National Theater of Korea

{{Infobox venue

| name = National Theatre of Korea
국립극장

|image =Samjiyon Orchestra Seoul 01.jpg

|caption =

| address = Jangchung-dong, Jung-gu

| city = Seoul

| country = South Korea

| designation = {{Designation list

|embed=yes

|designation1=Seoul Future Heritage

|designation1_number=2013-027{{Cite web |title=국립극장 |url=https://futureheritage.seoul.go.kr/futureHeritageMeet/futureHeritage/view.do?order=&htNo=383&htCateValue=&htSelectGuValue=&htConditionValue=&selectYearValue=&buildYearValue=&fetchStart=1&srchType=title&searchTitle=%EA%B5%AD%EB%A6%BD%EA%B7%B9%EC%9E%A5 |website=Seoul Future Heritage |publisher=Seoul Metropolitan Government |lang=ko |access-date=2025-03-30}}

}}

| latitude =

| longitude =

| architect =

| owner = Shin Sun-hee

| capacity =

| type =

| opened = April 29, 1950

| yearsactive =

| rebuilt =

| closed =

| othernames =

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| currentuse =

| website = https://www.ntok.go.kr/ntok-en/main.do

|embedded= {{Infobox Korean name

| hangul = 국립극장

| hanja = 國立劇場

|rr=Gungnip Geukjang

|mr=Kungnip Kŭkchang

|child=yes

}}

The National Theater of Korea ({{Korean|hangul=국립극장}}) is a national theatre located in the neighborhood of Jangchung-dong, Jung District, Seoul South Korea.[http://www.visitseoul.net/en/article/article.do?_method=view&art_id=10585&lang=en&m=0004003002010&p=03 National Theater of Korea] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120406234655/http://www.visitseoul.net/en/article/article.do?_method=view&art_id=10585&lang=en&m=0004003002010&p=03 |date=2012-04-06 }} Seoul Tourism Organization It is the first nationally managed theater in Asia.{{Citation needed|date=September 2009}}

Affiliation

The National Theater of Korea was established in 1950 by the government of South Korea and hosts the National Theater Company of Korea, which performs both Korean and international plays, the National Changgeuk Company of Korea, which performs traditional Korean changgeuk, the National Dance Company of Korea, and the National Orchestra Company of Korea.[http://culture360.org/organisation/the-national-theater-of-korea-ntok/ The national theater of korea]

Facilities

Main Hall 'Hae' ({{langx|ko|해|label=none}}; "sun")
Small Hall 'Dal' ({{langx|ko|달|label=none}}; "moon")
Studio 'Byeol' ({{langx|ko|별|label=none}}; "star")
KB Haneul Youth Theater ({{langx|ko|하늘|label=none}}; "sky")
Culture Square

Events

=Youth Performing Arts Festival=

The Youth Performing Arts Festival of the National Theater, held every

April until May, is a festival for youth. With the theme 'Youth Embracing

the Sky,' the festival contributes to fostering the positive emotions of

youth through programs allowing the experience of traditional dance music,

musicals, mime, plays and dance of both Korean and international classics.

In 2008 when the first festival was held, The Journey to Folksong with Suksun Ahn was performed for youth and multi-cultural families in culturally neglected areas. The Youth Performing Arts Festival is the signature event

of the National Theater, with the goal of inspiring those

who will be the future leaders of society and the performing arts.

=The World Festival of National Theaters=

Starting in 2007, the World Festival of National Theaters takes place from

September to October every year. The festival promotes the mutual

understanding of cultures from every country, whereby Korean audiences

can enjoy many excellent domestic and overseas performances. At the same

time the National Theater of Korea can better solidify its position as the center

of performing arts in Korea. Performances representing national theaters of

various nations are on stage together with additional events like shows and

exhibitions. National theaters, embassies and cultural centers of every

country gather here for active cultural and artistic communication. The

World Festival of National Theaters is the biggest festival hosted by the

National Theater of Korea and is considered by some to be one of the greatest festivals in Korea.

=The Saturday Cultural Plaza=

Since 1993, the Saturday Cultural Plaza is the oldest open air performance

by the National Theater. Various concerts and performances such as ballets,

concerts of contemporary music and orchestra concerts are held in the

open air cultural plaza every May to September, on Saturdays at 6:00PM.

So far, 350 thousand people have visited the Saturday Cultural Plaza.

From 2002 to 2007 the Plaza was sponsored by Renault-Samsung Motors

and starting in 2008 by KB Kookmin Bank, which received the Mecenat

Award in 2008. This activity aspires to serve as a model of partnership between

art and business.

=Midday Concert=

The Midday Concert was designed to show the potential of traditional

classical music so the public can easily understand Korean music's past and

present. Folksongs, contemporary music, and original sound tracks of soap

operas and films are rearranged and modernized by the National Orchestra. Commentaries on each work by the artistic director Byeongki Hwang

in order to enrich the concert's content.

=Seasons Festival=

National Theater of Korea provides various events every spring, summer, fall and winter.[http://www.ntok.go.kr/www/business/seasons_festival/season_festival1/season_festival1.cms Events website in Korean]

Shows

August 2010: Actors Lee Joon-gi and Ju Ji-hoon co-starred in military musical, Voyage of Life. The musical, to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the Korean War, was co-produced by the Ministry of National Defense and Korea Musical Theatre Association. It ran from 21 to 29 August the Theater.{{cite news|last=Jang|first=Kyung-Jin|title=Lee Jun-ki says "depressed about Joo Ji-hoon turning first private today" (2)|url=http://www.tenasia.co.kr/?construct=newContent&fz=news&gisaNo=22691|accessdate=10 December 2012|newspaper=10 Asia|date=3 August 2010}}{{cite news|last=Lee|first=Jin-hyuk|title=Lee Jun-ki attends musical "Voyage of Life" press conf|url=http://www.tenasia.co.kr/?construct=newContent&fz=news&gisaNo=23406|accessdate=10 December 2012|newspaper=10 Asia|date=3 August 2010}}
January 2013: The Ministry of National Defense again with Korea Musical Theatre Association produced another military musical The Promise, to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the signing of an armistice. It ran from 9 to 20 January at the Theater, starring actors Ji Hyun-woo, Kim Mu-yeol, Jung Tae-woo; as well as singers Leeteuk of Super Junior, Yoon Hak of Supernova, and Lee Hyun of 8Eight. The musical is centered on a group of soldiers who keeps a promise made to each other during the 6.25 war.{{cite news|title=Star-Studded Army Musical to Open in January|url=http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2012/12/28/2012122801099.html|accessdate=4 April 2013|newspaper=The Chosun Ilbo|date=28 December 2012}}{{cite news|last=Hong|first=Grace Danbi|title=Super Junior's Leeteuk and Ji Hyun Woo Participate in Army Musical|url=http://enewsworld.interest.me/enews/contents.asp?idx=23691|accessdate=4 April 2013|newspaper=enewsWorld|date=12 December 2012|agency=CJ E&M|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130615221950/http://enewsworld.interest.me/enews/contents.asp?idx=23691|archive-date=15 June 2013|url-status=dead}}