, catchy melodies, and vibrant Korean dialects, this opera delivers a light-hearted yet empowering message. With its fusion of opera, musical, and theatre elements, Chunhyang redefines a beloved tale through laughter, charm, and bold reinterpretation. DATE Wednesday, 14 May 2025 TIME 6PM VENUE Korean Cultural Centre SA 267 Waterkloof Road, Brooklyn, Pretoria ADMISSION Free REGISTRATION https://forms.gle/Un7cSUkC2s9kkuG96 *required For enquiries, please contact: 012 001 9204 | kccsa@korea.kr
  2. Lunch Hour Performance 2025 - Piano Performance by Kevin Kim

    Post Date : 31.03.2025
    Event Date : 17.04.2025
    Thursday, 17 April 2025               12:00-13:00                      Korean Cultural Centre SA 267 Waterkloof Road, Brooklyn, Pretoria Take a musical break in the heart of Pretoria! Join us for a delightful lunchtime performance featuring the talented pianist Kevin Kim at the Korean Cultural Centre. Enjoy a light lunch, followed by a breathtaking performance of classical masterpieces. About KEVIN KIM Kevin is an accomplished pianist with a strong academic and performance background. He earned his Bachelor of Music in Performance (with distinction), Honours in B.Mus Performance, and Master of Music in Performance (cum laude) from the South African College of Music at the University of Cape Town. Throughout his studies, he consistently achieved top honours, appearing on the Dean's Merit List every year. He has received numerous awards, including the SACM Concerto Competition (2015), Schock Prize for Chamber Music (2017), and the 12th Fine Music Radio National Trust Award (2021). He was also a finalist and runner-up in several prestigious national competitions and received multiple scholarships. Kevin has played concertos with the UCT Symphony Orchestra, Cape Philharmonic Orchestra, and KZN Philharmonic Orchestra. He has also given solo recitals at various music societies and concert venues, including the Overberg Art Music Society, Friends of Orchestral Music, and Erin Hall. DATE Thursday, 17 April 2025 TIME 12:00-13:00 VENUE Korean Cultural Centre SA 267 Waterkloof Road, Brooklyn, Pretoria ADMISSION Free REGISTRATION https://forms.gle/i5NJS3k97Z6tatmk8 *required For enquiries, please contact: 012 001 9204 | kccsa@korea.kr
  3. KCC Music on Stage 2025 - Piano Performance by Kevin Kim

    Post Date : 31.03.2025
    Event Date : 16.04.2025
    Wednesday, 16 April 2025               18:00                      Korean Cultural Centre SA 267 Waterkloof Road, Brooklyn, Pretoria The Korean Cultural Centre presents KCC Music on Stage, featuring a recital by pianist Kevin Kim. Join us for an evening of classical and traditional works performed in an intimate setting. About KEVIN KIM Kevin is an accomplished pianist with a strong academic and performance background. He earned his Bachelor of Music in Performance (with distinction), Honours in B.Mus Performance, and Master of Music in Performance (cum laude) from the South African College of Music at the University of Cape Town. Throughout his studies, he consistently achieved top honours, appearing on the Dean's Merit List every year. He has received numerous awards, including the SACM Concerto Competition (2015), Schock Prize for Chamber Music (2017), and the 12th Fine Music Radio National Trust Award (2021). He was also a finalist and runner-up in several prestigious national competitions and received multiple scholarships. Kevin has played concertos with the UCT Symphony Orchestra, Cape Philharmonic Orchestra, and KZN Philharmonic Orchestra. He has also given solo recitals at various music societies and concert venues, including the Overberg Art Music Society, Friends of Orchestral Music, and Erin Hall. DATE Wednesday, 16 April 2025 TIME 18:00 VENUE Korean Cultural Centre SA 267 Waterkloof Road, Brooklyn, Pretoria ADMISSION Free REGISTRATION https://forms.gle/NgpvqJu8LGNy9mih9 *required For enquiries, please contact: 012 001 9204 | kccsa@korea.kr
  4. Lunch Hour Performance 2025 - Fingerstyle Guitar Performance

    Post Date : 13.03.2025
    Event Date : 28.03.2025
    Friday, 28 March 2025               12:00-13:00                      Korean Cultural Centre SA 267 Waterkloof Road, Brooklyn, Pretoria Join us for a captivating Lunch Hour Performance featuring the exceptional fingerstyle guitarist, Yohan Song! Experience the rich sounds of Korea brought to life through intricate melodies and masterful technique. Take a break from your day and immerse yourself in an unforgettable live performance at the Korean Cultural Centre SA! About YOHAN SONG Yohan Song is a talented fingerstyle guitarist who has released his first album, 'Korea', and has been actively performing in South Africa, Korea, and Japan, showcasing his exceptional skills. He highlights the unique characteristics of Korean culture, creating performances that inspire audiences. Yohan continues to push the boundaries of fingerstyle guitar, earning recognition as one of the most notable guitarists of his generation. Yohan is represented by Yoram Music and is an official endorser of Crafter Guitar Korea. DATE Friday, 28 March 2025 TIME 12:00-13:00 VENUE Korean Cultural Centre SA 267 Waterkloof Road, Brooklyn, Pretoria ADMISSION Free REGISTRATION https://forms.gle/uwhZRgmLGaWG1XPj7 *required For enquiries, please contact: 012 001 9204 | kccsa@korea.kr
  5. LEE JUNG-SEOP: Art of Family and Longing

