Rapper Zico, R&B singer Ailee to visit Pyongyang

Woo Ji-ho, better known by his stage name Zico, is a rapper and singer-songwriter leading the boy band Block B. He has been included in President Moon Jae-in's official entourage to the inter-Korean summit in Pyongyang. Moon's office announced on Sunday the 52-member delegation for the summit on Tuesday to Thursday that includes government officials, politicians, business leaders and representatives from various social segments. / Yonhap

By Kang Aa-young

The South Korean artists' delegation to Pyongyang in April included veteran Korean singers such as Cho Yong-pil and Lee Sun-hee as well as surprise K-pop stars such as Red Velvet and Girls' Generation's Seohyun.

But hip-hop and R&B? How North Korean audiences will respond to these genres was the question that popped into the publics mind when the government announced Sunday the members of the presidential entourage for the third inter-Korean summit which included rapper Zico and R&B singer Ailee.

Experts are divided over their joining the cultural delegation.

"I can see the government is trying to add some cultural diversity," culture critic Jung Duk-hyun said Monday. "The lineup of the artists is unexpected just like Red Velvet's performance in Pyongyang."

"I assume they are putting in extra efforts to show the South Koreaculture exactly as it is now."

Jung voiced concern though, noting North Koreans' perceptions of them could be different from those of South Koreans.

"Though singer Ali was added at the last minute, she is a top young trendy artist," said Ha Jae-geun, another renowned culture critic here, adding he considers the three _ Ali, Zico and Ailee _ to reflect a part of the South's current pop music culture.

"It's hard to imagine what the artists would pull together and how their music will turn out. I'm afraid they might not be able to strike a chord with North Korean audiences," he said.

Critic Ahn Jae-woo was optimistic about the musical message the three artists can pull together, mentioning the role of veteran songwriter Kim Hyung-suk.

"Kim Hyung-suk will pull this off. He has had the ability to mix R&B and hip-hop together to make great pieces since the 1990s," Ahn explained.

The artistic diversity of the second South Korean delegation to Pyongyang this year is seen in the makeup of representatives in other fields. The government's announcement of the entourage reflected almost all aspects of Korean society. Magician Choi Hyun-woo was also added to the list Monday.

When the South Korean musicians held their "Spring Comes" performance in Pyongyang in April, 11 Korean veteran singers Cho Yong-pil, Lee Sun-hee and rocker Yoon Do-hyun took the North Korean stage, with Red Velvet and Seohyun also performing.

The performance plans for this latest delegation have not been fixed yet.

"We have not heard anything about our performance in Pyongyang," Zico's agency official told The Korea Times Monday.

Zico, leader of boy band Block B, debuted in 2011. He has released solo albums and has plans to tour Europe and the U.S. soon.

Korean-American singer-songwriter Ailee made her debut in 2012, with her song "Heaven."

"I will perform a rendition of Arirang and Our Wish Is Reunification on the piano," Kim Hyung-suk said. "I will do my best to bring the South and North together through music."

本文地址：http://o.zzzogryeb.bond/html/36c799907.html