Mun Kyong-jin (Korean: 문경진; born 1981) is a possibly deceased North Korean violinist who was formerly the head of the Unhasu Orchestra. He was reported to have been executed in August 2013 along with the singer Hyon Song-wol and others.[1][2] However, it subsequently emerged that Hyon Song-wol had not been executed because she appeared on state television a year later.[3]
Mun Kyong-jin | |
|---|---|
| 문경진 | |
 Kyong-jin performing the violin | |
| Disappeared | 20 August 2013 |
| Nationality | North Korean |
| Occupation | Violinist |
| Employer | Unhasu Orchestra |
Mun had received numerous awards and recognitions from the North Korean government during his career.[4] In 2005, Mun won a competition held in Hungary.[4] He performed with the Unhasu Orchestra at the Salle Pleyel concert hall in Paris on March 14, 2012.[5][6] At the time, Mun told Associated Press, "Despite differing languages, we hope that we can easily understand each other through music and become friends," in an interview conducted shortly before the Parisian performance.[6]
Reported execution
editSouth Korea's The Chosun Ilbo reported on August 29, 2013, that Mun Kyong-jin, along with a dozen other prominent North Korean musicians, had been arrested on August 17, on charges of allegedly violating laws against pornography.[4] According to the report, other arrested musicians were arrested as political dissidents or accused of possessing Bibles.[4] The report said that Mun Kyong-jin was executed by firing squad on August 20, 2013.[4][dubious – discuss] In addition, it claimed that a dozen other musicians were also executed with Mun, including several of Mun's colleagues from the Unhasu Orchestra; and dancers and singers from the Wangjaesan Light Music Band.[4] The Unhasu Orchestra was reportedly disbanded following Mun's execution.[4]
References
edit- ^ Edwin Baumgartner (2013-08-30). "Auf Bibelbesitz steht Tod". Wiener Zeitung. Retrieved 2015-08-08.
- ^ Rachel Nuwer (2013-08-29). "North Korea Reportedly Executed Pop Singers And Dancers". Smithsonian. Retrieved 2015-08-08.
- ^ "North Korean singer rumoured to have been executed appears on TV". Agence France-Presse via The Guardian website. 14 May 2014. Retrieved 26 March 2015.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Kim Jong-un's Ex-Girlfriend 'Shot by Firing Squad'". The Chosun Ilbo. 2013-08-29. Retrieved 2013-09-17.
- ^ "N. Korean, French orchestras rehearse for joint concert". The Korea Times. 2012-03-14. Retrieved 2015-08-08.
- ^ a b "North Korean orchestra Paris-bound". CBC News. Associated Press. 2012-03-09. Retrieved 2013-09-17.
External links
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