Meriorchestra and Choir Successfully Hold 'Korea-Japan Joint Urban Concert' at Banpo Hangang Park

The cultural arts corporation MERRY announced that it successfully concluded the Korea-Japan joint urban concert, co-hosted and co-organized with the Meiji University Hyangak Orchestra from Japan, on the 11th at Banpo Hangang Park.

The 'Urban Concert' is a citizen-participatory cultural arts performance that presents music accessible to everyone in urban spaces through a large-scale orchestra. Notably, this urban concert was organized as a private event commemorating the 60th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations between Korea and Japan, approved by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, with the purpose of deepening friendship and mutual understanding between the peoples of the two countries through cultural and artistic exchanges involving Korean and Japanese youth.

The performance, held on the outdoor stage in front of Sebitseom at Banpo Hangang Park, featured over 100 Korean and Japanese performers, including the Merry Orchestra and Merry Choir under MERRY, as well as the Meiji University Hyangak Orchestra affiliated with Meiji University. Following their first Korea-Japan joint urban concert held in August 2024 at the Global Ring Theater in Tokyo, MERRY and the Meiji University Hyangak Orchestra continued their cultural and artistic exchange this year with Seoul as the stage.

The performers played familiar music spanning both countries, including classical pieces, K-POP, famous Korean and Japanese movie OSTs, and Arirang, offering urban relaxation to citizens visiting Hangang Park. During the performance, a 'conducting event' was held where audience members could directly conduct the orchestra, receiving great enthusiasm. Sonic Entertainment collaborated on the sound and lighting production to enhance the overall quality.

Juyoung Park, CEO of MERRY, stated, "Through this two-year project, we were able to bring the joy of music to citizens of both Korea and Japan," adding, "We will continue cultural and artistic exchanges that transcend borders and can be shared by everyone in a sustainable manner."

Meanwhile, MERRY plans to expand its global cultural exchange stage beyond Japan to the entire East Asia region this year. In early August, it will hold joint cultural and artistic performances locally with the Dalian Korean Youth Orchestra in China, and in late August with the National Chengchi University (NCCU) Symphony Orchestra in Taiwan.