[Sayart = Maria Kim] In 2003, after Typhoon Maemi had devastated the city of Masan, South Korea, a small concert was held at a local cultural center for volunteers aiding in the recovery. Though the stage was modest, violinist Eugene Park poured his heart into the performance. The world-renowned electric violin prodigy had never cared about the size or prestige of the venue—if there was a stage, he would play.
From a young age, Park was recognized as a musical genius, particularly known for his electric violin performances. But in 2009, his name surfaced in the media not for his music, but due to shocking reports that his management agency had been exploiting him—financially and emotionally—while he was battling bipolar disorder.
When we recently sat down with Eugene for an interview, we cautiously asked him about those dark times. “bad people, scammers,” he said bluntly. Then, with a smile, he added, “But I’m so happy right now!” Though not fully fluent in Korean, he freely switched between English and Korean as he shared his story.
Park shared his love for rock icons like Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Nirvana, and Pearl Jam. These days, he finds joy in watching old performance videos of them on YouTube, drawing inspiration from their stage presence and music. He explained that improvisation—what jazz musicians call a "jam session"—is at the heart of his own music. His style may sound freeform, but he follows his own set of rules and structure within the improvisation.
His extraordinary talent was evident from infancy. He started playing violin at the age of three and earned a full scholarship to Juilliard’s Pre-College Division by age eight. Though he was also accepted to Harvard, he chose to continue his studies at Juilliard, entering the undergraduate program at just sixteen upon the school’s recommendation.
While at Juilliard, he famously won the school’s violin and viola competitions just one day apart—no small feat at a school brimming with the world’s most talented young musicians.
As a teenager, Eugene performed street concerts in New York’s Washington Square Park, connecting directly with passersby. He even walked into New York’s iconic CAFE WHA?—a legendary venue where Bob Dylan first performed—and jammed with the house band, showing his fearless commitment to live music.
He recounted many of his happiest memories, including performances at New York’s Radio City Music Hall, the Super Bowl Eve Festival, collaborations with the Aspen Jazz Ensemble, and jam sessions with Wynton Marsalis at the Blue Note. His musical journey was once even covered by major outlets like the New York Times and New York Post.
Though often referred to as a violinist, the instrument Eugene plays is actually a hybrid of a violin and a viola. Traditional violins and violas have four strings, three of which they share. A violin adds a higher string, while a viola adds a lower one. Eugene uses a five-string electric violin that combines both ranges, allowing him to play a wider spectrum of notes and further expand his sound.
These days, he leads a band called “Hey Eugene” and recently opened a small concert hall in Jecheon, a quiet town in South Korea’s North Chungcheong Province. He gratefully acknowledged that many people around him are now helping him stay on his feet.
His dream is to establish the Eugene Park Cultural Foundation. “I want to help children with talent who can’t pursue their dreams because of financial hardship,” he said. “And I want to bring those talents together to brighten the world.”
On the day of our interview, Eugene performed Edwin Hawkins Singers’ Oh, Happy Day. It felt like more than just a song—it was a declaration of a new beginning and hope for the ‘happy days’ still to come.
