Chung to take orchestra to Pyongyang

Chung Myung-whun

By Kwon Mee-yoo

Conductor Chung Myung-whun, who also serves as musical director of the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra (SPO), will take German orchestra Staatskapelle Dresden to North Korea in November as an attempt to improve inter-Korean relations through music.

Chung, the first Korean conductor to become a global name, said he plans to tour Korea and China with the German orchestra in November and Pyongyang is on the list of its destinations.

"We will perform in Seoul on Nov. 18 and 19 and plan to go to Pyongyang afterwards. Germany and Korea share similarities (such as experiences of decades of division) and it would be wonderful if the trip to North Korea is allowed," Chung said during an interview with Yonhap News in France.

Staatskapelle Dresden is one of the world's oldest orchestras and Chung has been the principal guest conductor of the orchestra since 2012.

Chung often mentioned that the musical exchange between South and North Korea is one of his biggest dreams. In 2012, he conducted a joint concert of the Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France, of which he served as music director for 15 years, and the Unhasu Orchestra from North Korea.

Chung finished his term at the Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France, but the orchestra expressed gratitude to the maestro by naming him as the first-ever honorary music director of the orchestra for taking it to the next level, Friday.

The 62-year-old conductor said he always wanted to quit leading orchestras when he becomes 60. Chung's contract with the SPO expires later this year and the conductor intimated his intention to resign.

"Though the decision rests in the hands of the Seoul Metropolitan Government, I personally want to quit," Chung was quoted saying.

Chung came under fire after an audit found him abusing his privileges as SPO music director, including embezzlement, earlier this year.