Seoul’s Sejong Center for the Performing Arts has launched a new backstage tour designed to offer international visitors a closer look at the inner workings and historical significance of the city’s prominent cultural venue. The program allows participants access to areas typically restricted to performers and staff, providing insight into the theater’s architecture, production processes, and artistic heritage.

Ahead of the tour’s official debut in May, a preview was held on April 9 for approximately 20 students from Yonsei University’s Korean Language Institute. The guided visit led participants through staff-only corridors into the heart of the Sejong Grand Theater, revealing the stage set for Verdi’s opera “Nabucco,” which was scheduled for performance that evening. Visitors were given the rare experience of standing before the venue’s over 3,000 red seats and exploring spaces normally hidden from public view.

Tour guide Yoo Jong-a highlighted the theater’s longstanding role in Korea’s performing arts scene since its completion in 1978. She noted the frequent presence of renowned figures such as maestro Chung Myung-whun, the former music director of the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra, who has performed on the Sejong stage extensively. The tour also included an opportunity to visit the rehearsal studio of the resident Seoul Metropolitan Dance Theater. Director Yoon Hye-jung introduced participants to traditional Korean dance forms, linking them to contemporary cultural representations.

The 70-minute tour begins at Gwanghwamun Square, in front of the statue of King Sejong after whom the center is named, before moving through multiple performance halls, backstage zones, and rehearsal areas. It concludes with a visit to the rooftop observatory, where attendees are offered panoramic views of Seoul’s skyline.

Organizers emphasized the program’s aim to deepen visitors’ appreciation for the venue beyond attending performances. “This tour is for people who want to understand the theater’s story and feel connected to its atmosphere,” said tour manager Choi Byung-hoon. Participants responded positively, expressing newfound respect for the space and its cultural layers. One attendee from Bulgaria remarked on the added meaning gained from learning the history behind the stage, while another from Poland shared a desire to return for a live performance.

The initiative reflects an effort to engage foreign audiences by providing a more intimate and immersive cultural experience. The Sejong Center hopes the backstage tour will encourage visitors to see the venue not merely as a backdrop for performances but as a living institution with rich artistic traditions. The full program is set to open to the public in May.