▲ Kim Jong-hoon, Chairman of the Board of Directors of SK Innovation (fifth from front left), Cheong Chul-gun, CEO of the Korea JoongAng Daily (fourth from front left), Oh Jee-chul (President of Heart to Heart Foundation), and ambassadors and spouses attend Charity Night Gala 2021 held at Lotte Hotel Seoul on December 28.

“The great challenge of those with developmental disabilities will go on”

On December 28, 2021, SK Innovation hosted a special year-end event titled “Charity Night Gala 2021” at Lotte Hotel, Seoul, South Korea. The ambassadors from various countries and their spouses were invited to the event to enjoy the performances of the winners of “Great Music Festival” (hereinafter, “GMF”), the largest music festival for people with developmental disabilities in Korea. The event served as a platform for a wider audience to show their support towards those with developmental disabilities.

This event also allowed SK Innovation to inform the public about the aim and purpose of GMF, which has been held for the past five years, as well as the social values created by the program. It was also a meaningful experience for GMF winners as they had an opportunity to perform on a stage right in front of the audience, which is a rare chance due to the prolonged pandemic, and show their talents to the guests from multiple countries.

| The five years of GMF with SK Innovation

GMF is South Korea’s largest classical music competition for those with developmental disabilities. The festival has been organized by Heart to Heart Foundation and sponsored by SK Innovation since 2017 with the purpose of creating more opportunities for people with developmental disabilities to connect with the world, as well as inspiring them to challenge themselves and find a sense of fulfillment through music.

So far, 131 teams gathered by around 1,500 musicians with developmental disabilities from 15 South Korean megalopolises and provinces have participated in GMF to bring multiple stages filled with endeavors and hope, with approximately 1,000 audiences each time it was held. Furthermore, since the third year, the Grand Prize Winner of GMF has been receiving the Korean Ministerial Award of Culture, Sports and Tourism to invigorate the performance of the musician teams with developmental disabilities.

▲ The finalists of GMF from 2017 to 2021

Due to the COVID-19 situation, in the last two years, GMF was held online through live streaming broadcast on SK Innovation’s official YouTube channel. The company intends to phase in GMF globally through enhancing cultural ties, with a focus on areas where its global business offices are located, such as the United States and Poland.

| Charity Night Gala 2021 – the first stage to reach global audience

On December 28^th 2021, Chairman of the Board of SK Innovation Kim Jong-hoon, Chief Executive Officer of Korea JoongAng Daily Cheong Chul-gun, President of Heart to Heart Foundation Oh Jee-chul, Interim Representative of Ambassadors Spouses Association in Seoul (hereinafter “ASAS”) Konul Teymurova, and around 20 ambassadors to Korea and their spouses attended the “Charity Night Gala 2021.”

The event was held in full accordance with social distancing guidelines laid down against the COVID-19. Furthermore, television personality Daniel Lindemann, who served as a judge in the GMF 2021, emceed the event and added a particular touch to the occasion. Prior to the main event, Daniel Lindemann performed a stunning piano performance as a jazz pianist in honor of the event. It was followed by a video showcasing a heartwarming narrative of GMF, which was watched by all the participants.

▲ GMF video in celebration of Charity Night Gala 2021 

Charity Night Gala 2021 continued with welcome speeches from Chairman of the Board of SK Innovation Kim Jong-hoon and CEO of Korea JoongAng Daily Cheong Chul-gun, who represented the hosts of the event.

The performers of the event include Vivace Ensemble, Playssimo, and Mosaic, three winning teams of GMF 2021.

▲ The performers at Charity Night Gala 2021: Vivace Ensemble (top left), Mosaic (top right), Playssimo (bottom left) / The performers at Charity Night Gala 2021 take a commemorative photo with Daniel Lindemann, MC of the event (bottom right)

“There have been fewer chances for us to perform on stage due to the Covid-19, so this special event offered us with a huge consolation,” said the GMF winners who performed at Charity Night Gala 2021. They also expressed their desire to become musicians who can perform beautiful music with better expertise.

Following the performances, Vivace Ensemble, the Grand Prize Winner of GMF 2021, received the Korean Ministerial Award for Culture, Sports, and Tourism. The prize was presented by Oh Jee-chul, President of the Hear to Hear Foundation, on behalf of the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism. Following that, ASAS presented a contribution to GMF winners in support of the growth and development of performing groups of musicians with developmental disabilities. The donation from the spouses of ambassadors to Korea had special significance in that it has helped to lay the groundwork for many artists with developmental impairments, including GMF winners, to express their musical talents without boundaries around the world.

▲ (Left) Vivace Ensemble, the 5th GMF’s grand prize winner receives the Korean Ministerial Award of Culture, Sports and Tourism. / (Right) ASAS presents a donation to performers with developmental disabilities at the Charity Night Gala 2021

SK Innovation’s effort and support will continue for their amazing dream in order to keep on a poignant performance of musician groups with developmental impairments who provided comforting music and heart to all despite a frigid year-end season.