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Busan Modern and Contemporary History Museum to Host “Everyone’s Annex,” Exploring the Literature of Lee Byung-ju Through Music

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The Busan Modern and Contemporary History Museum announced that it will host “Everyone’s Annex,” a public-private humanities program, on the first floor of the museum’s annex at 3:00 p.m. on October 31.

“Everyone’s Annex” is a humanities event jointly organized by public and private partners to introduce cultural content developed by local humanities organizations and cultural spaces to the wider public. This year’s event will be presented in collaboration with Munhwa Yumok Jipdan Donghaeng, a professional arts and culture organization based in Busan that was established in 2021.

Munhwa Yumok Jipdan Donghaeng has explored new possibilities in the performing arts by developing programs that bring together diverse fields, including philosophy, literature, film, and history. The organization has consistently presented performances not only in professional venues but also in spaces closely connected to citizens’ everyday lives.

Drawing on this experience, the organization has developed a performance that brings together the life of a prominent literary figure, his works, and Korea’s modern and contemporary history. The performance will be presented to the public at the annex of the Busan Modern and Contemporary History Museum, a multidisciplinary cultural space dedicated to the humanities.

This year’s event will take the form of a literary concert exploring the life and literary world of Lee Byung-ju, known by his pen name Narim, through music and readings. Lee was one of Busan’s leading journalists and a major figure in Korean literature whose career was closely associated with the city.

Lee Byung-ju served as editor-in-chief and chief editorial writer of the Kookje Shinmun and personally experienced the upheavals of Korea’s modern history while living in Busan. His literary works vividly capture not only the social conditions of the times but also the music and cultural memories of the era.

The upcoming performance will feature a selection of ten musical pieces appearing in his major novels, including “The Kanpu Ferry,” “Alexandria,” and “Yenang Pungmulji.”

Featured selections include “Han Obaengnyeon,” a traditional folk song from Gangwon-do featured in “Alexandria”; “Una furtiva lagrima,” an aria from the opera “L’elisir d’amore” (“The Elixir of Love”) featured in “The Kanpu Ferry”; and “Seomjip Agi” (“Island Baby”), featured in “Yenang Pungmulji.”

The music will be performed by the Donghaeng Piano Trio, comprising Lee Hyun-woo on violin, Cho Myung-hwan on cello, and Jung Eun-jung on piano, together with piri player Lee Yun-hee. Music Director Jung Doo-hwan will host the event, which will also feature literary readings by Korean language teacher Cho Young-rim. Audience members will receive program notes containing plot summaries and key passages from the featured literary works.

Registration is available through the museum’s website (https://www.busan.go.kr/mmch) on a first-come, first-served basis for up to 40 participants. The program is free and open to everyone.

Kim Ki-yong, Director of the Busan Modern and Contemporary History Museum, said, “Through the literary works and music of Lee Byung-ju, who lived at the heart of Korea’s modern and contemporary history, this event will offer a meaningful opportunity to view the modern and contemporary history of Busan and Korea from a fresh perspective.”