By Sohn JiAe
Photos = Kim Hyung-suk’s Instagram feed

Composer Kim Hyung-suk has composed a song dedicated to President Moon Jae-in.

The composer unveiled the song “Mr. President” on his Instagram feed on Sept. 11.

Kim is one of the representative songwriters and music producers of the times, that has composed more than 1,200 songs over the past 30 or so years, his first coming out in 1989. His ties with President Moon began back in 2012 when he composed the campaign song “People Smile” for then candidate Moon.

The songwriter wrote, “I decided to write a song for the president after seeing him in a series of ceremonies that he attended since becoming president."

Noting that other world leaders, like presidents in the U.S. or prime ministers in the U.K., were honored with specific songs when they walked on and off stage, Kim said, “However, for our president, numerous songs are used, from folk songs to classical music. As a composer and as a Korean, I felt sorry that there was no single song that represents the president of the nation.”



The song consists of two themes.
The first is “magnificence” and is performed mainly with brass instruments in a mixolydian mode. The trumpets use a triple tonguing technique and it's written in 4/4 time.

In the latter half, the song rises to a climax with a variation of woodwinds, strings and brass instruments.

“I focused on bringing out the emotions with sounds of grandeur, splendor and subtleness,” Kim explained.

The song was recorded on Sept. 14 with the help of the KBS Symphony Orchestra. The recording will be played at presidential ceremonies, Kim said.

Kim Hyung-suk’s Instagram feed can be found here.
https://www.instagram.com/pdkimhs/

jiae5853@korea.kr