(56) Saju of Eugene Park: How to Save the Collapsed Talents

By Janet Shin

For several weeks, much has been heard about the Korean-American violinist Eugene Park.

There are a lot of rumors surfacing about Park's relationship with his former managers, as well as video footage and pictures of Park looking mentally unstable and performing in settings that were not appropriate for his musical talent.

Park was born in New York, to Korean parents who were both doctors. His father, who has passed away, graduated from Seoul National University. Park began to play the violin at the age of 3, and entered the Julliard Pre-College at the age of eight. Park appeared at Lincoln Center at the age of 13.

He was awarded at various noted musical competitions including the Julliard competition, the Aspen Music School competition, the ISO competition and others. Park gained attention when he began performing in Korea in the late 1990s and released three albums from 1997 to 2006.

Park has performed alongside Michael Jackson at the ``Michael Jackson and Friends" benefit concert (1999) in Korea and also at the Korean National Presidential Inauguration for President Kim Dae-jung.

However he disappeared from the public eye several years ago, then came back with the news that he has been detained and abused by his former managers.

According to netizens, there were reports Park has been enslaved and forced to perform at small events. It has been alleged that Park was kidnapped by his former managers and the company also kept all of his fees.

What on earth happened to this gifted artist?

We may not know the full truth of all the facts, but we can find some hints by reading his saju.

Park was born Sep. 14,, 1975.