First lady, a trained pianist, meets young Korean classical musicians in Belgium: 'I had to hold back tears'

'Dialogue with Next-Generation K-Classical Musicians' event

First lady Kim Hye-kyung applauds after a K-classical performance at the South Korean Embassy in Brussels on Wednesday, during her visit accompanying President Lee Jae Myung. [Yonhap]

First lady Kim Hye-kyung met and encouraged young Korean classical musicians based in Belgium on Wednesday, during her visit accompanying President Lee Jae Myung on his European tour for the G7 summit.

Kim attended the "Dialogue with Next-Generation K-Classical Musicians" event at the South Korean ambassador's residence in Brussels, where she listened to performances and held a tea gathering with young musicians and their supporters.

A piano graduate of Sookmyung Women's University, Kim engaged with the young performers as a fellow musician and sunbae, focusing intently on the performances. She was visibly moved by the exceptional skill and passion of the young artists.

After watching performances that included one by cellist Kim Tae-yeon, runner-up at the Queen Elisabeth Competition held in Belgium, the first lady said she had struggled to keep her composure. "It was really hard to hold back the tears," she said. "As a musician who majored in piano and as a South Korean, I feel a deep sense of pride and fulfillment."

She also noted the growing fandom around young classical musicians. "I love seeing how a fandom is forming around young people who play classical music these days," she said, and went on to say, "Whenever I travel abroad, people always bring up K-pop, K-dramas and K-cosmetics and ask, 'Where does all that energy come from?' Meeting all of you, I think I've found the answer."

First lady Kim Hye-kyung poses for a photo with participants of the "Dialogue with K-Classical Musicians" event at the South Korean Embassy in Brussels on Wednesday, during her visit accompanying President Lee Jae Myung. [Yonhap]

Kim also expressed gratitude to the "host families" supporting Korean students studying in Belgium, saying she felt "human solidarity and friendship among those who love music" in their tradition of warmly welcoming musicians of diverse nationalities.

Listening to the hardships faced by students studying abroad, she offered words of encouragement. "How lonely it must be," she said. "I studied a little myself once, so I know — it's a battle with yourself. Studying in a foreign land must be so difficult."

sang@heraldcorp.com