Sanullim's Kim Chang-hoon Presents 'Surely, It Will Be a Welcome' Concert Featuring 1000 'Poem Songs' Created Over Four Years

Kim Chang-hoon, a member of the legendary band Sanullim and a composer, is set to take the stage with his project of 1000 'poem songs,' meticulously crafted over four years.

His solo concert, titled 'Surely, It Will Be a Welcome,' scheduled for the 15th of next month at GeumAm Art Hall in Seoul, is based on a unique endeavor where he composed music for poems from 1000 different poets. The performance will feature 23 of these poem songs, alongside Sanullim's iconic tracks 'Recollection' and 'Monologue,' promising a stage where literature, music, and fine arts converge.

Describing the immense undertaking of creating 1000 songs as a way to imbue 'poems, which are jewels of words,' with life, Kim Chang-hoon admitted, 'If I had set out to create 1000 pieces from the start, I wouldn't have even dared. It's an unthinkable number.' He confessed to facing self-doubt and dissuasion from others, as it required composing 250 songs annually, or five songs a week, without fail. Yet, his belief that poetry enriches and flourishes the human heart fueled him through the arduous four years.

He meticulously selected poems from various collections, anthologies, and even textbooks, adhering to a principle of 'one poet, one song.' After transcribing the poems, he condensed time and emotion before setting them to music without altering a single character. This approach, he explained, was crucial to avoid damaging the original work and distorting the poet's intent, likening it to 'tailoring clothes for a poet, rather than making them fit into ready-made garments.'

Kim Chang-hoon's 1000 poem songs are not only musically significant but also hold considerable value in the history of Korean literature. This unprecedented project is poised to become a significant asset bridging literature and popular music. One poet, in a message, expressed gratitude for having 'life and wings given to my song.'

However, Kim Chang-hoon humbly states, 'The most blessed one is me,' emphasizing that his time spent confronting the language of poetry has become his artistic treasure and the reason for this endeavor. This concert also marks a significant milestone as his first solo debut stage in his 50-year music career. He plans to perform the 23 poem songs entirely from memory, with accompanying visuals of paintings and the poems themselves displayed on a large screen.

Kim Chang-hoon is also actively engaged as a painter, currently participating in a special exhibition titled 'Art Beyond Fame' alongside 'eternal diva' Kim Wan-sun. He hopes to expand the poem song project into a touring exhibition across literary museums nationwide next year, aiming to connect cultural hubs and directly convey the benefits of poetry and the beauty of song.

The concert title, 'Surely, It Will Be a Welcome,' is inspired by a line from Jeong Hyun-jong's poem 'The Visitor.' The poem speaks of how a person's arrival brings their past, present, and future, signifying the entirety of a life, which ultimately leads to a warm welcome. Kim Chang-hoon's performance is anticipated to be a stage of warm mutual welcome between the audience, the poetry, and the artist.

This concert marks Kim Chang-hoon's first solo debut stage in his 50-year music career, drawing significant attention from fans. He will perform 23 poem songs entirely from memory, accompanied by visuals of paintings and the poems on a large screen. The audience will experience a performance focused solely on the poetry, song, and art, without intermissions for applause. The concert title, 'Surely, It Will Be a Welcome,' is derived from Jeong Hyun-jong's poem 'The Visitor,' symbolizing the profound significance of a person's presence and the warm reception that follows.