Myung-Whun Chung
Myung-whun Chung, who resigned from his post as Music Director of the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted his last concert yesterday evening, with Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9. Orchestra members wore a sticker of a dove on their right chest for solidarity with their outgoing conductor. Chung entered and left the stage to a standing ovation. Yet, he fall over conspiracies by the orchestra’s former CEO, Hyun-jung Park.
Prior to the concert, orchestra musicians distributed pamphlets to the audience. The text reads: « Park, in the name of reform, abused her subordinates, and consequently 13 of the SPO’s 27 administrative staff have quit over the last two years. (…) The fact remains that Park harassed her employees, and all SPO members, as well as music director Chung, were affected by such. The SPO exists to provide audiences with good music. We ask that the public turn a blind eye and deaf ear to slander and distorted reports by the media. Please continue to support us. »
According to the Korean Times, infighting at the Seoul Phil boiled over when Park, in an open letter to Chung, said his resignation letter sought to denigrate her, and called on the conductor and his wife to cooperate with the police. Insiders believe, that the powerful Park family brought several media on their side.
Chung has left Korea today, heading for France.
