This fall, Sunwook KIM, Yeol Eum SON, and Yekwon SUNWOO (pianists) and In Mo YANG (violinist) will give special performances at the Blue House (Cheongwadae) Yeongbingwan. Cheongwadae is the previous presidential office and residence that has now become a public park and cultural complex, and will serve as the stage for the “K-classical music” stars, who have captured the hearts of international classical music fans, to celebrate the returning of Cheongwadae to the public.

The K-classical music gala at Cheongwadae is a reflection of the YOON Suk Yeol administration’s desire to reach out to the socially-disadvantaged. Priority for invitation is given to aspiring artists with disabilities and underprivileged people with opportunities. Other invitations will go out to young artists and applicants selected at random. This event will be an opportunity to get up close to the world-class artists against the picturesque scene at Cheongwadae in its colorful autumn foliage.

The K- Classical Music Concert Coloring Cheongwadae in Autumn Hues is co-hosted by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (Minister PARK Bo Gyoon, MCST) together with the Seoul Arts Center (President CHANG Hyoung-joon, SAC) and the Korean National Symphony Orchestra (President & CEO CHOI Jung-sook, KNSO) and will run on four occasions: November 1 (Tue), November 4 (Fri), November 7 (Mon), and November 11 (Fri). The venue, Yeongbingwan, used to be the state reception hall where dinners and performances were given for presidents, prime ministers, and other state guests during diplomatic events. This K-classical music concert is the beginning of this stately venue continuing to serve as a place of arts and culture, only this time open to the general public. Beginning next year, the plan is to hold performances throughout the year at other locations at Cheongwadae such as the Grand Garden and Nokjiwon Garden.

󰋮 Recital by pianist Sunwook KIM at 3 pm on November 1 (Tue)

Franz Schubert's Four Impromptus and Franz Liszt’s Piano Sonata in B minor, S.178

Kim is an internationally-acclaimed pianist, having been the youngest winner of the prestigious Leeds International Piano Competition in 2006; he is also a recording artist who has performed with major international orchestras.   

󰋮 Concert by pianist Yekwon SUNWOO with the KNSO at 3 pm on November 4 (Fri)

"October - Autumn Song" from Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky's "The Seasons," Sergei Rachmaninoff’s “Variations on a Theme of Corelli,” and more

Sunwoo was the first Korean to win the gold medal at the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition in 2017.  The Orchestra will perform Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s Divertimento, Astor Piazzolla’s “Libertango,” and more.

󰋮 Concert by violinist In Mo YNAG with the KNSO at 7 pm on November 7 (Mon)

Mozart’s Violin Sonata No. 18 in G Major, K.301 and Sibelius’s Five Pieces for Violin and Piano (piano by PARK Sang-wook)

In Mo became the first Korean to win first prize at the prestigious Sibelius Competition in Helsinki, Finland in May this year. The Orchestra’s program is the same as the second performance (above).  

󰋮 Recital by pianist Yeol Eum SON at 7 pm on Friday, November 11

Nikolai Kapustin’s Variations Op. 41, William Hirtz’s “Wizard of Oz” Fantasy, and more

Son won second prize at the International Tchaikovsky Competition in 2011 and has been serving as artistic director of the PyeongChang Music Festival & School since 2018.

These live performances will be filmed. Some of the recordings will be available in streaming format online or exclusively screened at home and abroad as part of the “SAC on SCREEN” project, which is a SAC undertaking to make more performances available  to wider audiences through digital recordings.

MCST Minister PARK said, “[Today is] K-classical music’s time. The world is noticing the achievements of young Korean musicians. K-classical music, recently exploding in popularity, is a quintessential part of Korean culture (K-culture).” He added, “The autumn scenery at Cheongwadae  is enchanting. Everything will be done so that audiences can revel completely in the season here, together with a first-rate classical music concert.”