The Daily Telegraph

Tempos fray as South Korean orchestras wage war over which can use ‘national’ title

- By Julian Ryall in Tokyo

SOUTH KOREA’S two leading symphony orchestras are locked in a fierce duel over which of them should be accorded the title “national orchestra”.

The Korean Symphony Orchestra (KSO), set up in 1985, is seen as something as an upstart by the KBS Symphony Orchestra (KBSSO), founded in 1956, and it ruffled feathers when it announced it was considerin­g applying to the Ministry of Culture to become the National Orchestra or the National Symphony Orchestra.

Adopting the title “national” and having the recognitio­n of the government would garner it increased state funding and preferenti­al opportunit­ies to perform at government events, The Korea Times reported.

The KBSSO said in a statement: “If a certain entity wants to have the ‘national’ title, it must first check whether it deserves such a title as the term ‘national’ holds a lot of gravity and prestige. There should also be an open discussion about this matter.”

The union that represents KBSSO musicians and staff said in its statement: “We would like to ask what kinds of activities the KSO has done so far which are on a par with those performed by national institutio­ns.

“We urge them to consult with the KBS Symphony Orchestra about how to proceed in regards to the creation of a genuine national orchestra.”

And, in a final barb, it added that the KBSSO had been representi­ng the nation for decades but “the KSO has been mainly playing background music for performing arts organisati­ons”.

However, its rival is not backing down. A KSO official told The Korea Times: “We have fulfilled national interests by performing for ballet and opera troupes about 100 times annually.”

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