[Summary] "Moon Light for President Moon" Park Kyung-mi Performs Moonlight Sonata, What Did She Say?

Former Democratic Party Lawmaker Park Kyung-mi Appointed New Education Secretary at Cheongwadae on 31st
Performed 'Park Kyung-mi to President Moon Jae-in' on YouTube Channel 'Park Kyung-mi TV' Last November

Photo by Park Kyung-mi, former Democratic Party of Korea lawmaker, YouTube channel 'Park Kyung-mi TV'

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Seung-gon] On the 31st, President Moon Jae-in appointed former Democratic Party lawmaker Park Kyung-mi as the Blue House Education Secretary, drawing attention to the 'Moonlight Sonata' that Park Kyung-mi previously performed. At the time, the opposition criticized Park's performance, saying even 'Jinbak' (Jinbak, meaning true pro-Park faction) would not do such a thing.

Park, who was recruited as the number one proportional representative for the Democratic Party in the 20th general election and served as a member of the National Assembly, uploaded a video titled "Park Kyung-mi to President Moon Jae-in, Moon Light" on her YouTube channel 'Park Kyung-mi TV' on November 25 last year.

The video features Park playing Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata on the piano, accompanied by her narration.

Sitting at the piano, Park said, "This piece does not flaunt the main melody but reveals it subtly. I think the Moonlight Sonata resembles President Moon's temperament."

She also said, "This piece begins very softly (pianissimo) in a somber mood, then grows brighter with a crescendo, and then softens again with a decrescendo."

She continued, "In the middle section, it rises with a scherzo, swelling with great anticipation but soon falling into disappointment, yet it revives the spark of hope again, conveying the emotional ups and downs. I think this process is similar to peace on the Korean Peninsula."

Photo by Park Kyung-mi, former Democratic Party of Korea lawmaker, YouTube channel 'Park Kyung-mi TV'

She added, "When the Moon Jae-in administration began, North Korea continuously launched missiles, which was very depressing. However, a green light was turned on with the PyeongChang Peace Olympics in early 2018, and especially at the June 12 North Korea-U.S. summit, expectations were greatly raised. But the Hanoi summit ended with no deal, leading to a tense phase and disappointment, yet the spark of hope is being rekindled again."

Park also said, "The second movement of the Moonlight Sonata becomes more lively, and the third movement is fast and brilliant, like a storm raging. The main melody is clearly revealed, resembling a tempestuous storm. The Moon Jae-in administration, which started on May 10, 2017, has now passed the halfway point. I hope the administration soon reaches the third movement of the Moonlight Sonata, completes prosecution reform, and that the quietly pursued policies achieve remarkable results."

Regarding the reason for uploading the video, Park explained, "The Moon Jae-in administration has passed the halfway point. The finale of the Moon Jae-in administration will leave a passionate impression like the brilliant third movement of the Moonlight Sonata."

Pro-Moon (친문) netizens left comments such as "The Moonlight Sonata resembles our president's character" and "Resolutely clearing out deep-rooted evils" on the video.

On the other hand, criticism came from the opposition. Lee Jun-seok, then a Supreme Council member of the Bareunmirae Party, posted on Facebook the day after the video was released on the 26th, saying, "Even those who claim to be Jinbak didn't do this. These days, Democratic Party lawmakers do things like this."

Meanwhile, Secretary Park, who majored in mathematics education at Seoul National University, earned her master's and doctoral degrees at the University of Illinois in the U.S., served as a professor in the Department of Mathematics Education at Hongik University, and was recruited as the number one proportional representative for the Democratic Party in the 20th general election.

Blue House spokesperson Kang Min-seok said, "As an education expert, she is expected to contribute to the establishment and implementation of education policies adapting to changes after COVID-19."