Rapper Changmo to bring hip-hop to Sejong Center stage with orchestral concert

Rapper Changmo speaks during a press conference at the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts in Seoul's Jongno District, Wednesday. The rapper is set to perform "CHANGMO: The Emperor" at the venue on May 9 and 10. Yonhap

Rapper Changmo will bring hip-hop to one of Seoul's most prominent classical stages this spring, marking an unusual crossover between genres long associated with different cultural spaces.

The artist is set to perform "CHANGMO: The Emperor," part of the 2026 Sejong Concert Series, at the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts' Grand Theater on May 9 and 10. The roughly 3,000-seat venue, traditionally home to classical performances, will host a large-scale concert combining rap with a live orchestra.

Speaking at a press conference held Wednesday at the Sejong Center in central Seoul's Jongno District, Changmo said performing at the venue carried personal significance.

"I never imagined the name 'Sejong Center for the Performing Arts' would appear in my career," he said. "When I was young, I played piano and once dreamed about performing in a place like this. After that dream fell apart, I moved on and focused on hip-hop. To return here feels like a great honor."

From left, Ahn Ho-sang, CEO of Sejong Center for the Performing Arts, rapper Changmo and music director Lee Gwang-il at a press conference at the Sejong Center in Seoul's Jongno District, Wednesday. Yonhap

The concert will unfold in four narrative chapters designed to merge classical and hip-hop elements.

The opening section, "The Dream," begins with Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 5, commonly known as the "Emperor." The second chapter, "The Voice," will reinterpret Changmo's best-known tracks with orchestral arrangements.

The third segment, "The Emperor," forms the dramatic centerpiece by combining themes from the previous chapters, while the final section, "Finale," closes the performance with beats, rap and musical variations reflecting the rapper's artistic vision.

Music director Lee Kwang-il, who is overseeing the orchestral arrangements, said the project aims to go beyond a simple genre collaboration.

"Rather than placing orchestral sounds on top of rap, we tried to reinterpret the narrative of a hip-hop artist within a classical performance space," Lee said. "The orchestra builds harmony and dynamics around the rap, shaping the set list like acts in an opera or movements in a concerto."

The production will feature an orchestra of about 50 musicians, with brass and percussion playing prominent roles, according to Lee.

For the Sejong Center, the project represents an attempt to broaden its scope and reach new audiences.

Ahn Ho-sang, CEO of the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts, said presenting artists popular with younger audiences in a more artistic setting is part of the institution's mission.

"One of our roles is to take artists who are widely loved by the public and present them in ways that are more beautiful and artistic," Ahn said. "We also hope to expand boundaries and offer audiences experiences they have never had before."

Ahn acknowledged that the decision initially raised concerns, particularly about the rapper's "blunt" lyrics, but said the artistic quality of Changmo's music ultimately convinced him.

"It is natural for any new artistic attempt to face criticism at first," he said. "But hip-hop has already become an important cultural medium for a generation. We believe this encounter will create a new synergy."

Ahn Ho-sang, CEO of Sejong Center for the Performing Arts, speaks during a press conference at the center in Seoul's Jongno District, Wednesday. Yonhap

Changmo said he has carefully selected songs to suit the venue, promising a performance that balances his style with the setting.

"After eight years of performing across the country, I've learned how audiences respond to different songs," he said. "For this concert, I've chosen tracks that fit the space, and I'll make sure nothing makes the audience uncomfortable."

The rapper also revealed that he plans to premiere a new song written during a recent trip to Europe, including a visit to Beethoven's grave in Austria, where he said he drew inspiration for the piece.

"I thought it would be interesting to write a song in Austria and perform it here at the Sejong Center," he said.