The Korean Cultural Center Washington, D.C. will present "Melodies of Peace," a two-day commemorative concert celebrating the 80th anniversary of Korean Liberation Day, featuring acclaimed Korean performers POET and G-Hwaja at the Kennedy Center's Terrace Theater on September 19 and 20, 2025. Both performances will begin at 7:30 PM and feature identical programs showcasing the enduring cultural friendship between South Korea and the United States.
The concert highlights Korea's rich musical heritage through the performances of two groundbreaking ensembles. POET, a four-member popera group formed in 2013, combines classical vocal techniques with contemporary harmonies to deliver what they describe as musical poetry. The group has performed extensively across Asia, including Japan, China, Thailand, Iran, Vietnam, and Indonesia, leading what many consider a new wave of K-Popera. POET received the Korea Culture and Arts Awards in both 2018 and 2019, and has released four albums: "Dream," "I Love You," "The Prayer," and "CACTUS."
G-Hwaja, a New York-based fusion ensemble, specializes in blending Western and Korean traditional instruments to create innovative musical expressions. The group aims to popularize Korean traditional music by incorporating the uniquely Korean emotional elements of "heung" (excitement) and "han" (bittersweet grief) into familiar melodies. Following their formation, G-Hwaja made their debut performance at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, establishing their presence in the American cultural scene.
The concert program spans multiple genres and cultural traditions, offering audiences a comprehensive journey through Korean and international music. Act One, performed by POET, includes selections from popular musicals such as "This is the Moment" from "Jekyll & Hyde," songs from Disney's "Frozen" including "Let It Go" and "Into the Unknown," and contemporary hits like Bruno Mars' "Uptown Funk." The act concludes with a Queen medley featuring "We Will Rock You," "The Show Must Go On," and "We Are the Champions."
Act Two features collaborative performances between POET and G-Hwaja, showcasing traditional Korean folk songs including "Arirang," "Saetaryeong," and "Sukdaemori" reimagined with modern arrangements. The program also includes jazz standards like "Fly Me to the Moon," a Beatles medley featuring "Let it Be," "Imagine," and "Hey Jude," and a K-pop medley including the hit song "APT." Additional selections feature film music from "Cinema Paradiso," Korean drama soundtracks, and compositions by renowned Korean composer Tae-su Han.
National Liberation Day, known in Korean as "Gwangbokjeol" meaning "restoration of light," commemorates Korea's independence from colonial rule on August 15, 1945, at the end of World War II. The 80th anniversary in 2025 represents a particularly significant milestone, making this concert a meaningful cultural celebration of freedom and resilience.
The Korean Cultural Center Washington, D.C. designed this event to serve multiple purposes beyond entertainment, aiming to commemorate the legacy of Korean independence and strengthen the Korea-US Alliance through cultural diplomacy. The concert seeks to deepen societal connections, foster mutual understanding, and demonstrate music's power to unite different cultures and traditions.
POET's lineup includes team leader Hwang Hojung, a tenor known for his emotional delivery and dramatic high notes; Song Seunghoon, a lyric tenor nicknamed "Andrea Bocelli of Korea" who completed his master's degree in the United States; Kim Yongsung, an all-around performer capable of diverse musical genres; and Roheon, the group's youngest member and baritone who serves as the ensemble's "mood maker."
G-Hwaja features an international roster of accomplished musicians, including team leader Junghee Oh, a certified trainee of Korea's National Intangible Cultural Heritage specializing in Gayageum and Pansori; Dr. Grace Leekyung Kang, a Ph.D. holder in traditional Korean music and certified successor of National Intangible Cultural Heritage Gasa; and You Shin Kim, a Berklee College of Music graduate who serves as composer, arranger, and keyboardist for the group.
Tickets are limited to four per person, and attendees must RSVP for the event. The concert is presented as an external rental in coordination with the Kennedy Center Campus Rentals Office and is not produced directly by the Kennedy Center. This special event offers American audiences a rare opportunity to experience the Korean Wave, or Hallyu, through live performances that bridge traditional and contemporary musical styles, representing the innovative spirit that defines Korean arts and entertainment in the modern era.
