Choir Sings of Coexistence: 'I Want to Be a Forest With You'

In an era where discrimination and hate speech are eroding public discourse, the Choir of the Trees of Peace extends an invitation to coexist through its upcoming performance. The choir, marking its 19th year, will present its regular concert 'Together Forest_Coexistence' on June 27 at the Mapo Art Center.

For nearly two decades, this cultural community has amplified voices on critical social issues in South Korea, including peace, human rights, labor, and historical justice. Their performances, held in concert halls, streets, and public squares, showcase the power of art created by ordinary citizens.

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We hope the songs become a gentle resistance and warm solidarity that connects lives.

The concert's central theme is 'coexistence.' However, the choir's concept of coexistence transcends abstract values, focusing instead on a practical approach to life that embraces the inherent friction and tension arising from the interaction of diverse beings. They liken this to a forest, where various trees coexist by sharing light and enduring winds, illustrating that coexistence is a continuous process of navigating differences rather than eliminating conflict.

This message resonates deeply with the current landscape of South Korean society, where marginalized groups like immigrants, women, laborers, and LGBTQ+ individuals continue to face exclusion and hate. The choir directly confronts the question of 'living together,' which is often superficially discussed but rarely explored in depth regarding how and with whom we should coexist.

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Like a tree reaching out to whisper, I want to be a forest with you.

The performance will feature a special collaboration with the LGBTQ+ choir G-VOICE, emphasizing coexistence as a lived practice rather than a mere declaration. Together, they will perform 'The Road to Buam-dong,' a piece reflecting personal memories, loss, and collective mourning. G-VOICE's solo performance of 'Confession,' detailing coming-out experiences, and the choir's rendition of 'Lip Sync Singer,' based on members' autobiographical narratives, will demonstrate how private confessions can resonate socially.

The Choir of the Trees of Peace aims not to offer grand solutions but to reawaken our senses to the beauty of life, the pain of others, and the act of seeing each other as we are. Their songs suggest that coexistence begins with these simple acts of reaching out. Thus, the concert is more than just a musical performance; it is a proposal for an era desperately in need of coexistence. As the choir's representative, Yoon Seo-woo, stated, "We hope the songs become a gentle resistance and warm solidarity that connects lives." The opening song, 'Together Forest,' encapsulates this sentiment: "Like a tree reaching out to whisper, I want to be a forest with you." The choir extends this invitation to the audience: "Let's blend together and become a forest. Let's live together!"

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Let's blend together and become a forest. Let's live together!