The lecturers were professors and musicians who were either experts on or creators of Korean art songs in their heyday. “Um Jeong-haeng, an art song vocalist who had taken the music industry by storm in the past, was one of the lecturers. He provided an opportunity for the attendees to better the influence of art songs of the past,” said Hwang Na-young, the curator of HYU Museum.

The lectures were open to everyone including the HYU students, faculty and staff, and the general public. “We wanted to show everyone that Korean art songs convey the historical sentiments of Koreans in a beautiful way. In fact, the program even included a lecture for foreigners, and they had a chance to learn how to sing some Korean art songs,” said Hwang.