The performances for the Ministerial are programmed to reflect the themes of the Ministerial, Convergence, Creativity and Confidence. Participants will be exposed to the beautiful harmony of the old and the new, diversity and ingenuity of Korean culture. Please note that the programmes are subject to change.

Welcome Dinner

The performance is to welcome the participants to Korea and to wish for a successful Meeting. This is the starting point of building confidence among the participants. Sookmyung Gayagum Orchestra + Last for One (B-boys) Established in 1999, the Sookmyung Gayagum Orchestra opened a new horizon for the traditional Korean music. While playing the Korean traditional instrument named gayageum (a type of zither), the orchestra reshaped the unbearably difficult traditional music into one that can be appreciated by far more audience. When the Korean zither orchestra joined Korean B-boys whose excellence has been proven at the world B-boy championships, a unique crossover performance (hip hop and Korean traditional music) was created. Such a combination has been highly recognised as it represented a new interface between Korean traditional culture and a global trend. The participants will be welcomed by the Beatles’ songs and Pachelbel’s Canon performed by the zithers and the B-boys.

Before the Opening Ceremony

Celebrating the opening of the OECD Seoul Ministerial, the performance features one of the royal court performances of traditional Korea, today’s IT powerhouse. “Royal Court Banquet Music - Music of Peace, Dream of the Dynasty” The performance invites the participants to the royal banquet held by King Jeongjo of Joseon in Hwaseong about 200 years ago to celebrate his mother’s 60th birthday. This is one of the major repertoires of the National Center of Korean Traditional Performing Arts, which has been performed at the Frankfurt Book Fair in 2005 and at the FIFA World Cup in 2002. The performance has been recomposed, showcasing the spectacles of the original performance.

Gala Dinner

The performance is to encourage information exchange and building relationship among all participants to the Ministerial. Yang Bang-Ean, New-age Musician Korean-Japanese Yang Bang-Ean has built his musical career in Japan as well as in Korea through his musical contribution to films, TV dramas, TV commercials, etc. Yang is widely recognised for distilling Asian melodies in his scores. He remarkably recreates melodies and beats of the Korean traditional percussion quartet (samulnoree) as a piano music, the “Frontier,” which has been introduced at the 2002 Pusan Asian Games. Yang will be accompanied by the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra which has contributed greatly in bringing classical music closer to the general public ever since its creation in 1992. The performance will make a resounding impression on the participants at the banquet.