Korean art song concerts set for Gwanghwamun and Jangheung this September

Two Korean art song concerts are scheduled for mid-September, one in Seoul and one in South Jeolla Province.

The Woori Gagok Renaissance Research Society will hold Woori Gagok Open Concert – My Heart on September 12 at 5 PM at the outdoor main stage of Gwanghwamun Plaza in Seoul, positioned in front of the King Sejong statue. The event is part of the Jongno Hanbok Festival, a two-day program organized by the Jongno Culture Foundation running September 11 and 12.

Sopranos Kim Song-won, Kim Young-seon, Yun Su-jin, and Choi So-young will perform. Tenors Kim Jae-gyu and Hong Ji-young round out the vocal roster. Pianist Baek Soon-jae accompanies, with music director Park Eun-yong structuring the program.

The organization plans to expand citizen-participation performances from this concert onward. The long-term goal: develop Korean art songs into representative vocal culture content for international stages and cultural exchange venues.

On September 17, Jangheung County hosts Leaning on Time (시간에 기대어) at Jangheung Culture and Arts Hall. Baritone Ko Sung-hyun performs alongside the Prime Philharmonic Orchestra. The program covers Korean art songs, opera arias, and musicals. General admission is 10,000 won; Jangheung County residents pay 3,000 won after a 70% discount.