The grand music echoes with the song of the jester Rigoletto.
Soon, a lavish stage setup depicts a royal banquet.
This is a scene from a performance of Verdi's representative opera, Rigoletto, in Beijing, China.
Korean baritone Leon Kim took on the starring role of Rigoletto in this production, which took place at the National Centre for the Performing Arts, China's largest performance venue.
[Han Sang-woo, Correspondent / Beijing: As it was produced as a South Korea-China joint venture, from planning and directing to the cast, it has drawn fervent interest within China as well.]
Earlier during the Daegu performance in April, it drew explosive interest, selling out every single seat.
[Hwang Bo-ran, Director of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Daegu Metropolitan City: I would say we chose Rigoletto because it is one of the most popular works, and both the Chinese and Korean publics find many of the arias in it very interesting and love them greatly.]
Although China officially maintains its stance that there is no ban on Korean cultural content (known as the Hallyu ban), Chinese President Xi Jinping effectively acknowledged the restrictions during the South Korea-China summit in January, remarking that "three feet of ice does not melt in a single day," while promising a gradual expansion of cultural exchanges.
[Noh Jae-heon, South Korean Ambassador to China: In fact, cultural exchanges should not be limited to certain occasions; they are something we must pursue continuously. I hope we can make the most of occasions like the 35th anniversary of diplomatic ties between South Korea and China next year to further promote cultural exchanges.]
Following the opera performance, a gradual expansion of exchanges is expected to continue starting late this year in museum exhibitions, sports, and films as well.
South Korean and Chinese Actors Share the Stage... Is the "Three-Foot Ice" Melting? (September 19, 2026, 8 News)
Reported by Han Sang-woo | Produced by Bae Jun-hwi | Filmed by Choi Deok-hyun | Video Edited by Jung Yong-hwa | Produced by SBS Digital News
※
Copying, redistribution, and unauthorized use in AI training are strictly prohibited.