The Korean Cultural Center Washington, D.C. (KCCDC) proudly presents Melodies of Peace, a spectacular two-day joint concert event celebrating the enduring friendship and vibrant history of cultural exchange between the Republic of Korea and the United States featuring groups POET and G-Hwaja at the Kennedy Center on September 19 and 20.

As Korean culture continues to captivate audiences around the world, this special event held in honor of Korea’s 80^th Liberation Day has been thoughtfully curated to delight and inspire, showcasing the culture of innovation that defines Korean arts and entertainment.

Headlining the concert are Korea’s acclaimed “popera” (pop opera) group POET and the renowned New York–based fusion band G-Hwaja—two pioneering ensembles that masterfully blend musical genres and styles from both countries. The evening will feature stirring tributes inspired by themes of freedom and resilience, selections from the celebrated musical Hero, popular K-pop hits, and beloved songs from Korean films and television dramas.

National Liberation Day, celebrated annually on August 15 and known in Korean as Gwangbokjeol, meaning “restoration of light,” is a national holiday commemorating the end of colonial rule in Korea in 1945 at the close of World War II. The year 2025 marks Korea’s 80^th National Liberation Day, a particularly auspicious occasion.

Melodies of Peace will feature an extraordinary fusion of musical expressions, highlighting the richness of collaboration between Korean and American performers. Audiences can look forward to a one-of-a-kind cultural experience and a rare opportunity to immerse themselves in the energy and excitement of the multi-genre Korean Wave, also known as Hallyu.

Through this performance, the KCCDC aims to not only commemorate the legacy of Korean independence and the Korea-US Alliance, but to further deepen societal cultural connections, foster mutual understanding, and showcase the unifying power of music in the spirit of cultural diplomacy.

Disclaimer: this event is an external rental presented in coordination with the Kennedy Center Campus Rentals Office and is not produced by the Kennedy Center.

Melodies of Peace: A Commemorative Concert Marking 80 Years of Korean Liberation

Friday, September 19 & Saturday, September 20, 2025 at 7:30 P.M. each day

Terrace Theater, The Kennedy Center (2700 F St NW, Washington, DC 20566)

RSVP FOR THIS EVENT! 

Friday, Sept. 19 at 7:30 PM    |    Saturday, Sept. 20 at 7:30 PM

Please note that both dates feature the same program.

About the Performers: POET

POET, a four-member male “popera” (pop opera) group from South Korea, was formed in 2013. Their music combines classical vocal techniques with delicate yet powerful harmonies, delivering each song as if a poet were reciting a heartfelt work. Through their performances, POET aims to give audiences “the strength to live another day.”

POET has performed extensively in Korea and internationally, including in Japan, China, Thailand, Iran, Vietnam, and Indonesia, leading a new wave of K-Popera beyond Korea. Their appearances include national events, award ceremonies, commemorative ceremonies, concerts, and broadcasts such as the KBS Open Concert and Immortal Songs. POET was awarded the Korea Culture and Arts Awards for two consecutive years in 2018 and 2019. Their four released albums are Dream, I Love You, The Prayer, and CACTUS.

Artists

Hwang Hojung | Team Leader, Tenor

Hwang Hojung has led POET since 2013 as the team’s leader. With outstanding emotional delivery and a soulful tone, he primarily guides the melody line and is responsible for the distinctive color of POET’s music with his dramatic high notes.

Song Seunghoon | Tenor

Song Seunghoon is a lyric tenor with a sweet voice and a wide range, responsible for the high part in the group. He graduated from the Vocal Music Department at Korea National University of Arts and completed his master’s degree in the United States, earning the nickname “Andrea Bocelli of Korea” for his exceptional talent.

Kim Yongsung | Lyric Tenor

Kim Yongsung is a powerful lyric tenor whose passion and dedication to music are evident, despite starting his musical journey later than others. He is an all-around tenor capable of performing across diverse musical genres.

Roheon |  Baritone

Roheon is the youngest member of POET and serves as the group’s mood maker. With model-like visuals and a grand baritone tone, he is beloved by many female fans and is regarded as the prince of popera.

About the Performers: G-Hwaja

G-Hwaja performs creative music through a combination of Western and Korean traditional instruments, blending diverse tones and styles. The group seeks to express the emotions of the times dramatically by utilizing the uniquely expressive characteristics of Korean traditional music—particularly the sense of excitement known as heung, and its bittersweet sense of grief, known as han—to deliver familiar music with new emotional dimensions. G-Hwaja strives to popularize Korean traditional music by presenting a dynamic and vivid image of Korea to the modern world. Following the group’s founding, G-Hwaja had its first performance at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C.

Artists

Junghee Oh | Team Leader, Gayageum Byeong-chang, Pansori

Junghee Oh is a certified trainee of Korea’s National Intangible Cultural Heritage in Gayageum Sanjo and Byeong-chang. She earned her Master’s degree in Korean music from Chung-Ang University and teaches at Seoul Institute of the Arts and Sangmyung University. She serves as music director of G-Hwaja and actively performs in the NY/NJ metropolitan area.

