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Korea Herald
30-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Korea Herald
Lee Hee-moon's glam journey through folk songs -- in heels and hanbok
Clad in sparkling high heels, short tights and a shock of brightly colored wigs, Lee Hee-moon stepped onto the stage in full glam and earned many nicknames like 'The Gugak Rebel' or 'The Joseon Hedwig.' But to focus on his flamboyant costuming alone is to miss the larger picture. Onstage, Lee moves with the magnetism of a pop star and the ritualistic presence of a folk priest. Collaborating across genres, from jazz and hip-hop to techno, disco and trot, he bends and reshapes Korean folk music into something utterly his own. What unfolds in his performances is neither fully traditional nor fully modern; neither strictly male nor female; neither a rock concert nor a ritual. It is something entirely new. His creativity with tradition and genre is what brought him to July's Yeowoorak Festival as artistic director. Now 45, Lee is one of the few male vocalists formally trained in Gyeonggi minyo, a traditional style of Korean folk music native to Seoul and its surrounding province. The genre, traditionally performed by women, is rarely pursued by male singers. But to him, tradition is not a dusty relic. It's a living, breathing, ever-evolving form — playful, dynamic and at times, subversive. 'I'm just trying different outfits for minyo,' he said in a recent interview with The Korea Herald. 'Different costumes, different sounds, different visuals. It's like I'm making sample after sample, seeing what clicks with the audience.' He came to gugak late — in his late 20s — partly because the idea of a male Gyeonggi minyo singer did not occur to him. Even so, Lee's roots in minyo run deep. His mother, Go Ju-rang, is a renowned Gyeonggi minyo master, and he trained under her close friend Lee Chun-hee. A 2007 collaboration with renowned choreographer Ahn Eun-mi on 'Princess Bari' marked the breakthrough that defined his artistic vision. He went on to form the glam-folk band SsingSsing in 2014 and gained global attention with a viral NPR Tiny Desk Concert in 2017. Looking back, pushing against the boundaries of a conservative music scene was daunting. 'It felt like I was going through a kind of measles,' he said with a laugh. 'But once I got through it, I realized it wasn't such a big deal after all.' 'When I dress up, I feel like I become someone else — more confident, more alive. That transformation helps me onstage,' he added. This year alone, Lee has presented several projects/repertoires and has more lined up, blending new and ongoing works such as band Obangsin (2020), the documentary-style lecture "Deep Love Trilogy" (2020), his most traditional work 'Yo' (2024) and the male minyo group Goman Goman (2024). Unlike his usual glittery performances, the recent projects take a stripped-down approach. Wearing traditional hanbok, without sequins or heels, Lee puts the music itself front and center. During the Japanese colonial period, male minyo singers nearly disappeared, Lee explained, but recently, he has noticed more young men stepping onto the scene. Gathering these young singers for study sessions and stage performances has reignited his desire to return to tradition. '(I think) I have always embraced tradition, but I now hope to sing in a more classical style — faithful to the traditional methods as well,' he said. 'I've grown increasingly passionate about this goal.' His work with Gyeonggi minyo continues to evolve alongside him. 'I always say that the melodies of Gyeonggi minyo are bright, elaborate and lively,' he said. 'But if you look closely at the lyrics, they contain the full range of human emotions: joy, sorrow, love and anger. It's like telling sad stories with a smile. Sometimes, it even feels like black comedy. That's why I think this genre fits our times so well.' 'It's a truly unique kind of music, and when I create performances, I want to match that uniqueness with equally distinctive shows.' The 2025 Yeowookrak Festival runs from July 4-26. hwangdh@
Al Etihad
16-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Al Etihad
Renowned Korean National University of Arts Symphony Orchestra live at NYU Abu Dhabi
17 Apr 2025 00:50 ABU DHABI (ALETIHAD)The Korean National University of Arts Symphony Orchestra (KNUA) will be playing at the Abu Dhabi Festival this Friday. They will perform a programme of Beethoven and Tchaikovsky, preceded by an extract from the ballet Princess Bari by renowned Korean composer Geon-yong Lee - at the Red Theater, The Arts Center at NYU Abu Dhabi, on Saadiyat Island (7.30pm).Conducted by Chi-Yong Chung, the orchestra has made a major contribution to the musical life of Korea since it was founded in 1993, with performances of Korean music along with major works from the Western classical repertory. The KNUA holds annual concerts at venues including the Seoul Arts Centre and the Lotte Concert Hall. International tours have brought enthusiastic new audiences. The orchestra has performed internationally in Germany, Russia, China and the United conductor, Chi-Yong Chung, made his debut in Korea in 1993 with the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra and subsequently became its chief conductor and music director. He has become known as one of Korea's leading conductors, renowned for his insightful interpretations. Chung currently serves as Emeritus Professor of Conducting at the Korea National University of Arts, where he continues to nurture and mentor the next generation of musicians. The ensemble includes accomplished and award-winning musicians including Sanghyeok Park on cello and violinist Jaewon Wee Violin. Source: Aletihad - Abu Dhabi
Korea Herald
16-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Korea Herald
KNUA Symphony Orchestra to perform at Abu Dhabi Festival
The Korea National University of Arts Symphony Orchestra has been invited to perform at the 2025 Abu Dhabi Festival, one of the Middle East's most prominent performing arts events, according to the country's top art school, also known as K-Arts, Wednesday. The orchestra, composed of students from the university's School of Music will participate in two concerts: a standalone performance Friday and a collaborative gala Sunday, featuring conductor Toufic Maatouk, tenor Javier Camarena and soprano Jessica Pratt. Under the baton of honorary professor and conductor Chung Chi-yong, Friday's concert will open with four orchestral excerpts from 'Princess Bari,' a large-scale ballet score by Korean composer Lee Geon-yong. Based on a Korean folktale, the piece will introduce the sounds of traditional Korean instruments to audiences in the Middle East. The program continues with Brahms' Double Concerto in A minor, performed by violinist Wee Jae-won, the silver medalist at the 2021 George Enescu International Competition, and cellist Park Sang-hyeok, who won third prize at the 2023 Tchaikovsky Competition. The performance concludes with Tchaikovsky's Symphony No. 4. In preparation for this week's concerts in Abu Dhabi of the United Arab Emirates, the KNUA Symphony Orchestra held a preview concert in March and presented the same program Monday at the Lotte Concert Hall in Seoul. Founded in 1993, the KNUA Symphony Orchestra has performed at major venues in Korea and abroad. In 2023, the orchestra was the featured guest ensemble at the Beethoven Easter Festival in Poland. 'This is the first time a Korean university orchestra has been invited to the Abu Dhabi Festival and it is a great honor,' said Lee Kang-ho, dean of the K-Arts School of Music. 'We expect it to be a meaningful opportunity to showcase the excellence of Korea's young classical musicians.' The Abu Dhabi Festival, established in 2004 by the Abu Dhabi Music & Arts Foundation, is one of the Middle East's most prestigious cultural events. Held annually in the UAE capital, the festival showcases a diverse array of performances, exhibitions and educational programs.
