Every Piece Has a Story:
A North Korean Pianist's Quest for Freedom
During the concert, Kim told stories about growing up as a young musician in Pyongyang, studying music at the Tchaikovsky Conservatory in Moscow, why he decided to leave his home, and the musical freedom he found in South Korea. Each piece he played had a story behind it and represented a part of his life.
한국어
who is Kim Cheol Woong?
Kim Cheol Woong is a renowned North Korean pianist who was forced to flee his country for playing the wrong music.
Kim Cheol Woong and his family were loyal to Kim Jong Il. From a very young age, Kim Cheol Woong started training as a concert pianist and as years passed, he rose to top ranks. However, in October 2001, Kim Cheol Woong was reported to the National Security Agency and punished for playing Richard Clayderman's "'A'Comme Amour," or "'L' for Love" for his girlfriend. In North Korea, a musician who plays "capitalist" music can end up in a prison camp, and thus Kim Cheol Woong decided to escape North Korea to fight for musical freedom. When he fled North Korea, he lost everything. He ended up working as a servant boy for a poor Chinese family.
After many miserable years, Kim Cheol Woong found a church with a piano. The church took him in and helped him enter South Korea safely.
Kim Cheol Woong and his family were loyal to Kim Jong Il. From a very young age, Kim Cheol Woong started training as a concert pianist and as years passed, he rose to top ranks. However, in October 2001, Kim Cheol Woong was reported to the National Security Agency and punished for playing Richard Clayderman's "'A'Comme Amour," or "'L' for Love" for his girlfriend. In North Korea, a musician who plays "capitalist" music can end up in a prison camp, and thus Kim Cheol Woong decided to escape North Korea to fight for musical freedom. When he fled North Korea, he lost everything. He ended up working as a servant boy for a poor Chinese family.
After many miserable years, Kim Cheol Woong found a church with a piano. The church took him in and helped him enter South Korea safely.
RAFFLE and Great PRizes: RAFFLE PRIZES WINNING NUMBERS
Thank you to all who bought the raffle tickets which were drawn during the Concert on Saturday at Haechi Hall.
We would like to congratulate the winners of the following prizes:
Samsung Galaxy Note II ......... ....... No. 516
Samsung Galaxy Note II ............... No. 439
Round trip ticket to Jeju for 2 people No. 714
Stay at the Shilla Hotel ................. No. 604
Stay at Intercontinental Seoul Coex ... No. 399
Stay at Somerset ......................... No. 631
5 KRW 200,000 Samsung vouchers.... No. 645, No. 300,
No.622, No.960, No.971
Dinner at the Grand Hyatt .............. No.695
Trip for 2 with Adventure Korea ....... No.708
2 KRW 100,000 Lotte voucher ........ No. 192, No. 626
Louis Vuitton scarf ...................... No. 514
Salvatore Ferragamo tie ............ No. 981
Hankook Chinaware 6-piece set .... No. 684
Mother-of-pearl ornament ......... No. 504
5 sets of wine ........................ No. 962, No.421, No.372,
No. 676, No. 986
Titleist golf bag and set of balls ...... No. 219
MCM leather wallet .... .............. No. 624
Ballantyne wool shirt ............ No. 976
Ballantyne scarf ............... No. 630
Organic Pharmacy cosmetics ....... No. 654
5 Toni & Guy Gift certificates ..... No. 953, No.674, No.254,
No.401, No.768
Raffle Prizes Included:
Round trip air tickets to Jeju-do [donated by KS Travel (Ms. Jung Kyung Soon)]
Samsung Galaxy Note II [private donation]
One night in an Executive Suite at the Somerset Hotel [donated by Somerset Hotel (Ms. Miwa Shin)]
One night at the Shilla Hotel
One night (for two people, including breakfast) at the Hotel Intercontinental [donated by Hotel Intercontinental (Mr. Morrish)]
Meal for two at the Grand Hyatt's Paris Grill [donated by Grand Hyatt Hotel (Mr. Peter Walshaw)]
