Seoul City Launches 'Instrument Donation and Sharing' Campaign... 1,536 Instruments Re-donated Over 2 Years

From the 14th to the 31st of next month, collecting idle musical instruments from citizens for repair and tuning before re-donation

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] The Seoul Metropolitan Government announced on the 13th that it will start the 'Instrument Donation and Sharing' campaign, which collects unused instruments, repairs and tunes them, and then donates them again to citizens and students who find it difficult to purchase instruments.

Since the launch of the Seoul Instrument Donation and Sharing campaign in 2019, Seoul has received donations of 1,798 instruments across 26 types. After undergoing repair and tuning, 1,536 instruments have been re-donated. Anyone who has unused instruments can participate in this year's campaign. Donated instruments include both Eastern and Western instruments such as violins, flutes, and gayageum, but mass-produced and educational instruments like recorders, tambourines, and ocarinas are excluded.

The donated instruments are repaired and tuned by master instrument repair technicians at 'Nakwon Instrument Arcade' and then re-donated or lent to citizens in need. Priority will be given to vulnerable groups who find it difficult to purchase instruments, and distribution will be balanced according to regional demand. All instruments will be thoroughly disinfected and dried to ensure safety amid COVID-19 precautions before delivery.

This campaign includes heartwarming stories of hearing-impaired individuals learning music with donated instruments, and young cellists who developed their skills with donated instruments and were selected to represent Korea. This year, a 'web map' documenting the instrument donation, repair, and sharing process over the past two years will be created and made available to the public.

Additionally, to raise awareness of the campaign among many citizens, singer 'Henry' will participate as a promotional ambassador to encourage public participation.

Meanwhile, the 'Seoul Life Culture Center Nakwon' will hold various follow-up events, from concerts by citizens and students who have improved their skills with donated instruments to lifestyle arts orchestra concerts. Support will also be provided to help citizens and students who received instruments continue their musical activities.

Yoo Yeon-sik, Head of the Seoul Cultural Headquarters, said, "Instruments that have been unused and lying somewhere in homes for a long time can become companion instruments for citizens who find it difficult to purchase them," adding, "We hope many citizens will participate in this year's instrument donation and sharing campaign so that anyone can learn instruments and enjoy music without financial burden."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.