The 6.25 Korean War (also known as the ‘Forgotten War’) was fought between North Korea and South Korea from 1950 to 1953. The war began on June 25th 1950, when North Korea invaded South Korea following clashes along the border and rebellions in South Korea. North Korea was supported by China and the Soviet Union while South Korea was supported by the United States and allied countries. The fighting ended with an armistice on 27 July 1953.

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Nowadays, many Americans are curious as to why Korea is separated into North Korea and South Korea and why the Korean military has compulsory enrollment for men. Even for young Koreans, the answers to these questions are fading from common recollection.

Dr. Hyun-Woo Jung sets out to answer these questions and raise awareness with a special recital on June 25th 2023 commemorating the 73rd anniversary of the Korean War. The program for this recital is divided into two parts.

Part One consists of several pieces by Polish composer Frederick Chopin. After the failed Polish Revolution of 1830, Chopin was never able to return to his motherland and spent the rest of his life mourning the separation. On the last day of his life, he left a living will that his heart be returned to Poland. Each piece on the first half of the recital has subtitles reflective of his traumatic separation, including ‘Farewell’, ‘Sadness’, ‘Revolution’ and ‘Hero’.

Part Two features works by French composer Maurice Ravel. Ravel fought for the French Army in World War I and watched many of his fellow composers and friends perish in battle. A few years after the war ended, he came out of a terrible depression and wrote a suite of music ‘Le tombeau de Couperin’, dedicating each of the six movements to the memories of his lost friends. At the time, some critics complained that the music was not sombre enough for its subject matter, to which Ravel replied, “The dead are sad enough, in their eternal silence.”

Both composers’ works reflect their sorrow and pain from the loss of friends and family to tragic wartime violence, displacement, and division. In these commemorative recitals, Dr. Jung hopes to create spaces of music and community where people can come together and remember that regardless of country or era, we can share pain and recover together.

Korean War Remembrance Day Piano Recital Vol.1

2023 Spring Student Recital by Teacher Jung & Kim

2023 BTC Spring Student Recital