Diplomatic community takes the stage for charity

Uruguayan Ambassador Nelson Yemil Chaben, left, and Belgian Ambassador Pierre Clement Dubuisson perform together at the Charity Concert 2008, held jointly on Sunday by the Mofat Musicians and the Beautiful Store. By Park Sun-young

At the height of the year-end holiday season, Korean and foreign diplomats came together on Sunday to present a musical performance for a good cause at the Charity Concert 2008.

The annual event is held by the Mofat Musicians, an amateur group of incumbent officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, in cooperation with charity organizations.

This year, the Mofat Musicians collaborated with the Beautiful Store, a local nonprofit organization dedicated to helping those in need with money raised by collecting, repairing and selling donated secondhand items.

Last Sunday afternoon, the hall of the Institute of Foreign Affairs and National Security in Seocho-dong, southern Seoul, was packed with more than 300 audience-members, including many foreign diplomats in Korea, eager to see a performance by two of their musically talented colleagues - Uruguayan ambassador and pianist, Nelson Yemil Chaben, and Belgian ambassador and bassoonist, Pierre Clement Dubuisson.

The show began with a joint performance of Gabriel Faure’s “Andantino in A Minor” by the two ambassadors, followed by a solo performance by Chaben, who played Beethoven and Chopin to rapturous applause from the audience.

“It was my first public performance in Korea. While I used to practice the piano every day, it is no longer easy for me to keep it up due to my work,” Chaben said.

“However, it is my pleasure to help those in need by giving what I can. I’m also glad to share my musical experience with Korean people who like music.”

The ambassadors’ performances were followed by a recital by another special guest. Rhee Jhoon, known as the “Grand Master of Taekwondo,” is widely known for introducing taekwondo to the United States, and instructing former U.S. presidents, congressmen, boxing great Muhammad Ali and legendary martial artist Bruce Lee. He earned newfound fame on the harmonica after performing with the Washington Symphony Orchestra in 2000.

“The two things I wanted to do from my younger days were taekwondo and music, though [they were] against my father’s wishes. I’m happy now that I’m doing both to make the world we live in a better place,” Rhee said.

After the performances of the three special guests, the rest of the program was followed by lively performances of two bands: the Beautiful Store’s own B. Band and the Mofat Musicians.

“We aim to share our musical experiences with each other and contribute to cultural diplomacy while cooperating with charity organizations to affect positive change in our society,” said Oh Joon, chief of the Office of Multilateral Global and Legal Affairs, and the drummer of the Mofat Musicians. “We’ve been holding this charity music event every year since 2005. For tonight’s concert, all members made time to practice two to three hours every Sunday for two months, even though most of us usually work on Sundays.”

The Mofat Musicians has 10 or so active members, including vocalists, guitarists, pianists and drummers.

“I consider tonight’s concert particularly meaningful because it wasn’t star performers, but amateur diplomats who performed to help those in need,” Beautiful Store CEO Park Won-soon said.

All the profits from the 2008 Charity Concert will go to help natural disaster-prone South Asian countries, including India, Nepal and Bangladesh, as part of the Beautiful World Project - a joint campaign launched last year by the Beautiful Store and United Kingdom-based non-governmental organization Oxfam International.

By Park Sun-young Staff Reporter [spark0320@joongang.co.kr]