The performers responded with folk music Yongsando and Arirang, and it seemed to be confirmed that the players and audience are same nation even if they live in different places after they left their own country. I was not able to stop shedding my tears as I saw them, especially young men who have succeeded and improved our own culture even though they live in Japan. The New York stage this time was realized in virtue of corporations and requests from Koreans living U.S. who expressed great interests after they saw Korean folk concert last March performed by Minnak, a Korean amateur folk music instrumental ensemble in Japan. According to the performers, Koreans in the U.S. are planning to establish an educational institution for Korean art and culture and they were requested to visit the U.S. as instructor when the school was inaugurated. Resident Koreans in Japan can receive lessons in their national instruments at their Korean schools with the support of the DPRK which has provided them with Korean folk instruments and financial aid to assist in national education since 1957.
Photo shows scene of the concert.
The People's Korea. All rights reserved.