▲ SK Innovation hosts the GMF Charity Night Gala 2022 in Busan at Asti Hotel, Busan, South Korea, on November 18 (KST). In the photo: Mayor of Busan Metropolitan City Park Heong-joon, Chairman of SK Group Chey Tae-won, President of Heart-to-Heart Foundation Oh Jee-chul, and diplomatic envoys from 36 countries and their families take a commemorative photo at the Gala.

“The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched – they must be felt with the heart.”

 – Helen Adams Keller –

SK Innovation has brought the Great Music Festival (GMF), the largest music festival in Korea for people with developmental disabilities to Busan, a host candidate of World Expo 2030.

On November 18, SK Innovation held the GMF Charity Night Gala 2022 in Busan (hereinafter “Busan Gala”) as a special year-end to let the talents of the previous winners of the GMFs shine again and prove the company’s continous support for their dreams. The guests of honor of the event were diplomatic envoys from 36 nations and their families.

In line with SK Group’s management philosophy of “maximizing the happiness of its stakeholders,” SK Innovation has been active in multiple social contribution programs. One of the major themes of these programs is  about bringing happiness and enjoyable lives for people with developmental disabilities. The company has come to focus on the musical talents that they have and held the first GMF in 2017.

| A night in Busan filled with the melodies of former GMF Winners

As the gateway connecting Korea to the world and is one of the most beautiful harbor cities, Busan is trying its best to win the bid of hosting the World Expo 2030. Therefore, by choosing Busan as the location for the Gala this time, SK Innovation hopes it would mark a new significant starting point for musicians with developmental disabilities to expand their stages beyond Korea. This is also where the journey for everyone, with or without disabilities, to move forward together.

The Busan Gala held on November 18 was attended by many valuable guests, including the Chairman of SK Group Chey Tae-won, Mayor of Busan Metropolitan City Park Heong-joon, President of Heart-to Heart Foundation Oh Jee-chul, diplomatic envoys from 36 countries and their families, and more.

▲ SK Group’s Chairman Chey Tae-won (top left) and the diplomatic envoys from various countries sign their autographs on the guest board.

A special VR (Virtual Reality) zone was also prepared at the hall of the Busan Gala for the guests to experience the charming beauty of Busan through a digital tour that shows multiple tourist attractions and landmarks of the city.

▲ The diplomatic envoys and their families enjoy the virtual tour of multiple famous spots in Busan at the VR Zone.

To officially start the Gala, Chairman of SK Group Chey Tae-won delivered a short speech to welcome all the guests. During his opening speech, Chairman pointef out: “We sometimes simply assume that [the people with developmental disabilities] need other people’s help, but in fact, they are the ones who help many others through their music, which brings positive vibe and energy to everyone.” As the Co-chair of World Expo 2030 Busan Bid Committee, Chairman Chey also asked for support from each country so that Busan can win the bid and take the spotlight for the World Expo 2030.

▲ SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won delivers the opening speech for the Busan Gala on November 18.

Chairman Chey’s opening speech was followed by the Mayor of Busan Metropolitan City Park Heong-joon’s welcoming speech and President of Heart-to Heart Foundation Oh Jee-chul’s congratulatory message. Ambassador Xing Haiming of the Chinese Embassy in Korea also sent a congratulatory video as he could not attend the event in person.

Daniel Lindemann, who was one of the jury members at the fifth GMF and also participated at the Gala last December, stood as the master of ceremonies. The stage began with the opening performance by Aria Nanta, followed by other previous winners, including Dream with Ensemble, Eins Baum Wind Chamber, Console Piano Ensemble, and more. 

▲ (Top left) Daniel Lindemann, the MC of Busan Gala on November 18 / Clockwise from top right: The stages performed by Ariana Nanta (a Participating Prize winner of the 6th GMF), Console Piano Ensemble (Best Performer of the 6th GMF), Eins Baum Wind Chamber (Grand Prize Winner of the 6th GMF), Dream with Ensemble (Grand Prize Winner of the 1st GMF) and one of its members – Pianist Eun Seong-ho 

Dream with Ensemble, the Grand Prize Winner of the first GMF,  has been invited to official events of various institutions domestically and globally. Last September, the team was invited to the Republic of South Africa by the Nelson Mandela Foundation and the Korean Embassy in the Republic of South Africa to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the diplomatic relationship between the two countries. There, the team toured to perform in concerts in various cities, receiving love from the local audience.

There were other special guests at the Gala: Soprano Oh Shin-young, opera coach and accompanist Jeon Ji-seong, and a Jazz pop Saxophonist Mellow Kitchen from the social enterprise Tool Music Entertainment. Busan Gala wrapped up as a grand and harmonious night of amazing musicians who, with or without disabilities, performed their music with all their hearts and souls.

▲ (Left) Soprano Oh Shin-young Oh and Accompanist Jeon Ji-seong are performing on the special stage at Busan Gala on November 18. / (Right) Jazz pop Saxophonist Mellow Kitchen of the social enterprise Tool Music Entertainment is playing the saxophone.

After the Gala night, SK Innovation conducted a tour program around Busan’s coast and the Jagalchi Market with the diplomatic envoys on November 19. Through this tour, the envoys and their families were able to have a closer look at the diverse charms of Busan, including its beautiful coast.

▲ (Top and middle) Diplomatic envoys from various countries are on tour to visit Jagalchi Market and the coast of Busan on November 19. / (Bottom) The envoys and their families are taking pictures on the coast of Busan.

SK Innovation will incessantly strive to support the dreams and challenges of artists with developmental disabilities. At the same time, SK Innovation will exert its best effort until the day when the successful hosting of Busan World Expo is realized.