2023-24 ACL-Korea Country Report
the ACL General Assembly, February 2025
This report highlights ACL-Korea’s activities and accomplishments from January 2023 to
December 2024. Our efforts have centered on promoting contemporary Korean music, fostering collaborations between composers and performers, and enhancing cultural exchange within the Asian region and beyond.
The year 2023 marked ACL-Korea's 50th anniversary, celebrated through a series of three special concerts held from November 9 to 11. One of these concerts featured the works of the renowned Vietnamese-American composer P.Q. Phan, performed by Ensemble TIMF, providing a platform to highlight his distinctive synthesis of cultural influences. The remaining two concerts, titled <Network 19.73.20.23>, were organized under the subtitles “Wired” and “Wireless.” The Wired concert showcased more conservative compositions, while the Wireless concert featured experimental works. Among the highlights was a composition by Donung Lee, who incorporated a robot he had personally designed as a performer. This robot played the drums, leaving the audience amazed by the innovative integration of technology and music. These concerts presented a rich tapestry of works composed by members and former chairpersons of ACL-Korea, creating a celebratory homage to the organization’s legacy. Contributors included esteemed former chairpersons such as Sung-Jae Lee, Young-Ja Lee, In-Yong Na, Kyungsun Sun, Donung Lee, Young-eun Paik, Kyungmee Rhee, and Seung Jae Chung, alongside member composers Jinsoo Kim, Jihyang Kim, Jaehong Lee, Jae-eun Jung, Sunhee Cho, Cheonwook Kim, Taehee, Kim and Young Jin Lim, who enriched the concerts with their diverse musical voices.
In 2024, ACL-Korea organized two significant concerts held on November 14 and 16 under the theme "Impulse, Collision, Shock." The organization solicited compositions through an open call, resulting in diverse and dynamic programming. The first concert featured Ensemble Contemporary Alpha, a renowned Japanese contemporary music ensemble, creating a platform for musical exchange between Korean and Japanese composers. This event showcased works by Korean composers Sehoon Jeong, Jonghee Kang, Iedon Oh, and Boknam Lee, as well as Japanese composers Junmei Suzuki, Fumio Tamura, and Yumi Saiki, fostering deeper cultural and artistic connections between the two nations. The second concert was performed by Korea’s El Contemporary Group and highlighted the works of Korean composers Chichun Lee, Heera Kim, Iljoo Lee, Daeseop Han, Hyeyoon Ahn, Yura Seo, and Jaemoon Lee, further emphasizing ACLKorea’s commitment to nurturing and promoting Korean composers and their innovative works.
The Korean Composers Association, one of the most prominent composer organizations in Korea, celebrated its 70th anniversary in 2024 by hosting six concerts over five days from October 28 to November 1. Under the theme "Connected," each concert carried a subtitle: "From the Past to the Future," "Traditional Korean Music and Contemporary Music," "Nature and Music," "Art and Social Participation," "From One to Another," and "From Me to Us." These concerts showcased a wide variety of music and instrumentations, ranging from solo instruments to chamber music, string orchestra, and orchestral works, solidifying the association's status as a leading composer organization in Korea. During the festival, a piece by Younghi Pagh-Paan, a Korean composer residing in Germany who is highly active in Europe, was performed. She is a significant figure who has provided a fund within the Korean Composers Association to support an annual project for young composers named after her. This initiative, called the Paan Tree of Life Composer Project, continues to nurture and promote emerging talents in the field of composition.
ACL-Korea undertook a comprehensive reevaluation of its mission, emphasizing collaboration, cultural exchange, and the reinterpretation of traditional music for contemporary audiences. The organization has successfully expanded its membership base to include emerging composers and performers, fostering a dynamic and inclusive community.
ACL-Korea extends its heartfelt gratitude to all members, performers, and collaborators who have contributed to its activities over the past two years. The organization looks forward to continuing its vital role within the Asian Composers League and furthering the reach and impact of Korean contemporary music.
Seung Jae Chung, president
ACL-Korea