By Lee Hyo-won
Staff Reporter
Charity takes on a melodious form with a special concert to raise money for the nation's worst-ever oil spill last month in Taean, South Chungcheong Province. Conductor Chung Myung-whun will lead the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra at 5 p.m., Jan. 30 at the Seoul Arts Center in southern Seoul.
``I'd like to help, but all I know is music,'' said Chung, who proposed the fundraising event while on holiday in Hawaii. The maestro had organized concerts to raise environmental awareness in 1995, and expressed concern about the recent disaster.
The arts center will open its concert hall earlier than scheduled for the occasion, and Chung as well as host Jin Yang-hye and members of the orchestra will perform for free.
The Korea Federation of Small and Medium Business has promised to donate 150 million won. Eight hundred seats will be open to the general public free of charge. A donation box will be placed in the lobby of the concert hall for contributions.
All proceeds will go to victims of the oil spill.
The program will feature Mahler's Symphony No. 1, which is also known as ``Titan'' after Jean Paul's celebrated novel. The piece is marked by gaiety and sorrow, with a melodious opening that evokes the forest in the springtime followed by a long, brooding funerary theme.
But above all, the symphony translates hopeful messages about the beginning of new life, and is thus meant to wish the victims a speedy recovery.
To attend the concert, apply online at www.bbiz.or.kr, www.sac.or.kr, www.seoulphil.or.kr or www.mct.go.kr (all in Korean). Call (02) 580-1300 for more information. The organizers will accept applications until 6 p.m. tonight, and will randomly draw 400 winners (two tickets per winner) and announce the results Thursday.
Tens of thousands of volunteers, local residents, civil servants and soldiers have visited the affected beaches to help in the clean up. Those interested in joining in the eco-friendly action should visit www.taean.go.kr (Korean) or korea4expats.com (English) where you can find ways to help.