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Korean gagok sung in Russia
Country
Russia
Date
2023.03.10



Korean gagok has the charm of making the listener fall into deep remorse and longing with to its lyrical melody and poetic lyrics.
With the Korean wave in Russia, many people want to learn Korean songs recently. Russian youths naturally come into contact with modern Korean music through K-pop, while Russian Koreans are more familiar with Korean folk songs and trot songs. However, the taste for Korean songs in Russia is limited.
A Korean musician who felt sorry about this made a choir in St. Petersburg to promote Korean gagok.
Eun-joo Kim, who runs the choir, finished her doctoral course in instrumental performance at the historic St. Petersburg Conservatory and remained in Russia to carry out performances and Korean language education.
The choir gathers every Saturday afternoon for rehearsal. It has been about 6 months since the choir started. It takes about 6 months to complete one song, and they plan to have a concert when a few songs are completed through constant practice. The current choir is mainly composed of women, but they hope to recruit more male members to give more beautiful performances.



Dr. Eun-joo Kim (organist), St. Petersburg Conservatory

How long have you been in St. Petersburg and what activities have you been involved in?


I’ve been here for 23 years. I finished my undergraduate studies and doctoral course at St. Petersburg Conservatory and obtained a degree in DMA.
I conduct the children’s choir at the Secondary Special Music School. While conducting at a church for 10 years since 2010, my eyes were opened to a choir. I could apply every musical part I learned as I studied organ.


What inspired you to create a choir?

I created a choir because there are many things like K-pop and K-food but what about Korean classical music? Korean gagok was developed as a genre by accepting Western music. Unfortunately, the history is not long and there are not many songs. However, these beautiful songs were created 100 years ago during the Japanese colonial period, or during the dark period after independence, and yet they are so beautiful and lyrical. They were made 100 years ago so you can find so many pure and beautiful expressions of Korea.


What is the purpose for creating a choir?

For foreigners to directly sing the songs of Korean composers and lyricists. Singing Korean gagok beautifully to feel the true connoisseur. I think that's what I need to try. Because when foreigners sing Korean songs, they just focus on singing the lyrics correctly and hitting the notes. That’s not what I want. I want foreigners to express the true beauty of Korean gagok, like how Koreans sing. Maybe as a solo but as a choir with beautiful chords.


What makes you feel worthwhile as you run a choir?

The Korean wave spread around the world but I want to let people know about gagok among Korean classical music. But most importantly, I received many benefits as I came to Russia. What can I do to help? I believe It is important for modern people nowadays to heal themselves and others as well through songs as young people are emotionally unstable, have depression, and experience many difficult things. Giving comfort and hopes for each other. That is my purpose.



Alexandra Schopinov (office worker)


How did you join the choir?


I loved singing ever since I was young. But I couldn’t attend a music school. I heard about recruiting a Korean choir and applied for it naturally.


What did you like about learning choir?


I love hearing Korean pronunciations. And I live Korean songs. Especially old Korean gagok like this. These songs are very emotional and convey a lot of meanings. I wanted to immerse myself in this Korean culture.


What are your hopes for the future as for learning choir?


Singing in chorus helps me to speak clearly. I want to be more professional at singing.



Students learning Korean songs looked happy with sparkling eyes. The good news is that the number of applicants for the choir is continuously increasing. There are many youths who like Korea and singing. Although the situation is difficult politically and economically, they seem to find comfort and strength through singing. Eun-joo Kim says she is grateful for the benefits she received in Russia and that she was looking for a way to repay them, which led to a choir. The first step in promoting Korean classical music was taken through the choir, but we hope that Korean songs in Russia will grow into a group that gives comfort and hopes to both Russians and Koreans.




Overseas Korean correspondent