    Post Date : 06.03.2025
    Event Date : 18.03.2025 -  30.06.2025
    18 March-30 June 2025               9AM-4PM                      Korean Cultural Centre SA 267 Waterkloof Road, Brooklyn, Pretoria Discover the profound legacy of Lee Jung-seop, a master who shaped Korea's modern art history with his bold expressions and heartfelt depictions of family, longing, and resilience. From his iconic Ox series to his evocative silver foil paintings, Lee's works capture the spirit of a turbulent era with unmatched emotional depth. Join us to explore the life and art of a visionary whose influence continues to inspire generations. DATES 18 March-30 June 2025 *The exhibition is closed on weekends and public holidays. TIME 09:00-16:00 VENUE Korean Cultural Centre SA 267 Waterkloof Road, Brooklyn, Pretoria ADMISSION Free For enquiries, please contact: 012 001 9204 | kccsa@korea.kr The works displayed in the exhibition are print editions provided by the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Korea. The Artistic World of Lee Jung-seop Lee Jung-seop’s works, around 300 in total, often feature traditional Korean motifs like children, bulls, family, and nature. These themes were influenced by his education at Osan School, where he developed an interest in his homeland's culture. Among all his subjects, the ox is undoubtedly the most representative of Lee Jung-seop’s work. His Ox series, created during his time in Tongyeong, is considered the pinnacle of his artistic career. These paintings, which are relatively small (typically under 45×53 cm), are characterized by bold and intense lines that bring the bulls to life. Through his depiction of bulls, Lee expressed his inner emotions with explosive energy. The dynamic posture of the bull, with its front legs tensed as if ready to charge forward at any moment, showcases his exceptional ability to render movement through line work. This skill was rooted in his keen observation from an early age—so much so that a childhood anecdote recounts how he was once mistaken for a cattle thief because of his habit of closely studying bulls in the fields. During his time at Bunka Gakuin in Japan, Lee created postcard paintings filled with surreal and dreamlike imagery that hinted at his romantic relationship with Masako. In contrast, the works he produced while taking refuge in Jeju Island during the Korean War depict simple yet heartfelt scenes of family and happiness. However, after his wife and children left for Japan, his paintings took on a sombre tone, often featuring desolate landscapes and metaphors for war. Despite financial hardship and a severe lack of materials, he continuously experimented with new techniques, one of the most famous being his silver foil paintings, created using cigarette foil wrappers. After the Korean war, as he focused on reuniting with his family, his works became more powerful and filled with confidence. However, as financial difficulties and mental distress deepened, his hope of seeing his family again faded, and his paintings gradually lost focus, with blurred and melancholic landscapes taking centre stage. Lee’s work gained recognition posthumously, with major exhibitions in the 1970s and 1980s, including the 1986 retrospective at the Ho-Am Art Museum, which attracted over 100,000 visitors. The Life of Lee Jung-seop Lee Jung-seop (1916–1956) was born in Pyeongwon, South Pyeongan Province in North Korea, as the youngest of three siblings in a landowning family. His talent for art emerged early, and after failing to gain admission to Pyongyang High School, he enrolled at Osan School, where he met his art teacher, Yim Yong-ryun. Yim, who had studied in the U.S. and worked in Paris, introduced Lee to sketching, a practice that influenced his artistic development. This period coincided with the rise of modern Korean art, marking a key influence on Lee's style. In 1935, Lee began his formal art education at the Imperial Art School in Japan, later transferring to Bunka Gakuin, where he developed a bold, expressive style influenced by Fauvism. During this time, he met his future wife, Yamamoto Masako, who later became Lee Nam-deok in Korea. In 1944, as World War II neared its end, Lee graduated and returned to Wonsan, leaving Masako in Japan. The following year, she moved to Korea, and the two were officially married. In 1946, they had their first child, but tragically, the baby died of diphtheria. This loss deeply impacted Lee, who channelled his grief into creating A Child Flying in the Sky Holding a White Star for the Liberation Commemoration Exhibition in 1947. During the Korean War, Lee’s family fled to Busan in South Korea and later to Jeju Island. In 1952, financial struggles forced Masako and their two sons to move to Japan, while Lee remained in Korea. They reunited briefly in Tokyo in 1953, but were soon separated. This painful parting became a turning point for Lee, inspiring some of his greatest works. In 1954, Lee settled in Tongyeong, where he created iconic pieces, including his Bull series and Couple. He moved between various cities, focusing on exhibitions while grappling with loneliness and alcoholism. Lee passed away from liver disease on September 6, 1956, at the Red Cross Hospital in Seoul. WORKS displayed