Watching Korean dramas has always been a part of our lives, whether we watch two episodes every week or binge-watch them in one day. It is also true that OSTs, or Original Soundtracks, bring a dynamic sense to each scene in a good K-drama series. That’s why the ‘OST Symphony: K-drama in Concert‘ was the musical experience we never knew we needed, as we listened to iconic Kdrama OSTs live while watching iconic scenes at Manila’s historic Metropolitan Theater last June 29.
Filipino classical music enthusiasts and K-drama fans gathered to witness this one-of-a-kind concert musical experience with the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra (PPO), led by Maestro Herminingildo Ranera. They are joined by Gaho and first violinist Kim Mi-jung from South Korea, as well as Julie Anne San Jose and Zephanie Dimaranan from the Philippines. This momentous event celebrates the 20 years of Korean dramas in the Philippines and the 75 years of diplomatic ties between the Philippines and South Korea.
Photo from NCCA
The musical experience is jam-packed with songs from hit Korean dramas like “Jewel in the Palace,” “Love in the Moonlight,” “Descendants of the Sun,” “Itaewon Class,” “Squid Game,” “Crash Landing on You,” “Extraordinary Attorney Woo,” and “The World of the Married.”It also featured live performances of Zephanie singing “Nagbago ang Daigdig” from the hit GMA Network’s fictional series “My Guardian Alien” and Julie Anne San Jose singing her English rendition of the “Descendant of the Sun” OST “You Are My Everything,” which was originally performed by Gummy.
Photo from NCCA
The highlight of the night is the OST performances of GAHO singing “Yellow Light” from “King The Land”, “Running” from “Start-Up”, and “Start” from “Itaewon Class”. It is truly an honor for GAHO to sing OSTs of hit Korean dramas in this meaningful event.
Photo from NCCA
Present at the theater were Korean Ambassador to the Philippines Lee Sang-Hwa, NCCA Deputy Executive Director for Operations Bernan Joseph Corpuz, CCP president Kaye Tinga, Austrian Ambassador Johann Brieger, Department of Foreign Affairs Multilateral Affairs and International Economic Relations Usec. Charles Jose, and DFA Asian and Pacific Affairs Asec. Aileen Mendiola-Rau.
Photo from NCCA
One notable remark came from the Korean Ambassador to the Philippines Lee Sang-hwa. He said, “K-drama without music to a red bean bun without beans.” It makes these Korean dramas inexplicably irresistible with the iconic soundtracks that “elevate the drama, making every romantic glance and tearful goodbye much more affecting, and every suspenseful or action-filled sequence all the more thrilling. It’s this emotional resonance that has made K-dramas so impactful in the Philippines.”
OST Symphony: K-drama in Concert was made possible by the Korean Cultural Center (KCC) Philippines in collaboration with the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) and the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP). HallyuLife would like to thank them for having us on this show. #OSTSymphony #KdramaInConcert #PHKOR75 #KCCPHil #KoreanCulturePH
