Marking its 70th anniversary, the group of some 30 singers adorned with traditional clothes from all across the country performed for around 30 minutes on Sunday, with their set list including traditional Korean folk song ‘Arirang’, ‘Onward To The Land Of Hope’ and ‘Spring of My Home’. (Image: Yonhap)
SEOUL, Aug. 28 (Korea Bizwire) – United Nations Singers, a singing group that promotes a message of peace and harmony through music, has held its very first concert in South Korea, at Camp Greaves near the DMZ, in a nod to the growing tensions on the Korean Peninsula.
Marking its 70th anniversary, the group of some 30 singers adorned with traditional clothes from all across the country performed for around 30 minutes on Sunday, with their set list including traditional Korean folk song ‘Arirang’, ‘Onward To The Land Of Hope’ and ‘Spring of My Home’.
As the venue of the performance was a U.S. army base only two kilometers away within a Civilian Control Zone, many welcomed the U.N. Singers’ decision, as it could signify the historic and cultural value of the DMZ as well as promoting it to the world.
“That it took place at a venue that represents the pain of Korea, the only divided nation in the world, makes this performance much more meaningful. I hope as a result of the performance, the longing for peace and reunification receives more international support,” Kim Dong-geun, the vice governor of Gyeonggi Province, said in a welcoming speech.
Ban Ki-moon, the former Secretary-General of the United Nations, also expressed support.
“As the saying goes that a good beginning is half the battle, I believe the music today will lend great support to achieving world peace,” Ban said.
Beginning with this weekend’s show, the U.N. Singers are set to tour around the country, including a performance in PyeongChang later this week in celebration of the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Winter Games.
Since the group was established in 1947, the U.N. Singers, consisting of U.N. employees at the New York headquarters of different backgrounds, have traveled to different countries each year to spread the spirit of the U.N. and its message of peace.
Ashley Song (ashley@koreabizwire.com)
