Sevastopol Orchestra highlights 2013's cultural exchange

By Kim Se-jeong

Sevastopol City Chamber-Symphonic Orchestra was this year’s pick for a cultural exchange program organized by the Ukrainian Embassy in Seoul and the Korea International Culture Exchange Association.

“We try to develop our cooperation in the cultural field. Ukrainian artists, musicians, ballet dancers and sportsmen often visit Korea,” said Ambassador to Korea Vasyl Marmazov.

Yonsan Art Hall in Seoul where the orchestra performed on July 3 was fully packed.

The group overwhelmed the audience with music by G. Puccini, J. Offenbach, Beethoven and Schumann, and the finale was adorned with Arirang, the traditional Korean tune which is a regular to a concert of that kind.

The conductor of the orchestra added significance on last week’s performance. Volodymyr Kim is a third-generation ethnic Korean.

“I am a Korean descendant because of my father. It is a big honor for me to be here to conduct this concert. And it is sad that my father can’t be here with me tonight,” Kim said in a statement.

Kim’s family history is one of thousands of ethnic Koreans who were forcibly relocated from the Russian Far East in the early 20th century under then Soviet dictator Stalin. Ukraine was among the countries that ethnic Koreans settled - Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Russia.