American Culture in the Capital of Communism

Feb. 23, 2008 — -- I'm halfway around the world today, in a country where everyone has been raised to think of the United States as an enemy, but where, in just a few days, it will hear one of our premier orchestras play.

On Feb. 26, the New York Philharmonic will play a groundbreaking concert in Pyongyang, the capital of North Korea -- a place that has been called "Hermit Kingdom" for its desire to stay separate from the world. This unusual opportunity began with a surprising fax the Philharmonic received from the North Korean government last August, inviting it to come and perform.

After much debate, and long discussions with the U.S. government, the Philharmonic accepted the invitation and is now on its way to the DPRK (Democratic People's Republic of Korea) -- that's the country's formal title -- and I will be joining it to cover this historic moment.

Without a doubt, it's going to be a memorable experience for all of us, but for a few of the Philharmonic's members, this groundbreaking concert brings mixed feelings. That's because this concert will be in North Korea, and these orchestra members were raised in South Korea, hearing tales of the Korean War throughout their childhoods.

"My father actually does not like the idea," says Lisa Kim, the Philharmonic's associate principal second violin. Kim's father was injured during the Korean War, while her mother's town was invaded by the North Korean army. In spite of this, she says, her mother urged her to go.

"I think I'll be very sad and emotional at first," says violinist Soohyun Kwon, whose father also fought in the Korean War. Kwon was born and raised in Seoul, South Korea, and eventually moved to New York to attend the Julliard School. "It's very strange that I'm going there. It's a place where very few people have gone, so I'm very excited to go, but still I have a bit of trepidation."

The Philharmonic's concert, just one day after Condoleezza Rice will be in Seoul, means that the United States may be inching closer to a new relationship with leader Kim Jong Il and his country.