By Choi Kyong-ae
Macquarie Korea Chairman John Walker sang songs from his self-produced album "12 Bridges" at an Itaewon pub, Thursday night.
Over 100 people showed up to listen to Walker's performance. The singer-songwriter sang a number of his works including "It's a cruel world," "Highway of my mind" and "Malala."
Walker already knew what he wanted to express to the audience even before stepping on stage.
He wanted to share the pain of the families of the victims injured and killed in the sinking of the ferry Sewol, while showing appreciation for the country he loves so much.
"It is called Sad Sad Song and I have trouble playing it as I cry a little every time I play it," he said, explaining that he wrote the song to help the victims and their bereaved families.
He planned to perform it live, where he could do something more to help the families of the victims deal with their terrible loss.
The song did not make it on to "12 Bridges."
His latest release was finished shortly before the Sewol disaster on April 16 which took the lives of nearly 300 high school students, he said.
In May, his CDs were auctioned at a charity hosted by the Australian and New Zealand Association in Seoul.
"The money was donated to support the Sewol relief effort along with other proceeds from the auction that night," said Walker.
He said that all sales from the album will be donated to various Asian charities, including the Comprehension Support Center for the Elderly Living Alone in Seoul.
His wife Jina Moon is an Asiatic Black bear protection activist.
He has raised 20 million won, about 20 percent, of his goal of $100,000.
Describing himself as a "travelling man," Walker said he has a lot of time when he is on plane flights or finds himself stuck in traffic so he tries to use these times to not think about work and focus on other things instead.
Walker has recently been appointed as chairman of Macquarie Project Services for the Middle East and Asia. In 2000, he established Macquarie's Korean business with only three staff members, according to Macquarie Korea, the largest foreign asset manager in Asia's fourth-biggest economy.
"I would like to do more albums and find additional ways to give through combining music with giving," Walker said, adding he and his wife run a family trust where they give 10 percent of their income to a variety of charity causes.
His Sewol song, together with nine other songs, will be included in a second album he plans to release next year.
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| John Walker, chairman of the Macquarie Group of Companies in Korea |
Over 100 people showed up to listen to Walker's performance. The singer-songwriter sang a number of his works including "It's a cruel world," "Highway of my mind" and "Malala."
Walker already knew what he wanted to express to the audience even before stepping on stage.
He wanted to share the pain of the families of the victims injured and killed in the sinking of the ferry Sewol, while showing appreciation for the country he loves so much.
"It is called Sad Sad Song and I have trouble playing it as I cry a little every time I play it," he said, explaining that he wrote the song to help the victims and their bereaved families.
He planned to perform it live, where he could do something more to help the families of the victims deal with their terrible loss.
The song did not make it on to "12 Bridges."
His latest release was finished shortly before the Sewol disaster on April 16 which took the lives of nearly 300 high school students, he said.
In May, his CDs were auctioned at a charity hosted by the Australian and New Zealand Association in Seoul.
"The money was donated to support the Sewol relief effort along with other proceeds from the auction that night," said Walker.
He said that all sales from the album will be donated to various Asian charities, including the Comprehension Support Center for the Elderly Living Alone in Seoul.
His wife Jina Moon is an Asiatic Black bear protection activist.
He has raised 20 million won, about 20 percent, of his goal of $100,000.
Describing himself as a "travelling man," Walker said he has a lot of time when he is on plane flights or finds himself stuck in traffic so he tries to use these times to not think about work and focus on other things instead.
Walker has recently been appointed as chairman of Macquarie Project Services for the Middle East and Asia. In 2000, he established Macquarie's Korean business with only three staff members, according to Macquarie Korea, the largest foreign asset manager in Asia's fourth-biggest economy.
"I would like to do more albums and find additional ways to give through combining music with giving," Walker said, adding he and his wife run a family trust where they give 10 percent of their income to a variety of charity causes.
His Sewol song, together with nine other songs, will be included in a second album he plans to release next year.
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