K- Pop stars in North Korea
Singers who will perform in the North Korean capital include Yoon Do- hyun, Cho Yong- pil and Red Velvet
From ageing crooners to bubbly K- Pop starlets, some of South Korea’s biggest pop stars flew to North Korea on Saturday for rare performances that highlight the sudden thaw in inter- Korean ties after years of tensions over the North’s nuclear ambitions.
The concerts in Pyongyang come ahead of a historic summit between North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and South Korean President Moon Jae- in at a border village on April 27.
Singer Yoon Do- hyun, who previously performed in Pyongyang in 2002, was emotional after landing in the North Korean capital.
“My heart is bursting,” Yoon told reporters, his eyes welling up with tears. “I am most curious about the reaction of the audience, how it would be different from 16 years ago.”
It’s the second trip for the iconic Cho Yong- pil, perhaps South Korea’s most influential musician of the past 50 years. He staged a solo concert in Pyongyang in 2005 during a previous era of rapprochement between the rivals.
“It will be as comfortable performing in the North as it is to perform in the South,” the 68- year- old singer said at a news conference at South Korea’s Gimpo Airport. “There’s no reason for me or other singers to be nervous.”
Seoul hasn’t announced the titles of the songs by the South Korean artists, however, Cho’s Dear Friend, a ballad about a long- lost friend that reportedly drew an enthusiastic response from the Pyongyang crowd 13 years ago, will almost certainly be one of them.
It would be the third North Korean performances for female balladeers Choi Jin- hee and Lee Sun- hee, who are relatively well- known in the North.
It won’t be all slow ballads in Pyongyang. It will be interesting to see how the North Koreans reacts to girl band Red Velvet, currently one of the most popular acts in the highly competitive K- Pop scene.
“Happiness! Hello, it’s Red Velvet!” band member Seulgi cheerfully shouted during the news conference.
“We’re the maknae [ youngest of the group], so we will make sure to deliver our bright energy to the North,” said the 24- year- old.
Red Velvet will also be heading to Dubai post their Pyongyang concert for the SMTown Live gig at the Autism Rocks Arena on Friday.
K- Pop groups have performed before in North Korea. However, Psy, the Gangnam Style singer, has been left out of the concert lineup.
South Korea’s culture ministry spokesman Hwang Seong- un said without specifying that the YouTube rapper had been initially considered for the Pyongyang events before being excluded.