The 20th New Life Concert

Shake off worries and inspire hopes for twenty years—the key is the love of a mother

The 20th New Life Concert was held to comfort our underprivileged neighbors at Jamsil Arena in Seoul, Korea, on December 2. It was hosted by Intl. WeLoveU Foundation and sponsored by Korean Ministry of Health and Welfare, Seoul Metropolitan Government, Sejong General Hospital, and Korea Association for Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect.

People are queuing up to enter the concert hall with bright faces.

Many walks of life paid their attention to the concert that has been held every year since 2000. Chairwoman Zahng Gil-jah and the directors of Intl. WeLoveU, Vice President of Lao Front National Development Khamla Lingnasone, Ambassador of Laos to Korea Thieng Bouph, Ambassador of Cote d’Ivoire to Korea Sylvestre Kouassi Bile, Korea Association for Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect Chairman Yi Bae-keun, and more participated in this year’s event. The presence of foreign diplomats and their families from 16 countries and more than 8,400 WeLoveU members and citizens confirmed that it is the biggest charity concert in Korea.

Before the event, many influential figures around the world, who had seen the activities of Intl. WeLoveU sent their congratulatory messages on its 20th concert. The news of how the beneficiaries were living, receiving medical expenses raised by concerts, touched the audience.

Chairwoman Zahng Gil-jah explains the goal of the event and delivers a message of encouragement to the participants.

Chairwoman Zahng Gil-jah recalled twenty years of the New Life Concert and delivered a message of encouragement to beneficiaries and all the participants. “I hope you can forget your pain and sorrow for a moment while singing songs of love together and arise for a hopeful future,” she said.

Ambassador of Cote d’Ivoire to Korea Sylvestre Kouassi Bile is delivering a congratulatory message.

“After watching the video, I could tell that Intl.WeLoveU is a growing NGO. I was inspired by the motto that we can build a happy future by overcoming big and small hardships together,” said Ambassador of Cote d’Ivoire to Korea Sylvestre Kouassi Bile. He also hoped Intl. WeLoveU’s plans in Côte d’Ivoire would be successful, too.

Chairwoman Zahng Gil-jah is showing the pledge of support for neighbors in 18 countries, in front of the ambassadors, distinguished guests, and the audience.

In total KRW 400 million was given to victims, refugees, and the vulnerable in 18 countries, and to 211 underprivileged or multicultural households and typhoon victims in Samcheok, Uljin, and Yeongdeok in Korea through the donation fund delivery ceremony.

Broadcaster Kim Byeong-chan (left) emceed the donation fund delivery ceremony, and Actor Kim Seong-hwan (right) the concert.

The first part of the event was the donation fund delivery ceremony which was emceed by Broadcaster Kim Byeong-chan. The concert began afterwards, emceed by Actor Kim Seong-hwan. The New Life Children’s Choir enlivened the stage with their cheerful performance, making the audience forget freezing cold. Sopranos Park Mi-hye and Kang Min-seong, Baritone Oh Yu-seok, Singers Lee Yong, Lee Seung-hun, Kim Jong-hwan, Lia Kim, Yun Tae-gyu, and Jeong Su-ra donated their talents.

Sopranos Park Mi-hye, Kang Min-seong, and Baritone Oh Yu-seok (from left to right)

Singers Lee Yong, Lee Seung-hun, and Kim Jong-hwan (from left to right)

Singers Lia Kim, Yun Tae-gyu, and Jeong Su-ra (from left to right)

A variety of songs were well received by the audience. At this concert, the audience responded with cheers and cell phone flashes instead of disposable glow sticks, as part of the Clean Action environmental campaign.

Intl. WeLoveU members use cell phone flashes instead of disposable glow sticks, as part of the “Clean Action” Campaign.

Singer Lee Seung-hun, who participated in this concert almost every year, said, “It is really great to continue something for twenty years. I’m grateful to the chairwoman and the members who have continued to hold the concert,” He has shared love with his songs for nineteen years since the 2nd Concert. “Today is Monday and it got cold suddenly. I thought I would be singing in front of empty seats. But the response is more enthusiastic than last year’s,” said Singer Lee Yong.

Vice President of Lao Front National Development Khamla Lingnasone watched the event till the end and expressed his gratitude to Intl. WeLoveU for its activities in Laos, such as helping dam collapse victims and establishing secondary school facilities. “Intl. WeLoveU goes to backward places other people avoid and gives unconditional love with the mind of a mother,” he said, expressing his will to cooperate with Intl. WeLoveU’s future activities.

“I feel good with a thought that I can be of help to someone just by being together. I’ve received much energy from the concert,” said Lim Hwan-yi (27, Gocheok-dong, Seoul), who came to the event right after his work. He said he would continue to actively participate in Intl. WeLoveU’s activities.

“Twenty years have already passed while helping our neighbors. Twenty years is an age of majority. The New Life Concert plans to widen the scope of harmony, comforting the pain and sorrow of our global neighbors with songs of love. Our role may be small but we’ll make efforts to contribute to world peace,” said Chairwoman Zahng Gil-jah.

Like her words, Intl. WeLoveU has created hopes and miracles through sharing and volunteering not for a short time. For twenty years, the New Life Concert has been participated by about 170,000 members and citizens, and has delivered the hope of a new life and the heartwarming love of a mother to 25 countries and 900 households in Korea. Intl. WeLoveU will continue to sing songs of hope with the love of a mother until all people enjoy happiness without leaving anyone neglected.