Korean-Brazilian pianist commemorates immigrants' history

The Korea Times

The Korea Times

National

Tue, September 26, 2023 | 11:13

Foreign Affairs

Korean-Brazilian pianist commemorates immigrants' history

Posted : 2022-12-16 09:00

Updated : 2022-12-16 09:27

Brazilian Ambassador to Korea Marcia Donner Abreu delivers her opening remarks during pianist Leda Kim's recital commemorating the 60th anniversary of Korean immigration to Brazil at the JCC Art Center in central Seoul, Dec. 13. Korea TImes photo by Kwon Mee-yoo

By Kwon Mee-yoo

On Dec. 18, 1962, the first group of Korean immigrants to Brazil set sail on the Tjitjalengka, dreaming of carving out a new life on the other side of the world.

The Embassy of Brazil in Seoul and Instituto Guimaraes Rosa co-hosted a concert commemorating the history of Korean immigration to Brazil at the JCC Art Center in central Seoul, Dec. 13.

Korean-Brazilian pianist Leda Kim performed the music of Brazilian composers Heitor Villa-Lobos, Zequinha de Abreu, Claudio Franco de Sa Santoro, Mozart Camargo Guarnieri and Ernesto Julio de Nazareth at the recital with Korean cellist Jeon So-young.

Brazilian Ambassador to Korea Marcia Donner Abreu said how these Korean immigrants to Brazil bridge the two countries during her speech ahead of the concert, wearing "hanbok" (Korean traditional costume) in the colors of Brazil ― green and yellow.

"Brazil has the largest Korean community in Latin America, estimated at over 50,000 people. This group of men and women ― coming from the other side of the world to a country with a culture so different from their own ― built their lives, educated their children, maintained their traditions and found new ones, thrived and became part of the vibrant and diverse social fabric that is so characteristic of Brazil," she said.

Pianist Kim was born and grew up in Sao Paulo, Brazil, as a daughter of the first generation Korean immigrants to Brazil. Kim made her debut with the Sao Paulo Symphony Orchestra at the age of 12 and earned her bachelor's and master's degree from The Juilliard School in New York. She currently is a professor of piano at Chung-Ang University in Seoul.

"One of the songs is called 'Odeon,' which is a big theater... 'Odeon' is one of those music I wanted to show part of the classical music in Brazil as well as all over the world," Kim explained how she picked the music for the recital with songs from Brazilian composers.

Kim prepared a video showcasing the history of Korean immigrants in Brazil, from the official letters exchanged between presidents of the two countries accepting Korea's first official immigration to photos of the immigrants on the ship, in the Brazilian farms and in the Korean neighborhood of Bom Retiro.

"This is our history in Brazil. My parents were one of the first (Korean) immigrants to Brazil and I do have some pictures of myself and my parents. I've also asked people around for pictures, so you might know some faces," Kim said.

Kim also introduced "Diario De Viagem" (Butterfly Diaries), a film by Korean-Brazilian director Paula Kim, as an example of how the new generations of Korean-Brazilians exercise their creativity.

meeyoo@koreatimes.co.kr