Pianist Paik Kunwoo Turns 80, Publishes First Autobiography: "My History, and Korea's History"

Marking 70 Years Since His Debut, He Chronicles 65 Years of Performing Abroad
"A Time When It Was Difficult to Get a Visa with a Korean Passport," He Recalls
Performing with Younger Musicians Next Month... "There Is No Retirement in Art"

"The stories of my experiences abroad over the past 65 years are part of my history, but in a sense, they are also part of Korea's history. I thought sharing those experiences could help the next generation."

Pianist Paik Kunwoo, a leading figure in the first generation of Korean classical musicians to take their careers abroad, will publish his first autobiography, "Paik Kunwoo: My Story," in mid-November to mark his 80th birthday and the 70th anniversary of his debut. At a press conference held on November 10 at Shinyoung Chamber Hall in Yeouido, Seoul, Paik explained that he wanted to share with the next generation what he experienced during 65 years of working abroad, from a time when Korea was barely known on the international stage.

"I'm not a writer, so there will be many rough spots," he said. "People in Korea know very little about how I worked abroad over the past 65 years. Now that I'm 80, it's time to look back on the years behind me."

Pianist Paik Kunwoo introduces his autobiography, “Paik Kunwoo: My Story,” due out in mid-November, at Shinyoung Chamber Hall in Yeouido, Seoul, on the 10th. Pantheon Compa...

The status of Korea in the 1960s, when Paik began working abroad, was incomparable to what it is today. "Korea is now a country welcomed around the world, but back then, the country had almost no presence," he recalled. "When I presented a Korean passport, I couldn't get a visa. I had to present my U.S. permanent resident card, or green card, to obtain a visa and travel to perform."

Although he faced many difficulties working abroad, he never considered taking another country's citizenship. "It would have been much easier to work if I had become a U.S. citizen," Paik said. "But I couldn't imagine being a citizen of any country other than Korea. Changing my nationality seemed so strange, and I never even considered it."

The autobiography, due out in mid-November, spans nine chapters and recounts his life from childhood, his studies in New York and career in Europe, his exchanges with world-renowned musicians, and the composers he has explored throughout his life. The final chapter offers advice to parents raising the next generation of musicians.

Born in Seoul in 1946, Paik made his debut in 1956, at the age of 10, performing Grieg's Piano Concerto with the Navy Symphony Orchestra, now the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Kim Saeng-ryeo. At 15, he moved to the United States and studied with Rosina Lhevinne at the Juilliard School. He drew attention after winning a gold medal at the Busoni International Piano Competition in Italy in 1969 and first prize at the Naumburg Competition in the United States in 1971. He went on to perform around the world, focusing mainly on Europe and the United States.

Paik said that hearing world-renowned musicians perform in person in New York in the 1960s had a profound influence on his musical development. "New York in the 1960s was a time that may never come again in history. I was busy going to Carnegie Hall to listen to performances every day."

Among those performances, Scriabin's Piano Sonata No. 9, "Black Mass," at Vladimir Horowitz's historic return to Carnegie Hall left a profound impression on him. "After hearing that performance, I was immersed in Scriabin for three or four years," Paik said, recalling how he focused on exploring the composer's late works. "People used to sleep outside the venue starting two days before a concert to buy tickets. I remember giving up and having lunch with a friend when I got a call saying one ticket was left, so I rushed over," he added.

He also recalled the performance of Spanish pianist Alicia de Larrocha as an unforgettable experience. "It was a cold day, perhaps in late October or November. But when I came outside after the concert, the air felt as warm as summer. I think music has the power to transcend reality like that."

Pianist Baek Kun-woo (second from left) speaks about “Baek Kun-woo and Young Friends,” a concert to be held at the Concert Hall of Seoul Arts Center on the 2nd of next month, alongside fellow pianists Kim Hongki (far left), Lee Jueon (second from right), and Kim Dohyun (far right) at Shinyoung Chamber Hall in Yeouido, Seoul, on the 10th. Pantheon Company

On December 2, Paik will present "Paik Kunwoo and Young Friends," a concert marking the 70th anniversary of his debut, at the Concert Hall of Seoul Arts Center. The performance will feature seven young pianists - Kim Hongki, Kim Dohyun, Park Jinhyung, Sun Yul, Kang Donghwi, Hong Seokyoung, and Lee Jueon - along with percussionists Shim Seonmin and Kim Seungsu. Four pianos will be placed onstage, joined by percussion, creating an ensemble unlike a solo recital or a typical concerto performance. The program includes Simeon ten Holt's "Canto Ostinato," the overture to Mozart's opera "The Magic Flute," the second and fifth movements of Berlioz's "Symphonie fantastique," George Crumb's "Music for a Summer Evening," and Ravel's "Daphnis et Chloé" Suite No. 2.

Paik said that although he had been too busy performing to spend time with younger musicians, he had always wanted to perform alongside them. "When I see the younger musicians these days, they are doing so well," he said. "Music is ultimately something you have to find for yourself, so I wondered whether it was even possible to teach it. But I came to feel that there are things I can teach beyond music."

Paik urged younger performers to keep taking on new works. "Young musicians still seem to have a very narrow perspective," he said. "I hope they will explore the broader world of music and develop the ability to find repertoire that suits them." He particularly encouraged them to take an active interest in contemporary music. "Most of the music heard on stages in Seoul was written 200 to 300 years ago," he said. "It is also an important role of performers to bring works being created today to audiences." He added, "It is tremendously meaningful for a performer to bring a piece that has never been heard before into the world with their own hands, and to work with a composer to create a new work." He encouraged them to take on new pieces.

He also emphasized the importance of performers' ability to listen. "Performing music is important, but listening is actually more important," Paik said. "Even when practicing alone, it's important to listen carefully to your own performance. When performing with others, it's important to understand and listen to their music."

Pianist Paik Kun-woo (second from left) poses for a commemorative photo with fellow pianists Kim Hongki (far left), Lee Jueon (second from right), and Kim Dohyun (far right) at Shinyoung Chamber Hall in Yeouido, Seoul, on the 10th. Pantheon Company

Paik wrote the final chapter of his autobiography, "A Message to Parents," with the next generation in mind. "Audiences, and even the parents closest to them, often don't understand how difficult it is to pursue music," he said. "I wanted to ask parents what they could do to provide young musicians with emotional support."

Paik noted that although Korea has made great economic progress, the high suicide rate among young people remains a serious problem. "I simply cannot accept the fact that Korea has the world's highest suicide rate among young people," he said. "I wonder if some of those deaths could have been prevented if parents had understood and supported their children." He added, "There is so much to do for society to develop further, but education comes first, and education begins with parents. Parents are a child's first and last teachers."

Although Paik has turned 80, he stressed that he is not considering retirement. Asked about his retirement plans, he said, "There is no such thing as retirement in art. As long as you have a passion for music, you keep going. The world of music is so vast that you can always find music suited to your age."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.