Kim Hye-kyung, the wife of President Lee Jae-myung, visited a government-supported youth orchestra on Sunday to encourage its members.
An Gui-ryeong, deputy spokesperson for the presidential office, said Kim visited the "Orchestra of Dream" education site at Guro Art Valley in Guro-gu, Seoul, that afternoon, where she met with child and youth members, parents and the music director. Meeting with the members, Kim listened to their views, saying, "Tell me if there's anything difficult or anything you'd like help with. I'll pass it on to the grandfather president. But nothing too big, like asking to build a center."
She then pledged, "I will continue to listen to voices from the field so that children can nurture their dreams and fully realize their potential through culture and the arts." Kim, who majored in piano at university, helped ease the tension of members who were practicing, saying, "I once went on stage to play piano, and I still have dreams where I can't remember the first note." She also tried playing the marimba, a percussion instrument, herself.
After watching the members perform together, she shouted "Bravo," gave a standing ovation and praised their skills, saying, "I was amazed. I nearly cried." Kim was also given an impromptu invitation to a regular performance scheduled for the second half of this year, to which she promised, "I will definitely come."
The Orchestra of Dream is part of the "Arts Troupe of Dream," a youth arts support program run by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Arts and Culture Education Service, providing orchestra ensemble education to children and youth in local communities.
An said, "The government plans to expand the Arts Troupe of Dream program so that more children and youth can receive culture and arts education," adding, "After supporting 150 groups this year, the goal is to expand to 360 groups by 2030."
