Tongyeong to Celebrate Literary Giant Park Kyong-ni’s 100th Birthday with Memorial Concert

Summary South Korea’s coastal city of Tongyeong is set to honor one of its most cherished cultural icons, novelist Park Kyong-ni (1926–2008), with a special musical celebration marking the centennial of her birth. Organized by the Tongyeong International Music Foundation, the commemorative concert titled "Myeongjeong-gol Camellia, Red Camellia" will take place on October 15 at 7:30 PM in the Tongyeong International Music Hall's Concert Hall. Park Kyong-ni is revered as a monumental figure in Korean modern literature, most famous for her monumental epic novel "Toji" (The Land). Born in Tongyeong, South Gyeongsang Province, Park maintained a lifelong affection for her seaside hometown, a sentiment deeply embedded in her literary legacy. The concert aims to highlight the reciprocal bond between the late author and Tongyeong, celebrating her enduring artistic spirit through a synthesis of literature, traditional performance, and classical music. The event is divided into two distinct acts. The first half features an original poetry play titled "My Monologue or Confession," structured around Park’s evocative verses, accompanied by poetry recitations from reciters Kim Hyo-gyeong and Kang An-na. Audiences will also witness traditional dance by Oh Sang-ah and a powerful drum dance performed by the Preservation Society of Seungjeonmu, designated as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage. A particularly poignant highlight will be archival video footage of Park herself singing "Camellia" (Dongbaekkkot)—a piece originally penned by poet Kim Sang-ok with music composed by internationally renowned Korean composer Isang Yun. Children's folk singer Lee Seong-won will also perform musical adaptations of Park's poems, including "Bird, O Bird" (Saeya) and "Waiting" (Gidarim). The second half shifts to grand communal harmony, featuring joint performances by the Tongyeong Citizens Orchestra and the Tongyeong Citizens Choir. They will perform a repertoire of beloved Korean lyrical classics such as "Barley Field" (Boribat), "Where the Cloud Flows," "Ivy," and "We." The memorial evening will culminate in a moving finale where all performers and attendees sing "Camellia" together, reflecting the deep collective memory and reverence Tongyeong continues to hold for Park Kyong-ni.