Description
Kim Hye-kyung, First Lady of South Korea who met young leaders of art in the U.S., said, "I will add my passionate energy."
“I will help ensure that Korean artists can follow through the doors you have opened.”
Lee So-eun (singer-songwriter) · Wang Hyun-ji (sound effects specialist) · Ahn Soo-yeon (translator), among others
First Lady Kim attended a roundtable discussion with next-generation Korean artists held at the Korean Cultural Center in New York that morning. “Behind your achievements must have been burning passion, sweat, and tears,” she said, according to a written briefing by Jeon Eun-soo, Deputy Spokesperson of the Presidential Office.
Participants included Lee So-eun (U.S. lawyer and singer-songwriter), Park Hye-sang (soprano at the New York Metropolitan Opera), Hwang Joo-min (performer in the Broadway musical “& Juliet”), Yoon Da-in (optical illusion artist), Kim Tae-i (curatorial fellow at the New Museum, Hanwha Life), Wang Hyun-ji (film foley artist), Chun Chan Jun (head of CG at Crafty Apes), Kim Lora (co-founder and creative director of the women’s fashion brand Monse), Andrew Kwon (founder of the fashion brand ANDREW KWON), and Ahn Soo-yeon (poet and translator).
During the discussion, they shared stories about the barriers they faced and the moments of growth they experienced while working in New York, as well as the goals they hope to achieve in their respective fields.
Kim said, “As a mother with children around your age, I find your achievements truly admirable. As a fan watching from afar in Korea, I feel joy and pride in the accomplishments of young Koreans like you.”
The participants noted that the transformation of Korea’s image, driven by the spread of Hallyu, has been taking place at an astonishing speed—even from the perspective of artists working locally.
They further assessed that, with the growing interest in and affection for Korean culture, the doors of opportunity are opening wider for Korean artists in New York.
Film sound-effects specialist Wang Hyun-ji said, “Since coming to the U.S. as an international student, what I found most lacking was a community where I could connect with seniors in my field and seek advice. Going forward, I hope to play a role in supporting the growth of young Korean artists who dream of entering New York.”
Translator Ahn Soo-yeon said, “My work goes beyond simply transferring language; it is about connecting cultures and building a global community. I hope that international workshops and exchange programs will be further activated so that Korean literature and poetry can be more widely introduced to the world.”
