Rich Classical Concerts to Be Held in the DMZ from June to July

DMZ Open Concert Promotional Poster

This year, the representative outdoor concert of the 'DMZ OPEN FESTIVAL,' the 'DMZ Open Concert,' will hold three additional performances on the 11th and 17th of this month and the 15th of next month, following the opening performance on the 20th of last month.

The DMZ Open Festival is a comprehensive DMZ festival held from May 20 to November 11 under the slogan "Walk, Feel, Think DMZ," aiming for "Greater Peace." It features DMZ performances, exhibitions, sports, and academic events. Hosted by Gyeonggi Province and organized by the Gyeonggi Tourism Organization, it was newly planned this year to mark the 70th anniversary of the armistice.

The DMZ Open Concert, a representative outdoor concert of the DMZ Open Festival, will be held sequentially from the 11th of this month through November at historical and natural sites in northern Gyeonggi, including Pocheon Cathedral, Deokpojin, Horogorusong, Dorasan Station, and Camp Greaves.

The first performance venue, Pocheon Cathedral, is a stone cathedral built by General Lee Han-rim (Gabriel), who was stationed in the Pocheon area shortly after the Korean War. It is the only existing cathedral in Korea built by a military unit, boasting a bell tower and pointed arch windows.

This concert, featuring musicians active in the United States, will present works such as "Song of Monggeumpo" by Korean-American composer Ahn Jin, "Gabriel's Oboe" by Ennio Morricone, and "Hymn" by Bill Douglas, performed by pianist Hong Ji-hye, former principal teaching artist of the New York Philharmonic; oboist Choi Jeong, professor at the University of North Texas; bassoonist Hwang Yun-ju from the University of Central Florida; and pianist Yoo Cheong-bin.

The second performance, held at 6 p.m. on the 17th at Deokpojin in Gimpo, Gyeonggi Province, will feature top domestic and international musicians including violinist Lee Kyung-sun, a tenured professor at Indiana University, violinist Yoo Si-yeon, and flutist Yoon Hye-ri.

Under the title "Mozart of Deokpojin," this concert will perform traditional classical pieces such as Mozart's bright and peaceful flute quartet, along with familiar songs like the folk song "Arirang" and "Spring in My Hometown." Deokpojin was a military camp during the Joseon Dynasty and a fierce battleground against Western powers during the Shinmiyangyo and Byeonginyangyo conflicts.

The third performance, held on July 15 in the civilian control zone, will feature Seoul National University professor Sung Jae-chang, the Gwanak Ensemble, and the children's choir for disabled children, the "Evangel Choir."

Im Mi-jung, the general director of the DMZ Open Festival, said, "We planned this to dream of a 'beautiful open' by connecting with history through musical melodies in the closed DMZ." She added, "We are striving to embody the ecological, peace, and historical values of the DMZ in each performance. It will be a concert that brings peace and healing to all participants."