By Oscar Daniel Jimenez Iniguez

Yonsei GSIS Newsletter, Junior Editor

In the spirit of unity, students, journalists from around the world, as well as GSIS alumni gathered at New Millennium Hall not only to celebrate music but to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty on Basic Relations Between Japan and the Republic of Korea.

The bilateral treaty, signed on June 22, 1965, marked the beginning of diplomatic relations between South Korea and Japan in spite of historic tensions.

The event series News and Music, created by journalists with a passion for music, this year at Yonsei, centered around cooperation at the heart of overcoming the challenges of reconciliation and achieving prosperity, blending several classical music performances and speeches from experts in the field of international relations.

Professor Dr. Lee Jung-Hoon, Dean of Yonsei GSIS, gave the welcoming remarks of the night, speaking on the importance of honoring and celebrating the legacy the treaty has left behind. In particular, highlighting the financial assistance given to South Korea by Japan, contributing in part to the rapid growth of the nation in the 1960s. 

His father, Lee Tong-Won, helped sign the treaty as the Foreign Minister of Korea and praised his work in his speech for helping to create a new relationship with Japan, moving away from hatred to instead friendship and from despair to the hope for a better future based on the possibilities of positivity.

Performers from the neighboring nations based their performances in tandem with the theme of the event. Korean artists performed music from Japan, while Japanese artists played popular Korean music.   

Aki Ogane, a researcher in cultural management studies, gave a serene rendition of the piece ‘사랑 / Love’ on the piano. Yonsei doctoral student, Kim Hyunei, performed the vocals accompanied by pianist Seong-Heon Kim, performed an emotional yet powerful cover of 落葉松 /Larch Trees.

Additionally, the event highlighted the importance that Korea-Japan broadcasting and media cooperation has contributed to mending divisions and building cross-cultural bridges. Hirotsugu Takata, Head of NHK World News in Japan, and former KBS producer Kim Hae-Ran, gave speeches about the significance cooperation between both news corporations have had in fueling the increase of cultural exchange between South Korea and Japan. 

Through music and a sense of hope for the future prospects of continued cooperation, the night ended fittingly with all the night's artists performing multiple songs together. 

In an act of solidarity, the first song, ‘花は咲く/Flowers Will Bloom’, created in the aftermath of the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami to commemorate the tragedy, filled the entire auditorium with the artists, successfully, encouraging the audience in singing along. 

The last songs of the night, ‘신 아리랑/New Arirang’ and ‘アナザースカイ/Another Sky’ brought a calming and inspiring energy to close a night filled with wondrous performances and informative speeches. Through continued conversations, the event emphasised that reconciliation and future cooperation are possible through open hearts and, more importantly, open and caring minds.