Seohyun will appear as a special guest at the Sol Philharmonic Orchestra’s eighth regular concert on March 13, which will be held at the prestigious Lotte Concert Hall in Seoul. While this may seem like a celebratory return to music, some netizens have expressed concern, accusing the star of receiving preferential treatment, claiming she has secured a coveted stage after just five months of violin practice.
Critics argued that standing on a “dream stage” like the Lotte Concert Hall – a venue often reserved for top-tier professional musicians – based on celebrity status alone was unfair.
However, voices in the music community quickly pushed back. Organist and university professor Jung Sook (known by I Am Alone, season 13) defended Seohyun, saying, “I don’t see what the problem is. The orchestra itself is amateur, and Seohyun probably spent a lot of time rehearsing. The Lotte Concert Hall is not a stage you get for free. Let’s not diminish someone’s efforts: focus on your life instead.”
Streamer Yodelay, a music graduate from Seoul National University, added that Seohyun had learned the violin as a child and had taken intensive lessons for the past five months to prepare for the show.
In fact, Seohyun’s social media supports these claims. In February 2024, she posted a photo of her violin as a child with the caption: «I found it: my old violin.» She also shared past images for Children’s Day, humorously inviting fans to choose their favorite child version of her: playing the piano, violin, or traditional Korean drums.
Seohyun will perform Vittorio Monti’s “Csárdás” at the concert. Expressing his hopes, he said through his agency, “I want this challenge to help people feel closer to classical music and discover the joy of it. Like pop music, classical music should be something everyone can freely enjoy – it’s music for all of us.”
As the debate develops, it’s clear that Seohyun’s journey isn’t about privilege, but passion, and her effort to bridge the gap between classical music and mainstream audiences might just inspire a new appreciation for the genre.
