'Master of Contemporary Music' Professor Emeritus Kang Seok-hee of Seoul National University Passes Away (Comprehensive)

Introducing Modern and Experimental Electronic Music in Korea
Advanced by Meeting World-Renowned Composer Yun Isang
"Music Is a 'Flowing Architecture' That Must Be Built with Proper Structure"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Renowned contemporary music master Kang Seok-hee, Professor Emeritus of Composition at Seoul National University, passed away in the early morning of the 16th due to an illness. He was 86 years old.

The late composer introduced modern and experimental electronic music to Korea. Born in Seoul in 1934, he graduated from the Composition Department of Seoul National University College of Music. He became famous in 1966 with the release of "Feast of Primary Colors," Korea's first electronic music piece, which he self-taught by reading the Japanese magazine "Electronics and Electricity."

He continued his new explorations and made significant progress after meeting the world-renowned composer Isang Yun. In 1970, he went to Germany for further studies, studying telecommunications engineering at the Berlin Institute of Technology and composition at the Berlin University of the Arts. Afterwards, he produced works for the German WDR broadcasting station at the electronic music studio in Cologne and worked as a composer invited by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) in Berlin.

After completing his studies abroad, he served as a professor in the Composition Department at Seoul National University from 1982, engaging in various creative activities. He composed numerous pieces and planned and directed music festivals. His major works include "Chwita-hyang" (1987) for Korean traditional orchestra, "Passacaglia" (1993) for violin, piano, and electronic instruments, and albums such as "Buru" (1987) and "Dialog" (1989).

During his lifetime, he described these works as "flowing architecture" or "architectural composition," reflecting his belief that composition must be detailed and concrete. He emphasized, "When each sound is connected, an expansive force arises in the middle, giving the music an organized structure like a sturdy building," and stressed the importance of knowing how to create music with a proper structure.

He served as vice president of the International Society for Contemporary Music (ISCM) from 1984 to 1990 and led the Seoul-Berlin Festival starting in 1992. His active contributions earned him numerous awards, including the Korean Theater and Film Arts Technical Award (1979), Grand Bell Award for Film Music (1979), Musician of the Year Award (1989), Korea Culture and Arts Award (1990), Youngchang Culture Award (1997), Bogwan Cultural Medal (1998), Woo Kyung Culture and Arts Award (2000), Daewon Cultural Foundation Composition Award (2007), and the Imryeok Award from the Korea-Germany Association (2008). He also received the Presidential Award at the Korean Composition Awards in 1979 for "Dalha."

The funeral is being held at the Seoul National University Hospital funeral hall. The funeral procession will take place at 5:30 a.m. on the 18th.

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