Grace Leekyung Kang | Haegeum, Vocal

Dr. Grace Leekyung Kang graduated from Korea National High School of Traditional Arts and Yong-In University, and earned her Ph.D. in traditional Korean music from Hanyang University. She is a gold prize winner at the Nan-Gye Korean Traditional Music Competition and a certified successor of the National Intangible Cultural Heritage “Gasa.” She performs with G-Hwaja and promotes traditional Korean music worldwide.

You Shin Kim | Composer, Arranger, Keyboard

You Shin Kim graduated from Berklee College of Music with a degree in Film Scoring. He co-wrote “Mother” for singer Seung Chul Lee and composed and arranged music for the musical King David. He serves as composer, arranger, and keyboardist for G-Hwaja, blending classical, pop, jazz, and traditional Korean music in his work.

Song Eun Shin | 25-string Gayageum

Song Eun Shin graduated from Korea National High School of Traditional Arts and Chung-Ang University. She is an award-winning 25-string gayageum player who has performed internationally, including at the Shanghai Expo and the G20 Summit, and is an active member of G-Hwaja.

Woosung Jung | Daegeum & Wind/Percussion Instruments

Mr. Woosung Jung is a designated practitioner of Korea’s National Intangible Cultural Heritage “Daegeum Jeongak” and a versatile performer of wind and percussion instruments. He has performed in Korea, China, and the United States, including at Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center, and Lincoln Center, and teaches traditional Korean music to students worldwide.

Daseul Kim | Bass

Daseul Kim holds B.A. and M.A. degrees in Jazz Bass from William Paterson University and currently performs as a bassist with the U.S. Navy Band. He has collaborated with numerous renowned musicians and performed at prestigious venues such as Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center.

Olivia Kim | Cello

Olivia Kim, a Korean-American cellist, was raised in Chile and graduated from Pontifical Catholic University of Chile. She earned her Artist Diploma from Montclair State University and performs as a cellist and teacher in ensembles including the Adelphi Orchestra.

Whanho Oh | Drums

Whanho Oh studied jazz performance at the City University of New York and is a New York-based drummer. He explores a wide musical spectrum centered on jazz, performing with refined sensitivity and dynamic expression.

Sungwon Kim | Guitar

Sungwon Kim earned his M.A. in Jazz Studies from NYU and has performed in Broadway musicals including Wicked, Hamilton, and Frozen, and with top K-pop artists. He has collaborated with numerous international musicians and continues to perform and teach actively.

About the Program

Melodies of Peace brings together an extraordinary range of music on one stage. Audiences will journey from the dramatic highs of musical theater courtesy of POET, with songs like This is the Moment from Jekyll & Hyde and Let It Go from Frozen, to the infectious rhythms of global pop and classic rock, including Bruno Mars’ Uptown Funk and hits by Queen. Korean traditional folk songs such as Arirang, Saetaryeong, and Sukdaemori are reimagined with modern arrangements by G-Hwaja, performed in collaboration with artists who bridge Eastern and Western styles. The program also weaves in medleys from The Beatles, popular K-pop songs, and cherished Korean classics, Experience Korea’s rich tapestry of music, where tradition and contemporary sounds, East and West, will all come together in a single, unforgettable performance.

The same program will be presented on September 19 and 20, including two acts featuring both groups each day.

Act 1 (POET)

• 1.Danjidongmaeng (Musical & Pop Hits)

• 2.This is the Moment (Jekyll & Hyde) 3:32

• 3.Let it Go, Into the Unknown (Frozen) 4:37

• 4.Summer Night (from POET’s third album) 3:10

• 5.Uptown Funk (Bruno Mars) 4:29

• 6.This is Me (The Greatest Showman) 3:54

• 7.Queen Medley (We Will Rock You, The Show Must Go On, We Are the Champions) 6:01

Act 2 (POET & G-Hwaja)

• 1.Newly Released Songs (Fusion Korean Traditional Fusion Song) 3:30

• 2.Fly Me to the Moon (Jazz Standard) 4:00

• 3.Liber Tango (Tango) 3:00

• 4.Saetaryeong (Korean Traditional Folk Song) 3:00

• 5.Sukdaemori (Korean Traditional Folk Song) 4:00

• 6.Arirang (Korean Traditional Folk Song) 4:00

• 7.Cinema Paradiso / Perfect (Film Music & Korean Traditional Fusion) 6:00

• 8.The Beatles Medley (Let it Be, Imagine, Hey Jude) 6:00

• 9.K-pop Medley (APT) 5:00

• 10.If You Go (The Last Empress OST) 5:00

• 11.The Beautiful Land (Composed by Tae-su Han) 5:00