North Korean troupe sings South Korean songs at concert

North Korea’s Samjiyon Orchestra and singers stage their first performance at the Gangneung Arts Center, Gangwon Province, Thursday. / Joint Press Corps

By Kwon Mee-yoo

A member of the Samjiyon Orchestra plays the electric violin at the Gangneung Arts Center, Gangwon Province, Thursday. / Joint Press Corps

A North Korean performance troupe graced the freezing winter night of the seaside city of Gangneung with music on the eve of the opening of 2018 PyeongChang Winter Games, Thursday.

The Samjiyon Orchestra presented a 90-minute concert at the Saimdang Hall of the Gangneung Arts Center in Gangneung, Gangwon Province, performing a variety of songs from both North and South as well as Western symphonic pieces and soundtracks.

It was the first performance by a North Korean troupe in the South since August 2002.

The MC introduced the troupe saying, "We are here sharing the warm affection of the Korean race. We Samjiyon Orchestra visited Gangneung to celebrate the PyeongChang Olympic Winter Games. We hope our music will enhance the festivities."

Seven performers wearing pink “hanbok” (Korean traditional costumes) opened the concert, singing the popular North Korean song "Bangapseumnida" (Nice to Meet You), which is also well-known in the South.

The North Korean troupe included a handful of South Korean songs, including Lee Sun-hee's "Dear J," Shim Soo-bong's "Man is Ship, Woman is Port" and Wax's "Journey," in their repertoire.

Over 800 people attended the concert -- 560 of them from the public, chosen by a lottery; while the remainder were members of families separated by the Korean War, the underprivileged, and cultural and sports figures invited by the government. They applauded each song.

The 140-member orchestra is the largest North Korean troupe ever to visit the South. It consists of some 80 orchestra members and 60 members specializing in singing and dancing from famous North Korean music teams, including the Samjiyon, Moranbong and Chongbong bands, the State Symphony Orchestra of the DPRK, the Mansudae Art Troupe and the Korean People's Army State Merited Chorus.

The troupe was led by Hyon Song-wol, head of the all-female Moranbong Band, but she did not perform watching with the audience.

Meanwhile, outside the theater, conservative groups held protests against the North Korean troupe, expressing regret for the North politicizing the Winter Games.

After the Gangneung performance, the Samjiyon Orchestra will hold their second and final performance at the National Theater of Korea in Seoul, Sunday at 7 p.m. The troupe will return to North Korea on the ferry Mangyongbong-92, Tuesday.