Seoul Arts Center Concert Hall — Attraction in Seoul

Hey dude, did you know Korea has its very first classical concert hall built back in 1988? Pretty wild when you think about it. It has been around for a while, and I’ve spent some amazing evenings there. I caught the KBS Symphony Orchestra’s 794th Subscription Concert on September 19, 2023, and went back again for Beethoven’s Triple Concerto with Jaap van Zweden on December 1. Then came the 40th Korea International Music Festival on December 2, the 797th Subscription Concert on December 23, and Yuhki Kuramoto & Friends on Christmas Eve. It was a full season, and I loved every moment of it.

Getting there can be a little tricky though. The nearest subway station is about a twenty-minute walk, which isn’t great if you are in a hurry. But once you step inside the Seoul Arts Center, the atmosphere makes up for it. The place feels alive with art and music. There are a few nice restaurants nearby too, and the prices are pretty reasonable. The box office is right on the first floor, easy to find, which I always appreciate.

One thing that surprises a lot of people is that this concert hall doesn’t have a pipe organ. Apparently, they had planned to install one when it was first built, but budget cuts got in the way. Adding one now would take at least six months of construction and would mean closing the hall during that time. So it probably will not happen anytime soon.

Even so, the hall itself is wonderful. The sound carries beautifully, the space feels just right, and the energy from the audience is something you do not forget. It might not have a grand organ, but it has heart, and that counts for a lot. If you love classical music, this is a place you should visit at least once. Go, take it in, and let the music...

악기 구성이나 공연 형태에 따라 좌석엔 호불호가 갈릴 수 있겠지만 몇 번 다녀본 바에 따라 아래와 같은 추천이 가능할 듯. 물론 음향전문가가 아니기 때문에 개인적인 느낌에 불과한 점을 양해 바람.

항상 비추천하는 자리 : 1층 뒷열(18열 이후) - 2층 좌석 천장에 의해 위가 가려지기 때문에 소리가 반사되어 도달하지 못하고 먹먹한 소리가 나는 느낌이며 비주얼적으로도 작은 단차로 인해 그리 뛰어나다고 말할 수 없음. 그런데 통상 C블럭의 경우 1층 뒷열도 R석으로 지정되므로 가성비도 안 나옴. 장점은 공연 끝나고 빨리 나갈 수 있는 점 정도?

항상 추천하는 자리 : 1층 C블럭 8~16열 정도. 교향곡, 리사이틀, 협주곡을 막론하고 소리와 비주얼 모두 만족할 만한 자리. 물론 통상 R석 지정이고 인기공연은 빛의 속도로 팔림.

피아노 리사이틀, 협주곡 추천석 : 손을 보고 싶다면 1층, 2층 B구역까진 나쁘지 않음. 얼굴을 보고 싶다면 D구역과 E구역 왼쪽까진 괜찮음. 리사이틀은 최대한 앞 열이 좋고 협주곡은 밸런스 상 살짝 뒷쪽으로 가는 것이 음향이 나은 느낌.

바이올린, 첼로...

Modern and vibrant complex with lots of facilities and eateries. Something for everyone and virtually all ages.

The recital room (which I attended) is small but acoustically sound....