Lauren Yehwa Seo Hosts Solo Gayageum Concert to Support Passage of U.S. Adoptee Citizenship Act

Jan 01, 2025, 04:47 pm

"I will do my best to help K-Culture thrive on the global stage."

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Lauren Yehwa Seo, a student at SDC Academy, successfully hosted her solo gayageum concert on December 28 at Recordia Art Hall in Gangnam, Seoul, to raise funds for the passage of the U.S. Adoptee Citizenship Act. / Photo: World Hug Foundation

Lauren Yehwa Seo, a student at SDC Academy and World Hug Foundation’s Global Student Representative, successfully hosted her first solo gayageum concert on December 28 at Recordia Art Hall in Gangnam, Seoul. The event aimed to raise funds for the passage of the U.S. Adoptee Citizenship Act.

Lauren's concert was part of her efforts as the World Hug Foundation’s Global Student Representative to convey warmth and support to adoptees in the United States. Trained under the renowned gayageum virtuoso and Hanyang University adjunct professor, Lee Yerang, Lauren delivered a performance that highlighted both her musical talents and her dedication to meaningful causes.

Despite her demanding academic schedule, Lauren prepared the concert with the heartfelt hope of uniting people in support of the U.S. Adoptee Citizenship Act. The event was not just a showcase of her musical skills but a gesture of service—dedicated not for herself but for the benefit of others and the collective good.

The concert drew a warm and enthusiastic response, emphasizing Lauren’s vision of using culture and music as a bridge to foster unity and compassion.

◇ A Harmonious Blend of Tradition and Modernity

Lauren Yehwa Seo showcased the beauty of traditional Korean music along with a modern interpretation through her gayageum performance. During the concert, she played a variety of pieces, including the Seong Geum-yeon style Gayageum Sanjo, a medley of folk songs (Arirang, Doraji, Miryang Arirang, Jindo Arirang), a canon variation using a 25-string gayageum, and The Beatles' "Let It Be," which garnered a great response from the audience. Special performances by Professor Kim Young-jin, who played the seoljanggu (traditional Korean drum), and musical actor and singer Lee Ji-hoon, who offered a congratulatory performance, enriched the event even further.

Sanjo, considered the pinnacle of Korean traditional music, expresses the joys and sorrows of life, and through its various modes, it conveys a range of emotions. The Seong Geum-yeon style Gayageum Sanjo is one of the most beloved and widely performed pieces among the many styles of Sanjo.

Lauren began with Arirang, one of Korea's most famous traditional folk songs, and seamlessly integrated other popular songs like Doraji, Miryang Arirang, and Jindo Arirang into the gayageum melodies.

One of the most well-known works in classical music, the Canon Variations, was performed on the 25-string gayageum, along with "Let It Be," a track from The Beatles' final album, which is beloved worldwide. These performances were met with enthusiastic applause from the audience.

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The solo gayageum concert to raise funds for the passage of the U.S. Adoptee Citizenship Act was held on December 28 at Recordia Art Hall in Gangnam, Seoul. Lauren Yehwa Seo, World Hug Foundation’s Global Student Representative, is seen performing on the gayageum. / Photo: World Hug Foundation

◇ Dedication to Supporting U.S. Adoptees

Lauren Yehwa Seo, World Hug Foundation’s Global Student Representative, shared, “This gayageum solo concert was organized as part of my efforts to raise funds for U.S. adoptees, having been involved in advocating for the passage of the U.S. Adoptee Citizenship Act for several years. I am deeply grateful to God for guiding me so far.”

She continued, “Through the melodies of our nation’s traditional gayageum, I hope to convey warmth and love to U.S. adoptees and, beyond that, to the world. I also aim to spread the excellence of the gayageum, a traditional Korean instrument, and promote K-Culture on the global stage to help it flourish.”

Edward Gibbs, a New York State Assemblyman, delivered a congratulatory message, saying, “I have heard that Lauren Yehwa Seo’s gayageum concert is part of a valuable fundraising effort to support adoptees in the U.S. who have faced difficulties in obtaining citizenship. I sincerely thank everyone involved, including Lauren, for sharing their warmth and love through this important cause.”

He added, “In today’s society, love and consideration for others seem to be fading. In such a world, this gayageum concert is not only a bridge between American, Korean, and global communities but also a step towards spreading beautiful love throughout the world. I would like to send my gratitude and support once again to Lauren, who has created this meaningful event as World Hug Foundation’s Global Student Representative.”

Joanna Gill, Chairwoman of the World Hug Foundation, who has dedicated years of service to Korean adoptees in the U.S., returned to Korea and presented Lauren Yehwa Seo with a special award on behalf of the New York State Assembly.

Joanna Gill stated, “Lauren has earned gratitude and respect from the people of New York State through her exemplary achievements and contributions as a model citizen, showing service to the community. In recognition of her accomplishments and dedication, and in honor of her leadership, the New York State Assembly presents this award to Lauren Yehwa Seo."

