The majestic classical melodies that resonated across the vast plains of Gyeongju, harmonizing with the whispers of an ancient history known as 'Hwarang's Dream,' brought the 2025 Gyeongju International Music Festival to a successful close, delivering a field of deep emotion. This musical extravaganza, which filled Hwarang Hall at the Gyeongju Arts Center for three days from June 13th to 15th, held special significance by commemorating the upcoming APEC Summit in Gyeongju this November, serving as a significant milestone for Gyeongju's leap towards becoming a global cultural city.

The Gyeongju International Music Festival, which annually invites top-tier domestic and international artists, has greatly contributed to providing citizens with opportunities to enjoy high-quality culture and arts and to enhancing Gyeongju's cultural status. This year, in particular, it held deeper meaning as a venue that fostered global harmony and exchange through culture and art.

The first day of the festival opened spectacularly with a collaboration between Maestro Chung Myung-whun, a living legend of Korean classical music, and pianist Sunwoo Yekwon. The KBS Symphony Orchestra's rendition of Beethoven's 'Emperor' and 'Fate' delivered profound emotion and exhilaration to the audience, filling all 1,053 seats. Sunwoo Yekwon's delicate yet powerful performance, combined with Chung Myung-whun's skilled and disciplined conducting, harmonized organically like a dance, creating a perfect symphony. Their encounter, where the historical depth of ancient Gyeongju imbued with the spirit of the Hwarang met sophisticated classical music, was a precious time that showcased the status of Korean culture to the world.

On the second day, the APEC Ensemble Orchestra, composed of soloists from the 21 APEC member economies, took to the stage under the baton of conductor Yoon Kook Lee. Artists from diverse cultural backgrounds across the Asia-Pacific region artistically embodied APEC's core values of 'connectivity' and 'cooperation' through music. Soprano Im Sunhae's clear and pure voice and violinist Kim Seo-hyun's astonishing virtuosity, along with diverse folk song medleys, delivered an unforgettable emotional experience to the audience. In particular, the performance by musicians dressed in their respective traditional costumes, who descended into the audience, opened a true forum for communication and harmony through music.

The grand finale of the festival was marked by the meeting of world-renowned soprano Sumi Jo and the Ulsan Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor Sascha Goetzel's delicate yet dynamic conducting, the Ulsan Philharmonic Orchestra's solid performance, and Sumi Jo's overwhelming vocal artistry combined to immerse the audience in deep musical emotion. Easy-to-listen yet splendid pieces, such as the overture to Johann Strauss II's operetta 'Die Fledermaus,' concluded the festival with delight and sophistication.

The 2025 Gyeongju International Music Festival served as an opportunity to brand Gyeongju as a "city of dignified culture" by layering contemporary culture and arts onto Gyeongju's rich historical heritage. Ahead of the APEC Summit, this festival holds immense significance for fostering international exchange and harmony through culture and art.

We anticipate that the Gyeongju International Music Festival will continue to elevate Gyeongju's cultural status and steadily expand opportunities for citizens to enjoy high-quality art. We hope that the beautiful melodies that resonated across the Gyeongju plains will continue to convey a message of peace that unites the hearts of people worldwide.

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