A young Seymour Bernstein (center) performs for his fellow soldiers during the Korean War. The Ministry of Patriots’ and Veterans’ Affairs invites Korean War veterans and their families to South Korea every year.
“Performances on the front lines took place by placing an upright piano at the foot of the hill. The soldiers sat on the slope and the piano was at the base. In case shells were directed to where we were, they’d fly over the hill and protect us. For eight months, we performed around 100 concerts on the front lines.”
This is the way a young solider wrote as he reminisced of the days when he played piano to comfort his comrades, filled with fear and horror, 66 years ago, during the Korean War (1950-1953). The pianist is Seymour Abraham Bernstein, a Korean War veteran. The movie about him, “Seymour: An Introduction,” was released in April this year and it shed new light on the veteran’s life.
Seymour Bernstein, now aged 89, was one of many young soldiers in his early 20s during the Korean War.
The New Jersey-born war hero was conscripted into the army at the age of 23 on Dec. 7, 1950. On April 24, 1951, after 14 weeks of training, he sailed to Incheon. He was stationed with the 8th U.S. Army and was assigned a special mission: put on performances to heal the soldiers’ weary souls.
For one and a half years, Bernstein traveled to many parts of the country, including Daegu, Busan, Seoul, Incheon and Geoje Isaland, to entertain his fellow soldiers. He played more than 100 concerts on the front lines, as well. A few years later, in 1955, he held a recital and even collaborated with the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra. He also coached a higher-level orchestral class.
In 1960, he came back to Korea under the auspices of the U.S. Department of State, giving concerts and teaching young musicians. During his time here, the April 19 Movement erupted, but Bernstein continued to show up and perform for the young student protesters who were injured in their fight against the dictatorship. This moving scene was broadcast all around the world.
As he turns 89 this year, the pianist will fly back to Korea again on June 24, this time along with about 70 Korean War veterans. His trip this year is part of a Ministry of Patriots’ and Veterans’ Affairs project where every year it invites U.N. war veterans to come to Korea, and which has continued since 1975. Thanks to this annual program, more than 30,000 war veterans and family members have been able to visit Korea.
During his time in Seoul, Bernstein will sit at the piano and play in front of the invited war veterans, the first time in 66 years. The concert will take place at 6 p.m. on June 27 at the Westin Chosun hotel.
By Wi Tack-whan, Sohn JiAe
Korea.net Staff Writers
whan23@korea.kr
