12th edition of annual event held in Gyechon village, Gangwon Province

[Provided by Hyundai Motor Chung Mong-koo Foundation]
[Provided by Hyundai Motor Chung Mong-koo Foundation]

The Hyundai Motor Chung Mong-koo Foundation announced Monday that the 2026 Gyechon Classic Festival, held in Gyechon village in Pyeongchang-gun, Gangwon Province, wrapped up its three-day run to a strong turnout.

Organized by the foundation and hosted by the Korea National University of Arts, the festival ran June 5–7 under the theme "The Tune (Tuning)." It drew roughly 16,000 visitors in total — including 14,000 who attended the main performances — with additional foot traffic from a flea market and hands-on programs.

This year's festival carried the slogan "Back to the Forest" and offered a range of programs for audiences to enjoy classical music in a natural setting. The opening stage featured all students from Gyechon Elementary and Middle School, followed by performances from violinist Lee Ji-hye, a professor at the Korea National University of Arts, pianist Kim Song-hyun and violinist Kim Hyun-seo. Cellist Han Jae-min drew particularly enthusiastic applause with a surprise appearance. After performing Saint-Saëns' Cello Concerto No. 1 at the Starlight Concert, he joined the Bucheon Philharmonic Orchestra's cello section as a regular member to play Dvořák's Symphony No. 8 alongside the ensemble.

On the festival's final day, violinist Danny Koo and the Ditto Orchestra took the stage, closing out the event with a performance that blended classical music and popular appeal.

A newly introduced program this year, "Classic Unboxing," also drew considerable attention. Despite a venue capacity of 100, more than 300 people applied in advance. The session had music journalist Kim Ho-jung and professor Lee Ji-hye fielding questions from the audience about classical music, and was met with an enthusiastic response.


eyre@heraldcorp.com