[Yonhap News Photo]
SEOUL -- A repertoire of songs performed at a historic concert in Pyongyang this week included a sad South Korean ballad from the 1970s that was personally requested by North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.
"Remorse Too Late" was originally sung by a brother-sister duo which debuted in 1975 and died one by one in 1990. At a concert in Pyongyang on Sunday, the song about a person in remorse of lost love was sung by Choi Jin-hee, a veteran female singer well-known for her hit songs in North Korea.
According to pool reports, Yoon Sang who led South Korean artists to the concerts in Pyongyang said: "Remorse Too Late is a song loved by North Koreans fans. The atmosphere was great when it was performed on the stage."
Choi told South Korean reporters that she was disturbed when concert organizers asked her to sing "Remorse Too Late" at the last moment because she knew nothing about it. Initially, Choi complained she had no time to practice, but she found out why she was asked to sing it only after she met Kim at the backstage.
"Chairman Kim Jong-un said 'Thank you for singing that song' after he came down to shake my hand," Choi said. "Then I realized why I was asked to sing Remorse Too Late."
Kim showed a strong interest in South Korean singers and songs, South Korean culture minister Do Jong-whan said, adding that in an impromptu proposal made at the concert, Kim suggested North Korean artists could have a fall concert in Seoul.
"(Kim) displayed a considerable interest in South Korean songs and singers," Do told South Korean journalists Tuesday ahead of a joint concert by South and North Korean artists, according to pool reports.
The minister said Kim was delighted with "Man is Ship and Woman is Harbor," a traditional pop ballad. The North's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said earlier that Kim was so excited and impressed at the concert involving K-pop girl band Red Velvet and other South Korean artists.
reporter
Lim Chang-won
cwlim34@ajunews.com
