SEOUL, KOREA – Jung-hee Nam (Agnes), a soprano and conductor, says that her happiest moment is being with music. The soprano is turning 70, yet seems untiring and rather energetic, serving as a conductor for the Lourdes choir at the Chapel, and English mass choir and conductor in ST, Matthew Catholic Church. She spent 20 years on teaching English, Japanese, and Spanish languages to students at Language Laboratory(LABO) whose members she loves and respects the most now. At LABO, students can learn diverse languages including English, Japanese, Chinese, French, Italy, and Spanish from many devoted teachers. She is also proud of having conducted Goodwill Corporation Service club and chorus for a decade.
Having devoted her whole life to music as a soprano, a conductor and also a music teacher to over a thousand students and mothers, she has witnessed that music is not only a joy but also a healing power and bridge between people. Travelling many countries for choral performances, she was also a pioneer in the promotion of Korean music overseas. “Unlike the current popularity of Korean music, it was quite rare for Korean singers to perform abroad back in the 80s. I was lucky to visit many countries and perform there,” the soprano Nam said.
Before the Soviet disintegration, Nam was invited to the USSR for a joint coral performance with South and North Korean professors. She recalled, “When I arrived at the Moscow airport in the winter, it was extremely cold and I was too weak at the time, with a white blood cell count as low as 3,500. I was worried about whether I could manage well with this weakened condition. However, it was an idle fear. As the performance began, the audiences greeted us with hearty cheers and they were deeply moved by our joint performance.” The USSR and Korea were the only divided nations at the time. “The atmosphere was friendlier than I had anticipated, and many Russian and North Korean men asked me to dance. I had a great time there,” she smiled. “Coming back to Korea, I was surprised to see my white blood cell count increase to 7,000. Music helps to bond with different cultures and also stay healthy.”
Since then, she has travelled to many countries to lead more than twenty choruses in performance. “Whenever I go overseas - whether in Piazza di Spagna in Spain, at a small village in Japan, or at the Chapel in the U.K, I try to sing Korean songs as well as their local ones. As a Korean singer, I want to share beautiful Korean songs with many people abroad.Sometimes, I put words in simple local languages to Korean music and it is well received by everyone.” She also released her album under the title of 'Soprano Nam Jung Hee Favorite Songs'.
The healing power of music
Believing that music possesses a strong healing power, she has regularly visited places such as prisons, hospitals, schools, and nursing homes with her chorus members. “One day, I had a chance to lead a choir at a juvenile detention center. They were 40 teenagers. I also had a bias against them at first but later I found out that 30 of them had no mother. Although young, they seemed to be worn out by the hardship of life. I chose my favorite song, “Let It Be” by Beatles, and taught them the original meaning of the lyrics. Seeing them sing along, I couldn’t find any hint of an offender from them and witnessed their wounded heart healing.”
“A few years back, I had another chance to lead a choral performance in the U.S. The audience was a group of Korean adoptees in the U.S. Sadly, many of them had resentment against Korea, thinking their birth mothers had abandoned them. They did not speak any Korean languages and were not interested in learning it. Before the performance, they sat with bad posture and giggled. However, as we began the performance with ‘Arirang’, a Korean folk song, many of them listened attentively and were fascinated by the music. The song - sometimes considered the unofficial national anthem - seemed to heal their wounded soul and seek their motherland. While we visited many places for choral performances, I met many, young and old, whose hearts were softened and healed by music. I confidently call music a panacea,” she smiled.
When I was a music teacher at middle school, I was also fond of teaching English to students. Among my students, there was a boy who sat in front and attentively listened to the lecture with shining eyes. Decades later, a PD of KBS contacted me one day. He was a producer of ‘TV loaded with love’, a program helping celebrities find people they longed for. I found out that the boy later became a well-know actor, and was looking for me for Teacher’s Day to express his gratitude. On the day, he came to see me as well as other students, and I was very delighted and proud of meeting all of them once again. We had a long conversation lasting into the night, and it was an unforgettable moment.
Interpersonal Diplomacy
On top of music, she has played a part in promoting Korean culture and providing a positive impression of Korea by running a homestay. “During the 1988 Olympics period, the Korean government encouraged families to invite foreign guests to their home to handle accommodation issues. We applied with City Hall, and had the first guest, Mr. Holden, the then President of Global Peace Conference, in my home. He said he chose to stay with a Korean family to experience Korean culture to a greater extent. I had a good chat with him as I dropped him at the Olympic stadium every morning, and also took him to some tourist spots on weekends. As his birthday coincided with his visit, we threw a big birthday party for him, inviting many guests. He really appreciated it, saying that it was the happiest day since his wife had passed away four years ago. We spent only two weeks together but became very close. Later on, we found out that he introduced our family in an article in the Washington Post after going back to the U.S. We were delighted and appreciated that he did not forget our family. It was the beginning of inviting foreign guests to my house, and a number of families have come to my house over the past 20 years since then.” In a sense that she spends her time and efforts to welcome foreign visitors, it is safe to say that she played part in interpersonal diplomacy.
Through music and hospitability, the soprano seems to convey a sense of soft power and inspiration. With music she heals the soul and gives hope, and with her kindness and hospitability, many began to have good feelings toward Korea. Asked about her dream, she answered without any hesitation. “I have a dream of releasing a Korean music album in English, which is a rare case even in Korea. I want to share beautiful Korean songs with as many people as possible. I also want to continue what I have done for another ten years - conduct, sing, volunteer, as well as invite guests to home,” she smiled. Following her life motto - Rejoice Always, she truly seems to enjoy her present cause, bringing happiness to others.
