K-Pop and Traditional Instruments Unite at Gyeongju APEC State Dinner…G-DRAGON’s Performance, Yanggeum as Language of Diplomacy

At the APEC Korea-China Summit state dinner held in Gyeongju on November 1, 2025, K-pop and traditional culture took center stage in global diplomacy. With approximately 400 world leaders and global CEOs in attendance, South Korea’s cultural diplomacy reached an artistic peak. K-pop megastar G-DRAGON was the only K-pop artist invited to the event, where he performed live his hit songs “Power” and “Home Sweet Home.” Wearing a fedora adorned with a pearl chain while singing “Power,” G-DRAGON donned a symbolic outfit resembling the silhouette of a traditional Korean hat. For “Drama,” he decorated his microphone with the APEC flag to add a diplomatic dimension. Audiences, including world leaders, filmed videos on their smartphones during the performance and moved to the rhythm, captivated by G-DRAGON’s charisma. G-DRAGON introduced himself as the “APEC 2025 Korea Ambassador,” clearly establishing his status as an ambassador for Hallyu. Actor and singer Cha Eunwoo served as the event’s host, delivering a graceful presentation before world leaders.

The performance of yanggeum set new boundaries as a language of diplomacy. Yoon Eun-hwa, president of the Korean Yanggeum Association and composer, played original pieces on her modified 56-string yanggeum in front of South Korean President Lee Jae-myung and Chinese President Xi Jinping, showcasing the elegance of Korean music. Yoon Eun-hwa began with a solo yanggeum piece titled “Sincheonnyeon Manse.” This modern reinterpretation of the traditional song “Cheonnyeonmanse” depicted the emergence of civilizations and human connection under a starry night sky, conveying blessings for a new millennium and the rebirth of culture. Following that, she performed “Silk Road,” a piece composed by her featuring yanggeum, erhu, gayageum, and sand art. Performed by erhu player Yuk Yi-bi, gayageum player Jin Mi-rim, and sand art artist Shin Mi-ri, it vividly illustrated the harmony and exchange along the Silk Road through the lyricism of East Asian music and the imagination of visual art. The final performance was a rearrangement of the Chinese folk song “Morihwa” by Yoon Eun-hwa. Sung by the pure voices of the Gyeongju Youth Choir, it warmly expressed the long-standing friendship between the two countries and their aspirations for peace in the future. Immediately after the performance, President Lee Jae-myung and President Xi Jinping walked onto the stage, shook Yoon Eun-hwa’s hands, and offered words of encouragement. Yoon Eun-hwa expressed her gratitude by saying, “This is an honor I will never forget, a moment that will be deeply etched in my heart.”

Yanggeum is an instrument that served as the prototype for the piano, belonging to the stringed instrument category that produces sound by striking strings with a small pick. It is a unique instrument capable of expressing everything from delicate vibrations to intense strikes, possessing a duality that combines the characteristics of both Eastern and Western instruments, as well as string and percussion instruments. In Korea, Yoon Eun-hwa’s developed 56-string modified yanggeum has dramatically expanded its range and expressiveness, making it the instrument with the widest range among Korean traditional musical instruments. Having traveled along a long path of cultural exchange from Europe through China to Korea via the Silk Road, yanggeum symbolized cultural connections in this new era.

The performances at this state dinner were structured into three acts: past, present, and future. They traced the rich history of the ancient Silla kingdom (57 BC–935 AD), the vitality of K-culture, and the future vision represented by AI and robotics. Gyeongju was once the capital of ancient Silla. Violinist Kim Yeon-ah took the stage with Boston Dynamics’ dancing robotic dogs to demonstrate the harmony between tradition and technology. Fusion dishes based on local specialties, created by Korean-American celebrity chef Edward Lee, were served to the 400 guests.

Yoon Eun-hwa, as a yanggeum performer, composer, instrument maker, and educator, has established a unique presence both domestically and internationally through her use of Korea’s only electronic yanggeum for looping performances and her sense of balance between traditional and modern music. Having earned a Ph.D. in musicology from Chung-Ang University, she holds positions such as president of the Korean Yanggeum Association, director of the World Yanggeum Association (CWA), and vice president of the International Yanggeum Arts Federation. She is also the leader of the Korean Yanggeum Ensemble and a member of the band “Dongyang Gojuipa.”