"I will pave the way for you to freely unfold your ideas"

Opening of Magok LG Art Center Seoul
Featuring multipurpose LG Signature Hall and flexible black box U+ Stage
Center Director Lee Hyun-jung: "Exploring various promotional and marketing strategies to overcome distance"

Lee Hyun-jung, Director of LG Art Center, explaining the center's operation plan at the meeting. Photo by LG Art Center

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Heeyoon] "We want to create a platform where artists and planners can actively utilize the theater stage and realize many ideas."

LG Arts Center is concluding its 22-year era in Yeoksam and will officially open as 'LG Arts Center Seoul' on October 13 in the Magok district of Seoul.

On the 21st, LG Arts Center Seoul held a press conference to introduce the operation plans for the newly opened performance venue and this year's performance programs.

At the conference, Lee Hyunjung, director of LG Arts Center who took on the important task of relocating the center last year, explained, "Multipurpose theaters are often called purposeless theaters because the acoustics needed vary by performance genre. LG Arts Center Seoul is equipped with acoustics comparable to a concert hall and a stage size equivalent to an opera house, allowing it to accommodate large-scale performances of almost all genres, from orchestras of about 100 members to opera, musicals, ballet, and concerts."

LG Arts Center Seoul was established as a public contribution facility as LG and the Seoul Metropolitan Government developed LG Science Park in the Magok district. While inheriting the LG Arts Center brand that attracted 4.5 million visitors over the past 20 years, the name was changed to LG Arts Center Seoul to emphasize its public nature.

LG Arts Center Seoul_LG SIGNATURE Hall. Photo by LG Arts Center

The center consists of two performance halls: the 1,335-seat multipurpose 'LG Signature (SIGNATURE) Hall' and the flexible black box 'U+ Stage,' where the stage and seating can be freely arranged according to the performance.

LG Signature Hall boasts a stage more than 2.5 times larger than the previous Yeoksam LG Arts Center. The orchestra pit, which can be used in two stages depending on the scale of the performance, can accommodate 112 audience members and 120 performers, which is also noteworthy. Additionally, advanced stage technologies such as 'variable reverberation devices,' 'reflectors,' and 'moving towers' have been introduced to create acoustics at the level of a concert hall.

LG Signature Hall is the first space in Korea to apply the 'structural separation construction method,' introduced by LG Arts Center, to the entire performance hall. The entire hall?including the side walls, floor, and ceiling?is separated, preventing noise intrusion even when helicopters or airplanes pass overhead.

The opening performance on October 13 will feature the London Symphony Orchestra conducted by Simon Rattle, in collaboration with pianist Cho Seong-jin.

LG Arts Center Seoul exterior. Photo by LG Arts Center

Following that, from October 15 to December 18, the 'Opening Festival' consisting of 14 performances will feature artists representing Korean performing arts such as Dae-ilchi, Lee Jaram, Lee Eungyul, Kim Seoljin, Kim Jaeduk, Gambler Crew, M Crew, Park Jung-hyun, Park Juwon, National Symphony Orchestra, Sunwoo Yekwon, and Clara Jumi Kang.

The director said, "Although there was some burden regarding the relocation, psychological distance is as important as physical distance. Those who have visited this space, especially artists, have expressed great expectations for creation, so we are exploring various promotional and marketing strategies for the space. Based on the successful operation know-how of LG Arts Center since 2000, we want to enhance brand value and contribute to expanding cultural and artistic enjoyment opportunities for Seoul citizens."