Melodies of Peace: A Concert Marking 80 Years of Korean Liberation (9/19)

The KCCDC celebrates and shares all things Korea. As a branch of the embassy, we host free public events, partner with artists and institutions,  and are active in our community to promote Korean arts and culture.  We bring people together in a spirit of joy and understanding. We create, educate, celebrate, and illuminate.

Korean Cultural Center Washington, D.C.

Join us for a spectacular joint concert celebrating Korea-US friendship and a history of cultural exchange with groups POET and G-Hwaja!

John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts

Join the Korean Cultural Center Washington, D.C. (KCCDC) for 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!NOTE: This registration page is for Friday, Sept. 19 only. Tickets are not transferrable between the two dates. See the <a href="https://washingtondc.korean-culture.org/en/1125/board/889/read/139046" title="https://washingtondc.korean-culture.org/en/1125/board/889/read/139046" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">main announcement for complete information</a>.As Korean culture continues to captivate audiences around the world, this special event held in honor of Korea’s 80th 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 80th 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 LiberationFriday &amp; Saturday, September 19 &amp; 20, 2025 at 7:30 P.M. dailyTerrace Theater, The Kennedy Center (2700 F St NW, Washington, DC 20566)Free with an RSVP! For more informantion, <a href="https://washingtondc.korean-culture.org/en/1125/board/889/read/139046" title="https://washingtondc.korean-culture.org/en/1125/board/889/read/139046" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">see the full announcement on the KCCDC website.</a>About the Performers: POETPOET, 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.About the Performers: G-HwajaG-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.About the Program: Melodies of PeaceMelodies 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 &amp; 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.

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