By Hur SomEe and Yoon Sojung
Video = Arirang TV

A group of North Korean performers, the Samjiyon North Korean Orchestra, staged a special performance at the Saimdang Hall at the Gangneung Art Centre in Gangneung City, Gangwon-do Province, on Feb. 8.

Their visit is in honor of the North Korean athletes’ participation in the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.

This is now the first time for the troupe of North Korean artists and performers to visit Korea in more than 15 years.

Led by Hyon Song-wol, the orchestra began its performance by singing the North Korean song “Nice To Meet You” (반갑습니다). Then they performed a couple of South Korean songs, like “Men Are Boats, Women Are Ports,” some other North Korean songs, and a medley of Western classical music, such as “Swan Lake.”

A North Korean emcee said during the concert that, “It's so touching and happy that it feels like I'm meeting my separated parents and brothers. I'm on stage with true emotion that reminds us we are all one united people.”

“I send a warm thanks and greeting to you all,” said the emcee, expressing hope that, “A new era of unification will come true!”



More than 800 people packed into the art center to see the show. The audience included 252 figures who were specially invited, from the South Korean government, culture and arts circles. The audience also included 560 South Koreans who won the chance to attend the concert in an online raffle.

Baek Seung-bu, who went to the concert with his daughter, said that, “I had high expectations before the concert, and it was indeed a very satisfactory performance.”

He also hoped that both sides could have more exchanges in the future, not just during the one-time event of the Olympics.

Yi Yeong-hui, who came to the concert from Changwon, Gyeongsangnam-do Province, said, “The performers sang many popular songs,” mentioning South Korean songs such as “Maze of Love,” “Arirang” and “Cha Cha Cha.”

The 140-strong Samjiyon Orchestra was specially re-formed for this concert. It has about 80 musicians, solo singers, a choir and dancers.

The Samjiyon Orchestra will have its second performance on Feb. 11 at 7 p.m. in the Haeoreum Theater at the National Theater of Korea in Seoul.

sehp91@korea.kr