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Artist director Yoon Sang

A scheduled early-April performance by a South Korean artists’ group in Pyongyang is attracting growing attention with reports that popular singers Cho Yong-pil, Lee Sun-hee, and Yoon Do-hyun may be appearing. According to reports from music industry sources on Mar. 19, a slate of singers including Cho, Lee, Yoon, and Baek Ji-young is likely to appear at the Pyongyang performance. The singers were reported to be favorably considering requests from the South Korean government to perform.

“While the focus of the performance is likely to be on popular music, specifics concerning the performance content and performers will be available after working-level discussions on Mar. 20,” Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism spokesperson Hwang Sung-woon said. Composer Yoon Sang is to serve as senior representative for the South Korean side at the working-level discussions.

Cho Yong-pil in concert

Cho and Lee already have experience performing in Pyongyang. Cho received a standing ovation at his “Cho Yong-pil Pyongyang 2005” solo concert at Ryugyong Chung Ju-yung Gymnasium on Aug. 23, 2005. His party also met and talked with Supreme People’s Assembly Presidium president Kim Yong-nam at Pyongyang’s Mansudae Assembly Hall.

While she did not give a solo performance, Lee sang “J-ege (To J)” and “Areumdaun Gangsan (Beautiful Country)” at a 2003 “unification recital” for the opening of Ryugyong Chung Ju-yung Gymnasium. Yoon Do-hyun appeared a special MBC performance in Pyongyang in 2002 singling “Neoreul Bonaego (After Letting You Go)” and “O! Tongil Korea (Oh! Unified Korea),” a lyrically adapted version of the World Cup cheering anthem “O! Pilseung Korea.”

The South Korean government is also reportedly considering classical in addition to popular music performances. Conductor Chung Myung-whun, the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra, and the KBS Symphony Orchestra have received scheduling inquiries from Seoul. The reports have some speculating the Pyongyang performance will be something along the lines of “Open Concerts”: focusing chiefly on popular music, but with classical music added in to keep things from being too light.

“There have been quite a few privately organized popular music performances in North Korea in the past,” inter-Korean cultural event planner Lee Cheol-ju said.

“While the [South Korean] government wants to share K-Pop, it also looks like they’re preparing a performance that includes songs familiar to North Koreans,” Lee added.

By Kim Mi-young, staff reporter

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