LS' Green Voice shines spotlight on singers with developmental disabilities

Industry

Published: 27 Feb. 2024, 16:46

LS' Green Voice shines spotlight on singers with developmental disabilities

Green Voice, also known as Miracle Voice Ensemble, performs at Carnegie Hall in New York. [MIRACLE VOICE ENSEMBLE]

“I was so happy as I felt like I was a world-famous artist,” 24-year-old vocalist Han Jun-yong said as he reminisced about last October when he performed in a concert on the stage of Carnegie Hall in New York.

“I hope people who listen to our songs can obtain some energy.”

Han is one of eight singers in the Green Voice, also known as Miracle Voice Ensemble, a group consisting of performers with developmental disorders.

The ensemble delivered 16 songs, including the Korean folk songs “A Boating Song” and “Nella Fantasia." The team also conducted a concert tour of three big U.S. cities — New York, Washington D.C., and Charlotte — for two weeks ahead of the performance.

The tour and the Carnegie concert were successfully done with support and financial aid from LS Electric since the energy affiliate of LS hired the team as employees in March of last year.

The eight singers were given two-year contracts to offer them regular pay and even some financial support for concerts and rehearsals.

Green Voice, also known as Miracle Voice Ensemble, performs at Carnegie Hall in New York. [MIRACLE VOICE ENSEMBLE]

“We’ve been receiving more performance invitations since the ensemble members were employed by the company,” said the team’s music director, Yun Hyuck-jin.

“Each singer gets paid by LS, which makes them have more responsibility, a good phenomenon.”

It is in line with LS’ emphasis on environmental, social and governance (ESG) management to expand the number of employees with disabilities to increase awareness in Korea.

“LS will actively support the Green Voice team’s music activities and will endeavor to expand the hiring of people with disabilities and increase societal awareness,” said Kim Dong-hyun, CEO of LS Electric.

LS is beefing up its activities for social contribution in various areas, particularly in the education field.

The Korean company in May opened an LS Dream Center in Hanoi, Vietnam, to offer educational support to multicultural Korean-Vietnamese families. It helps women to get jobs and supports the education of their children.

LS is also sending volunteer groups consisting of 25 people to four low-income countries like Vietnam, Bangladesh and Cambodia every year to open schools that offer children a place to be educated. It builds around eight to 10 schools per year, with a total of 21 constructed so far.

Every year in Korea it opens the LS Dream Science Class for elementary students in nine regions including Anyang, Gyeonggi, and Gumi, North Gyeongsang to offer afterschool classes during summer and winter vacations.

This year’s program ran between Jan. 9 to 24 for 180 elementary school students across the country.

BY SARAH CHEA [chea.sarah@joongang.co.kr]