Anna Jiwon Park has been covering the politics at The Korea Times since the summer of 2024, when she joined the press pool for the Office of the President in Korea. Prior to that, she spent about five years reporting extensively on financial markets, regulatory authorities and the financial industry. She joined The Korea Times in 2019 after spending eight years as a broadcast journalist at Arirang TV, Korea’s leading global broadcaster, covering politics, defense and culture.
Greet 2020 with New Year's concerts
Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra and maestro Chung Myung-whun will present a New Year's concert at 5 p.m. on Jan. 4 at the Grand Theater in Sejong Center for the Performing Arts. Courtesy of Sejong Center for the Performing Arts
By Anna J. Park
By Anna J. Park
Marking the start of 2020 ― the 250th birth anniversary of Beethoven, many classical music groups and performance halls in Korea have prepared their own New Year's concerts to usher in this fresh year for audiences.
One of the concerts that draws the most attention among classical music lovers in the nation is the New Year's concert performance by the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra under the baton of maestro Chung Myung-whun, scheduled to take place on Jan. 4 at 5 p.m. at the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts in central Seoul.
The concert will be the first joint performance by the orchestra and maestro Chung in four years since 2016.
Chung led the orchestra for 10 years from 2006 to 2015 as its chief conductor and music director.
During those 10 years, the orchestra and the conductor released several CDs through the prestigious Deutsche Grammophon label as Asia's first orchestra to do so.
Violinist Clara-Jumi Kang / Courtesy of Clara-Jumi Kang
After more than four years of separate musical activities by the maestro and the orchestra, many classical music aficionado are wondering what kind of musical harmony and sounds will be created by Chung and the orchestra at this Saturday's concert.
Together, they will perform Brahms' “Symphony No. 1 in C minor, Op. 68,” as well as Bruch's “Violin Concerto No. 1 in G minor, Op. 26,” with violinist Clara-Jumi Kang.
And for those who'd like to welcome the freshly starting year with a unique charm of traditional Korean musical tunes and melodies, Seoul Metropolitan Traditional Music Orchestra's New Year's concert will provide a perfect opportunity to enjoy the start of the new year with ambiences of both calm and excitement.
The Seoul Metropolitan Traditional Music Orchestra ― which also celebrates its 55th anniversary this year since its beginning back in 1965 ― will hold its New Year's concert at 7:30 p.m. on Jan. 8 at the Grand Theater of Sejong Center for the Performing Arts in central Seoul.
Seoul Metropolitan Traditional Music Orchestra will present its New Year's concert at 7:30 p.m. on Jan. 8 at the Grand Theater in Sejong Center for the Performing Arts. Courtesy of Sejong Center for the Performing Arts
Kim Deok-su, master of traditional Korean percussion music and founder of Samul Nori
Audiences don't need previous knowledge or understanding of gugak (traditional Korean music) to enjoy the New Year's performance; the program consists of some of the legendary gugak musicians, including Kim Deok-su ― master of traditional Korean percussion music and founder of group Samul Nori (which led to the creation of the modern traditional genre of percussion music of the same name played in quartet) ― and Kim Young-im, one of the best-known traditional Korean singers.
Audiences can listen to a wide spectrum of traditional Korean music at the concert, from calm and transparent sounds depicting the freshness of nature, to the strains of soul-touching minyo and a solo performance on a daegeum (large bamboo flute), along with the an orchestra.
Reservations for these concerts can be made at
or by calling 02-399-1000 or through various ticket purchasing sites, such as Interpark Ticket or Ticket Links.