A K-Pop idol who has been widely regarded as being scandal-free has become a hot topic amid criticism that she has been given preferential treatment as a celebrity.
According to her agency on January 14, Girls’ Generation member and actress Seohyun will appear as a special collaborator at the 8th regular concert of the Sol Philharmonic Orchestra, held at 8pm on March 13 at the Lotte Concert Hall in Songpa-gu, Seoul.
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In this performance, Seohyun will play Vittorio Monti’s famous piece “Csárdás,” which blends intense rhythms with poignant melodies, offering the audience the charm of classical music.
This stage attracted attention because Seohyun is an amateur who has only been learning the violin for about five months. Some criticized the move and accused Seohyun of getting preferential treatment, while others defended her.
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During this, a fan asked Jung Sook, an organist and a member of I Am SOLO Season 13, “There are reactions that Seohyun’s collaboration discourages professionals. Even if it’s noted that she’s not a major, is this something people can be upset about?” Jung Sook graduated from Yonsei University’s College of Music and earned master’s and doctoral degrees from the Munich University of Music and Performing Arts in Germany. She works as a lecturer at art schools and as an adjunct professor at universities.
Jeong Sook responded, “Since yesterday, I’ve been getting DMs nonstop about Seohyun’s collaboration. The problems caused by extreme conservatives in the classical world are something I have thought about a lot, so I want to make a point.”
She added, “I honestly don’t understand what’s wrong. The orchestra is probably made up of amateurs anyway, Seohyun must have practiced a lot to get on stage despite her temperament, and it’s even more impressive if it’s just a hobby. Thanks to Seohyun’s ticket power, people who are attending a classical concert at Lotte Concert Hall for the first time might come—that is precisely what classical music popularization is about, isn’t it?”
She emphasized, “The capitalist market operates by the law of supply and demand for everything. Believing that only the music we play is royal and that there is only one correct course is quite anachronistic.”
She also noted, “The Lotte Concert Hall has 2,000 seats. Even if they let you play there for free, it doesn’t mean just anyone can step up and perform. Let’s not belittle others’ efforts and live lives focused on ourselves.”
Seohyun’s appearance was made possible in agreement with the Sol Philharmonic Orchestra’s purpose, which is composed of people who love classical music but are not professional performers. The collaboration was decided upon with the hope of lowering the barriers to classical music and helping more people become familiar with the genre by having her directly on stage.
Seohyun said, “Through my challenge, I hope many people will feel closer to classical music and discover new pleasures,” adding, “I want to convey that classical music, like popular music, is ‘our music,’ something anyone can easily and enjoyably appreciate.”
A representative from the Sol Philharmonic Orchestra also said, “We expect Seohyun’s participation to lower the threshold for classical music performances and that it will be a very special stage filled with a pure love of music.”