North Korea's National Orchestra in Seoul

The first performance since the Korean War by North Korea's Chosun National Philharmonic Orchestra in South Korea was held on August 20 at KBS Hall in Seoul.

Led by conductor Kim Byong-hwa, the orchestra performed works with a strong nationalistic theme such as 'Arirang.' Soprano Lee Hyang-suk sang a few solo pieces and bass Hur Kwang-soo sang exerpts from the opera 'Barber of Seville.'

Millennium Democratic Party Chairman Suh Young-hoon, Grand National Party President Lee Hoi-chang, Minister of Culture and Tourism Park Ji-won, and the media chiefs that recently visited North Korea were among the 1,716 guests who attended the invitation-only concert.

The Chosun National Philharmonic Orchestra performs for a general audience on the afternoon of August 21 at Seoul Arts Center's Concert Hall and will have a South-North joint concert with the KBS Symphony Orchestra on the evening of the same day. Soprano Jo Su-mi and cellist Chang Han-na will also perform at the evening performance.

by Lee Jang-jik