Seohyun of Girls’ Generation, also an actor.

As controversy over ‘celebrity perks’ erupted regarding Girls’ Generation member and actor Seohyun’s orchestral collaboration, Jung-suk, an organist and a Season 13 cast member of ‘I’m Solo,’ delivered a sharp rebuke.

On the 16th, responding on social media to a fan’s question, “There are reactions saying Seohyun’s collaboration gives music majors a reality check; even if we make it clear she’s a non-major, is this really an issue?”, she began, “Since yesterday I’ve been getting nonstop DMs about Seohyun’s collaboration, and because I’ve long thought about this problem of the ultra-conservatives in the classical scene, I’m going to deliver a few straight words.”

She said, “I honestly don’t know what the problem is. The orchestra is amateur to begin with, and given that Seohyun is getting on stage, how much practice do you think she can put in? If it’s a hobby, that’s even more impressive. Thanks to Seohyun’s ticket power, some people may be going to Lotte Concert Hall for the first time for a classical collaborationif that isn’t the popularization of classical music, what is?”

She continued, “In a capitalist market, everything follows the law of supply and demand. Thinking that only the music we make is ‘royal’ and that only the orthodox course is the answer is quite anachronistic.” She added, “Lotte Concert Hall has 2,000 seats. Even if you were given the stage for free, not everyone has the backbone to go up there and perform. Let’s not belittle others’ efforts and instead focus on our own lives.”

Earlier, the Sol Philharmonic Orchestra announced that Seohyun would take the stage as a special collaborator at the ‘8th Regular Concert of the Sol Philharmonic Orchestra,’ to be held on March 13 at Lotte Concert Hall in Songpa-gu, Seoul. It added that this challenge comes just five months after she took up the violin.

The Sol Philharmonic Orchestra, an ensemble composed of people who love classical music rather than professional performers, explained, “With Seohyun’s participation, we expect the threshold for classical performances to be lowered. It will be a very special stage filled with a pure love of music.”

However, some netizens criticized it as ‘celebrity perks,’ arguing that she is taking the stage at a large hall dedicated to classical music more on the strength of her recognition and ticket power than her skill.

Meanwhile, Jung-suk is an organist who graduated from Yonsei University’s College of Music and earned her master’s and doctoral degrees from the University of Music and Performing Arts Munich in Germany. She is currently giving lectures at an arts school and working as an adjunct professor at a university.