The country's first robot conductor EveR 6 on June 30 makes its official debut with a performance of "Disproof" at Haeoreum Grand Theater of the National Theater of Korea in Seoul's Jung-gu District.

By Lee Kyoung Mi
Video = National Orchestra of Korea's official YouTube channel

A bell rang to notify the beginning of the performance and the lights on stage and at the seats went dark. When the conductor appeared from under the stage with a boom, the audience erupted with cheers and applause.

The conductor was not a person but EveR 6, the nation's first robot conductor.

In its debut on June 30, EveR 6 wielded the baton in a performance of "Disproof" at Haeoreum Grand Theater of the National Theater of Korea in Seoul's Jung-gu District.

EveR 6 is the sixth generation of the nation's first domestic android EveR, which debuted in 2006 through development by the Korea Institute of Industrial Technology. The device learned the movements of a human conductor through 30 sensors attached to the latter. 

In 2009, the third series EveR 3 sang on stage at a children's concert by the National Orchestra of Korea.

Several attempts at putting a robot conductor on stage were made abroad, but this was Korea's first. The historic performance attracted an audience of about 1,200 amid heated media coverage.

The songs EveR 6 conducted alone in the first half of the performance were "Awakened Steppe in C Minor" by Byambasuren Sharav and "Horse Thump" by Mandakhbile Biravaa. Both pieces stand out for their upbeat rhythm and fast beats and were selected for the robot conductor, whose greatest advantage is a precise sense of beat.

EveR 6 made smooth motions using the joints of its arms, neck and shoulders. It was no different from a human conductor as it nodded and moved its body in making delicate hand movements to control the dynamics.

Among the comments made by the audience after the performance were "Wow" and "Better than expected."

Human conductor Soo-Yeoul Choi on June 26 told a news conference, "I was surprised to see that EveR 6's conducting movements were far more delicate than I expected."

EveR 6 on June 26 does a conducting demonstration at Haeoreum Grand Theater of the National Theater of Korea in Seoul's Jung-gu District. (Kim Sunjoo)

After intermission, both a robot and a human conducted the second half of the performance, and when the two turned to the audience and bowed, the spectators burst into laughter. Choi and EveR 6 were also shown on large screens on both sides of the stage.

What was also interesting was the contrast between EveR 6, which remained expressionless even at the song's climax, and Choi, who showed a wide range of expressions and gestures.

Shin Ji-hoon, 11, who said he attended the performance because of his lifelong interest in robots, could not hide his excitement and said, "The robot moved far more naturally than I expected."

"I think there will be more performances like this as technology progresses," elementary school teacher Kim Yeon-joo said, "I look forward to seeing what technologies are added, what parts are supplemented and how detailed the next performance will be."

Conductor Soo-Yeoul Choi on June 30 imitates the arm pose of robot counterpart EveR 6 before both bow to the audience after performing "Disproof" at Haeoreum Grand Theater of the National Theater of Korea in Seoul's Jung-gu District.

Lee Dong-wook, a senior researcher at the Korea Institute of Industrial Technology who led the development of EveR 6, said, "I was worried because the robot stopped two or three times at the lab, but I'm glad the performance ended with no mistakes."

"Though the probability of such a occurrence is extremely low, we had scenarios on how to respond if problems arose with EveR 6 during a real performance."

"It was rewarding in that it was a new attempt by a robot," he added. "I feel good because this opportunity proved that a robot can provide not only service on behalf of people but also in culture and arts."

For the musicians on stage with EveR 6, the performance was also a new challenge and fresh experience.

Oh Kyung-ja, a charter member of the orchestra who has spent over 40 years with the ensemble and plays the geomungo (traditional plucked zither), said, "Each and every one of us tried very hard to match the precise and consistent beats given by EveR 6."

"I was a bit jealous because the audience was so happy to see the robot."

The orchestra's acting art director Yeo Mi Sun said, "The realization value an investment brings and its potential for sustainable development are important, but also crucial is to see art even if such results aren't seen," adding, "From limitless imagination comes infinite creativity."