[Editorial] Gifted Koreans

Korean musicians have shown stunning performances in the international arena. So what is the driving force behind them? All of the five world-class pianists participated in the “First Music Camp” held in Gyeongju to discover gifted young pianists say that it is talents and hard-works.

“The hands, the brain and the heart of Korean musicians are all flexible,” said Jacques Louvier, a former judge of the Leeds International Piano Competition. Last year, Kim Sun-wook, a 19-year-old Korean boy without overseas experience, won the competition. Arie Vardi, a professor at the Hannover University for Music and Drama, points out five elements, including a brain capable of learning all different kinds of songs fast, outstanding artistic talent, and strong desire to learn.

Koreans have not only excelled in music but also in many other areas. For instance, Koreans have achieved magnificent feats in science and technology, and in sports like golf, archery, handball, and figure skating. Korean technicians and engineers have won 14 times at the International Youth Skill Olympics since Korea first joined the competition in 1966. Articles of Korean scientists are easily found in many internationally renowned journals like Science and Nature. This is indeed a brilliant feat considering the size and population of Korea.

Korea would not have become the world’s 10th largest economy having to endure the Korean War and the tragic division of the country, if Koreans did not possess such potential. People used to say, “Trying to find democracy in Korea is like trying to find a rose in a trash bin.” However, Korea has settled into a democracy on its soil in an astonishingly short period.

“If we educate and enlighten Koreans, they will not only create an independent country, but, one day, an advanced country,” former Korean President Syngman Rhee said during his studies in the U.S. And as we all know, Koreans have achieved more than the former president could have ever envisioned.

However, darkness is looming in front of us. While the world is striving for a brighter future, Korea is squeezing its own throat by imposing stricter regulations and emphasizing equality rather than competition. It’s obvious that wasting Korea’s talented human resources will result in a gloomy future.

“Music competitions are not a fight between individuals but a fight between nations,” Gang Chung-mo, a professor at the Korean National University of Arts, said. He points out that state-level support or the national system is as important as individual’s ability. This is well illustrated by comparing South Korea and North Korea where one people live on the divided peninsula. If the South resembles North Korea, only a grim future will await.