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Annex Building of the Busan Modern and Contemporary History Museum to Host Commemorative Performances Celebrating Registration as a Busan Registered Cultural Heritage

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The Busan Modern and Contemporary History Museum (hereinafter referred to as “the Museum”) announced that it will hold a series of three cultural events at its Annex Building from June through August to increase public interest in local heritage assets.

On June 3, 160 items of sheet music and lyric manuscripts for the popular song “Camellia Lady” from the Museum’s collection were registered as a Busan Registered Cultural Heritage. This marks the first case in Korea in which sheet music for a popular song released after liberation has been designated as cultural heritage.

The Museum received approximately 25,000 items belonging to the late composer Baek Young-ho from his family in 2021, including the sheet music that has now been registered as cultural heritage.

Following extensive archival work, the Museum held the special exhibition Camellia Lady in 2024 and published the Composer Baek Young-ho Documentation Report, introducing the historical and popular-music significance of the collection to the public.

These efforts ultimately led to the cultural heritage registration, demonstrating that the collection not only reveals the detailed production process of popular music during its era but also serves as a valuable primary source for research on the history of Korean popular music.

To commemorate the cultural heritage registration of its collection, the Museum will hold a cultural event on June 27 at 4:00 p.m. The program will consist of an official ceremony, a guest lecture, and a celebratory performance.

The guest lecture, titled “Baek Young-ho’s Melodies and the Birth of Cultural Heritage Records That Will Endure for a Thousand Years,” will be delivered by Baek Kyung-kwon, Director of the Baek Young-ho Memorial Hall.

The celebratory performance will feature musician Jang Sa-ik and popular singers Kim Hye-jin and Baek Chi-ung. Soprano Ha Bo-bae, bandoneon player Kim Jong-wan, and pianist Heo Anna will also appear, presenting unique reinterpretations of Baek Young-ho’s famous works across different musical genres.

The event is expected to provide a meaningful opportunity for audiences to enjoy Baek Young-ho’s representative songs, including Camellia Lady, Journey, and A Woman’s Life, while reaffirming the cultural heritage value of his music.

In addition, to commemorate the 48th Session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee (WHC), which will be held in Busan in July, the Museum will present a special performance on July 25 at 4:00 p.m. The event aims to share the significance of the occasion with citizens and provide visitors to Busan with a rich cultural experience.

The performance will be presented by the jazz ensemble Choi Eun-a Quintet, which has previously participated in events such as commemorative invitation concerts supporting the successful hosting of the ASEAN–Republic of Korea Commemorative Summit. The ensemble features Choi Eun-a (vocals), Jang Bo-young (piano), Oh Dong-gyu (bass), Kwak Young-il (drums), and Lee Byung-joo (saxophone), offering an elegant jazz performance.

The repertoire will include Louis Armstrong’s “What a Wonderful World,” “Fog” by Busan-born singer Chung Hoon-hee, and Charles Trenet’s “La Mer,” using music to highlight the value of World Heritage and showcase the charm of Busan.

The Annex Building of the Busan Modern and Contemporary History Museum, formerly the U.S. Consulate and United States Information Service, is one of the eleven sites comprising the “Busan Wartime Capital Heritage,” which has been designated as a priority candidate for UNESCO World Heritage inscription.

In August, marking the 81st anniversary of Korea’s Liberation, the Museum will host a “Music Concert with Commentary” on Liberation Day to reflect on the meaning of liberation and honor those who contributed to the nation.

On August 15 at 4:00 p.m., Ensemble Cosmopolitan, a string ensemble accompanied by commentary from Lee Il-se, will take the stage. Based in Busan, the ensemble has performed a wide range of works, from chamber music to orchestral repertoire. Thirteen musicians will participate in the performance, presenting a highly accomplished program.

In particular, the concert will feature a newly arranged version of “Korean March,” composed by Han Hyeong-seok, an independence activist from Busan, performed by a string ensemble together with a baritone soloist.

All programs are free of charge and open to any interested citizen. Registration will be available through the Museum’s website (busan.go.kr/mmch) on a first-come, first-served basis for each event, with capacities ranging from 60 to 100 participants. For further information, please contact the Museum Operations Team at +82-51-607-8034.

Kim Ki-yong, Director of the Busan Modern and Contemporary History Museum, stated, “We hope citizens will show great interest in and support for these cultural events, which have been prepared not only to highlight the value of the Museum’s collection recognized as part of Busan’s heritage, but also to reflect on the significance of liberation, a pivotal turning point in Korea’s modern and contemporary history.”