200,000 WON gift certificates to use at Samsung and selected restaurants, outlets
100,000 WON gift voucher from Lotte Department Store [donated by Fides Travel (Ms. Fides Park)]
100,000 WON gift voucher from Lotte Department Store [private donation]
Boxes of mixed wine [donated by Bagend Ltd (Michael and Alison Distasio)
Titleist golf bag and balls [private donation]
Toni & Guy hairdressing vouchers [donated by Toni & Guy]
Ferragamo tie [private donation]
Ballantyne wool shirt [private donation]
Ballantyne scarf [private donation]Louis Vuitton scarf [private donation]
Organic cosmetics [private donation]
MCM real leather wallet [private donation]
Mother-of-pearl inlaid ornament [private donation]
*List of raffle prizes are subject to change (last updated: July 3, 2013)
We would like to congratulate the winners of the following prizes:
Samsung Galaxy Note II ......... ....... No. 516
Samsung Galaxy Note II ............... No. 439
Round trip ticket to Jeju for 2 people No. 714
Stay at the Shilla Hotel ................. No. 604
Stay at Intercontinental Seoul Coex ... No. 399
Stay at Somerset ......................... No. 631
5 KRW 200,000 Samsung vouchers.... No. 645, No. 300,
No.622, No.960, No.971
Dinner at the Grand Hyatt .............. No.695
Trip for 2 with Adventure Korea ....... No.708
2 KRW 100,000 Lotte voucher ........ No. 192, No. 626
Louis Vuitton scarf ...................... No. 514
Salvatore Ferragamo tie ............ No. 981
Hankook Chinaware 6-piece set .... No. 684
Mother-of-pearl ornament ......... No. 504
5 sets of wine ........................ No. 962, No.421, No.372,
No. 676, No. 986
Titleist golf bag and set of balls ...... No. 219
MCM leather wallet .... .............. No. 624
Ballantyne wool shirt ............ No. 976
Ballantyne scarf ............... No. 630
Organic Pharmacy cosmetics ....... No. 654
5 Toni & Guy Gift certificates ..... No. 953, No.674, No.254,
No.401, No.768
Raffle Prizes Included:
Round trip air tickets to Jeju-do [donated by KS Travel (Ms. Jung Kyung Soon)]
Samsung Galaxy Note II [private donation]
One night in an Executive Suite at the Somerset Hotel [donated by Somerset Hotel (Ms. Miwa Shin)]
One night at the Shilla Hotel
One night (for two people, including breakfast) at the Hotel Intercontinental [donated by Hotel Intercontinental (Mr. Morrish)]
Meal for two at the Grand Hyatt's Paris Grill [donated by Grand Hyatt Hotel (Mr. Peter Walshaw)]
200,000 WON gift certificates to use at Samsung and selected restaurants, outlets
100,000 WON gift voucher from Lotte Department Store [donated by Fides Travel (Ms. Fides Park)]
100,000 WON gift voucher from Lotte Department Store [private donation]
Boxes of mixed wine [donated by Bagend Ltd (Michael and Alison Distasio)
Titleist golf bag and balls [private donation]
Toni & Guy hairdressing vouchers [donated by Toni & Guy]
Ferragamo tie [private donation]
Ballantyne wool shirt [private donation]
Ballantyne scarf [private donation]Louis Vuitton scarf [private donation]
Organic cosmetics [private donation]
MCM real leather wallet [private donation]
Mother-of-pearl inlaid ornament [private donation]
*List of raffle prizes are subject to change (last updated: July 3, 2013)
Thank you and we hope you enjoyed the concert!
All the funds from the tickets and raffle will be for donations.
NKHR continues to help North Koreans after their arrival in the South through education and resettlement programs. For more information about the programs run by NKHR, please visit www.nkhumanrights.or.kr. For information about the NKHR Refugee Rescue Fundraiser Campaign, please visit www.NKHRrescuefund.org. .
Thank you once again for making the decision to save lives. Your contribution is valued by our organization and the people you are directly helping.
Sincerely,
Citizens’ Alliance for North Korean Human Rights (NKHR)
http://www.nkhumanrights.or.kr
http://www.nkhrrescuefund.org
