Symphonic Music Vocal Music and Opera Choral Music Instrumental Music Performance Facilities Music Education

Western classical music was first introduced to Korea in the late 19th century when Christianity made its way onto the peninsula. When the first Presbyterian and Methodist missionaries arrived in 1884, they began teaching hymns to their converts. This, along with their introduction of other classical forms, was the genesis of Western classical music in Korea. Soon, Western classical music was heard everywhere in Korea, and by the turn of the century the lied-style songs became the dominant form of music.

Violinist and composer Hong Nan-pa published Bongseonhwa in 1919, believed to be Korea's first Western-style song. Yi Heung-ryeol (1909-1980) turned several popular songs into accompanied ternary-form art songs, developing the larger Korean three-part style. Both Kim Seong-tae and Kim Dong-jin established a song and accompaniment genre as a popular musical form.

Other famous song composers of the day included Chae Dong-seon, Hyun Je-myung and Kim Se-hyeong. In the 1950s, Na Un-yeong began composing works based on modern compositional techniques, such as the 12-tone system, while attempting to incorporate elements from Korean traditional music. Around this time, Ahn Eak-tay, the composer of the Korean National Anthem, and Yun Isang both began to participate actively in the musical scenes of Spain and Germany respectively. Kang Seok-hui, Paek Byeong-dong and Kim Jong-gil were also instrumental in further introducing contemporary Western music to Korea via the International Society of Contemporary Music.

Since the 1980s, Korean traditional music has drawn special interest from Western composers, due to the nation's economic advancement and its newly acquired status among industrial nations following its successful hosting of the 1988 Summer Olympics. While Koreans in general have been increasingly interested in discovering and preserving the roots of their unique cultural heritage, many intellectuals realized the value of traditional music which they had long forgotten under the strong influence of Western music.

Several composers have actively pursued incorporating traditional Korean musical elements into their Western-style compositions and performances. Leading this trend are Na In-yeong, Park Cheong-seon, and Lee Young-jo. These composers have furthermore made considerable efforts to elevate Korean music from its purely ethnic or regional appeal to an art form that can solicit global interest.


Symphonic Music

The Korea Philharmonic Orchestra Society, Korea's first national orchestra, was established in 1945. The Korean Broadcasting System (KBS) Symphony Orchestra was subsequently founded in 1956 followed closely by the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra in 1957. Since then, the number of orchestras has rapidly increased. A total of 31 orchestras are presently operating in Seoul and other cities such as Busan, Daegu, Gwangju, Incheon, Suwon and Bucheon. The orchestras have produced several conductors of distinguished talent, including Chung Myung-whun, Lim Heon-jong and Chung Chi-yong.


Vocal Music and Opera

Korean sopranos, including Jo Su-mi, Hong Hye-kyeong, Shin Yeong-ok and Kim Yeong-mi, have earned international fame and many other Korean singers perform frequently on the international stage. Since baritone Choe Hyeon-su won top honors at the 1990 Tchaikovsky Competition, a number of Korean male singers have been recognized in foreign competitions.

Verdi's La Traviata was the first opera performed in Korea. The National Opera Company was established in 1968 under the patronage of the National Theater, and eight additional groups have been inaugurated since through either private or local government funding. In addition to European operas, these groups have made efforts to perform Korean-composed operas as well. Prime examples of Korean operas include Chunhyangjeon by Hyun Je-myung, Simcheongjeon by Kim Dong-jin, Prince Hodong by Chang Il-nam, and Cheo-yong by Lee Young-jo, which were based on old Korean novels or historical episodes. Lee's later opera Hwang Jin-ie has also been staged internationally with productions in Beijing (2000), Tokyo (2001), and Los Angeles (2002) with high acclaim.


Choral Music

Choral music has enjoyed strong followings since the introduction of Western music into Korea. The quality of Korean choral performances has also been internationally recognized. For example, Korea won first prize at the World Chorus Competition in Vienna in 1997, and Korea hosted the World Choir Olympics in Busan in 2002. Korea's National Chorus was formed in 1973, followed by the Seoul City Chorus in 1978 and numerous other civic and private groups later. Additionally, there are hundreds of amateur choirs across the country offering excellent performances. Yun Hak-won, Yu Pyeong-mu, Na Yeong-su and Park Chang-hun are among the nation's leading choral conductors whose contributions to this area are particularly noteworthy. Prominent composers of choral music in Korea include Na In-yong, Park Jung-su, and Lee Young-jo.


Instrumental Music

Chung Kyung-wha, one of the world's premier violinists, her sister Chung Myung-wha, a cellist, and their youngest brother, the world-renowned Chung Myung-whun, formerly music director of the French National Bastille Opera, established the Chung Trio during the 1970s. They have performed with world-class orchestras in every continent and have produced numerous recordings. Not only have they received praise from foreign critics, they have also enjoyed strong popularity among Korean music-lovers. On the humanitarian front, the trio has worked with the United Nations presenting concerts in the crusade against drug abuse. Violinists Kang Dong-suk and Kim Young-wook have had long standing reputations while more recently two young prodigies, violinist Sarah Chang and cellist Chang Han-na, have made headlines. And in 1997, Ko Bong-in won top honors at the Young Tchaikovsky Competition while still a student in the Korean National University of the Arts Preparatory School.

Several pianists Lee Kyung-sook and Paik Hye-sun are active teacher/performers while Han Dong-il residing in Boston and Paik Kun-woo in Paris appear frequently at venues around the world. Locally, a newer generation of pianists, including Kang Chong-mo and Kim Dae-jin, are developing nearly fanatical followings.


Performance Facilities

The National Theater, the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts, and the Seoul Arts Center are the capital city's major performing arts centers. The Seoul Arts Center is the largest complex in the country, housing a recital hall, a concert hall, an opera house, an intimate "in the round" style drama theater, other indoor and outdoor venues, art and calligraphy galleries as well as shops and restaurants. The National Center for Korean Traditional Performing Arts and the Korean National University of Arts are also located within the complex. The Seoul Arts Center additionally maintains its own full-time orchestra, the Korean Symphony Orchestra, and offers rehearsal space for the National Ballet, the National Chorus, and various other performance groups.


Music Education

Seoul National University, Yonsei University, Hanyang University and Ewha Womans University, each with its own college of music, have trained most of Korea's top musicians. In 1993, the School of Music at the Korean National University of Arts was established by a presidential decree in order to enhance and promote musical training in Korea. The school incorporates a European conservatory style with an American university-type educational system. To become a leading, innovative music school in Asia, the college has invited to its faculty a number of well-known professors of music from the United States, Germany, Russia, and Hungary as well as many of Korea's notable music teachers. The school's students and performing ensembles have already received top prizes from several international competitions as well as having performed at prime venues on the international stage.

With 125 arts high schools and colleges, 49 performance management companies, 27 recording and publishing houses, 18 full-time chamber ensembles, 10 opera companies, 31 full-time orchestras, and 55 music performance facilities, Korea is well-equipped to continue to train world-class performers and teachers in every genres of Western classical music.