Additionally, musical actor and singer Lee Ji-hoon, World Hug Foundation’s Ambassador, made a special appearance.

Lee Ji-hoon remarked, “I know that Lauren has campaigned nationwide for the passage of the U.S. Adoptee Citizenship Act. I truly admire Lauren for her devotion to helping countless overseas adoptees who, despite being adopted by the U.S., have been deported back to Korea because they were unable to obtain U.S. citizenship.”

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The solo gayageum concert to raise funds for the passage of the U.S. Adoptee Citizenship Act was held on December 28 at Recordia Art Hall in Gangnam, Seoul. Pictured are (from left to right) Seo Dae-cheon, Asia Representative of the World Hug Foundation; Lee Yerang, adjunct professor at Hanyang University and youngest recipient of the President’s Award in Gayageum; Lauren Yehwa Seo, World Hug Foundation’s Global Student Representative; Lee Ji-hoon, World Hug Foundation Ambassador (musical actor and singer); and Kim Young-jin, director of the National Gugak Center and adjunct professor at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, posing for a commemorative photo. / Photo: World Hug Foundation

Lee Kang-deok, President of the Korea-America Club (and CEO of KBS N), stated, “I expect that Lauren Yehwa Seo’s gayageum solo concert, organized to raise funds for the passage of the U.S. Adoptee Citizenship Act, will further strengthen the foundation of Korea-U.S. relations. I fully support her in becoming a student with a grand vision who will continue to bring pride to Korea.”

Lee Kang-deok, who served as KBS's Washington D.C. correspondent, currently holds the position of president at the Korea-America Club. The club is a non-profit organization primarily led by former and current journalists who have served as U.S. correspondents, and it was established to facilitate information exchange related to Korea-U.S. relations and strengthen the network among journalists.

Lee Yerang, adjunct professor at Hanyang University, stated, “Learning the gayageum is not just about mastering melodies and tones, but about inheriting the spirit of our ancestors and passing down traditions from generation to generation. If we were to compare gayageum performance to food, it would be more like fermented food than fast food.” She added, “It takes years, even decades, of practice to develop the depth and skill necessary to create a performance that truly moves the heart. I applaud Lauren Yehwa Seo for taking on such a vast challenge.”

She continued, “The practice process was never easy. However, when those difficult efforts culminate in creating beautiful sound, the performer finds true happiness. I give a big round of applause to Lauren for mastering the strength of patience through this concert. I hope she continues to experience the joy of performing, and I congratulate her on a successful first solo concert.”

◇ International Activities and Achievements

Lauren Yehwa Seo, Global Student Representative of the World Hug Foundation, was honored with the "Presidential Volunteer Service Award" on June 14, 2023, in New York City, for her dedicated efforts in advocating for the passage and final enactment of the U.S. Adoptee Citizenship Act. Her outstanding contributions to this cause were recognized for her service and commitment.

On June 10, 2023, at the Korean American Community Service Center in Bayside, Queens, New York, Lauren received a Certificate of Recognition from U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer. This award acknowledged her exemplary community service as an outstanding student and her dedication to the World Hug Foundation.

In November 2022, Lauren participated in the "2nd Global Leadership Development English Academic Paper Presentation," hosted by the National Assembly, where she presented her paper titled "A Study on Legal Protection of Korean Adoptees to the U.S. and Sponsorship Campaign in Korea" in English, winning the top prize for her outstanding research and presentation.

Representing Korea, Lauren also took part in the Harvard Summer School from June 17 to August 4, 2023. The program included students from 47 U.S. states and 73 countries worldwide, bringing together exceptional students for a diverse and enriching academic experience.

The World Hug Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to helping international adoptees, who were adopted to the U.S. as children but did not receive U.S. citizenship and are currently living as undocumented immigrants. The organization was founded in April 2017 after the tragic case of Philip Clay (Korean name Kim Sang-pil), who was adopted to the U.S., experienced abuse by his adoptive parents, and was deported to Korea in 2012. Failing to adjust to life in Korea due to language and cultural barriers, he tragically took his own life five years later. The foundation works to assist adoptees in obtaining U.S. citizenship

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The "Gayageum Solo Concert to Raise Funds for the Passage of the U.S. Adoptee Citizenship Act" was held on the 28th at Recordia Art Hall in Gangnam, Seoul. Pictured from left to right: Seo Dae-cheon, Asia Representative of the World Hug Foundation, Lauren Yehwa Seo, Global Student Representative of the World Hug Foundation, Joanna Gill, Chairwoman of the World Hug Foundation, and Lee Ji-hoon, Public Relations Ambassador of the World Hug Foundation (musical actor and singer) during a commemorative photo session. / Photo: World Hug Foundation