Park Ji-won is a writer for The Korea Times who has been covering a wide range of topics from Korea’s culture to its politics. An avid journalism enthusiast to the core, Ji-won brings a thoughtful and unique perspective to every topic she covers. On weekends, you'll often find her contemplating life’s purpose on a yoga mat — with a cup of quality tea in hand. A native Korean speaker by birth and fluent in English through her work, she went to college in Japan and is learning Chinese and French — hoping to add Polish, Russian and Thai to the mix.
'Superband' winner hopes to extend fandom for classical music
Cellist Hong Jin-ho Courtesy of Credia
By Park Ji-won
By Park Ji-won
Last year, JTBC aired “Superband,” a music competition program where various musicians were randomly teamed up to perform together. The show was popular among those who were thirsty for quality music with fresh combinations of contemporary and classical musicians. “Hoppipolla,” consisting of a guitarist and a cellist, ended up winning the contest with their therapeutic music, immediately rising to fame. They have released several singles and held concerts following the show. Tickets for their concerts were sold out within several minutes.
Hong Jin-ho, the 35-year-old cellist, said the JTBC show was a turning point in his life. He has now become one of the most popular classical music artists in Korea, appearing in multiple shows and giving media interviews.
“Many people recognize me. Sometimes I get additional food from restaurants for free,” Hong said during a recent interview with The Korea Times.
Backed by his new popularity, he is now scheduled to hold his first solo concert “Summer Breeze” at the Lotte Concert Hall, Aug. 16, where he will play a wide range of classical music including Erik Satie's “Gnossienne” and Piazzolla's “Fugata” while presenting some pop and easy classical music as well.
Although popular, he said he didn't intend to pursue music in a band from the beginning. He had a solid music career as a cellist attending prestigious music colleges including Seoul National University and the Wurzburg University of Music in Germany.
Like other students majoring in classical music, he steadily practiced cello for decades since he was 12, winning multiple contests in Korea and European countries and expecting some bright future as a successful musician. He also spent some years in chamber orchestras in Germany, but wasn't able to imagine living there long term.
“I felt comfortable in Germany and thought I would be happy there. But I decided to come back to Korea because I was worried over whether I would be able to be tolerant of the very simple life a musician has there. One would end up entering an orchestra or becoming a music teacher. That was it. Also, my parents wanted me to come home.”
Cellist Hong Jin-ho Courtesy of Credia
But back in Korea, he had to face the reality that the chances for classical musicians to perform are limited mainly because of limited fandom. So he made a bold decision to promote his reputation first.
“I applied to the JTBC show simply to promote myself as a cellist…When I returned to Korea in 2016, I realized that there were not many audiences who enjoy classical music and felt very disappointed… So I desperately thought I would need a lot of fans who love my music.”
Classical music accounts for a very small number of total ticket sales for performances compared to other popular genres such as musicals.
Not simply focusing on popularity, he also wanted to promote the music he loves itself as part of his calling to giving a boost to the field as a classical musician.
“I made up my mind as a young artist that somebody (like myself) should come forward to promote cello and classical music. I was also afraid of the change, I didn't even know how to improvise without scores and some still say that the classical music should remain as it is. And the tendency is even stronger here in Korea than other countries with a deep classical musical tradition. But I believed that classical musicians also need to explore new genres. In the contemporary music scene, classical music is not remaining 'classic' but also actively fusing with other genres; like EDM.”
As an answer to his long-time concerns about the genre, he decided to take the initiative by actively introducing so-called “easy classical music” or “neo classical music” in his upcoming concert to let more people feel closer to the classical music.
“Neo classical” is a term with many meanings, but one of those refers to classical music fused with other genres that offers modern arrangements of classics with smooth and romantic sounds.
In his upcoming concert he will perform Ludovico Einaudi's “I Giorni,” Acoustic Cafe's “Last Carnival” and Arvo Part's “Spiegel im Spiegel” among others ― most having become popular from being featured as background music in TV commercials or original soundtracks.
“This concert is the beginning of my career as a musician who plays a new kind of classical music. It is very easy to listen to … I hope audiences can enjoy classical music without having a notion that it is boring. I hope I could give them a sort of rest in their mind.”
He is also poised to expand his activities into composition. He wrote an original piece “Marchen” for Hoppipolla's mini album released in April while actively working with other musicians such as Melody Gardot.
“I tend to think that my music will give people comfort… But at the end, I want to be remembered as a musician who can be recognized by his unique sound.”