“It is imperative that reunification is guided by a unifying vision that affirms the shared heritage and destiny of the Korean people and that all Koreans around the world recognize that everyone has a part to play, big or small, in the final effort to create One Dream and One Korea.” —Dr. Hyun Jin Preston Moon
10th Anniversary Milestone
The 10th anniversary of the “New Era Unification Song Campaign” is being commemorated with a special release for the 80th anniversary of Korea’s liberation. The female vocal quartet “Son E-Joo” from Voice Korea is participating in the release of “Korean Dream, Come Shine, Glorious Light!” This marks a significant milestone for the Unification Music Project’s decade-long journey, with the song scheduled for public release at the “2025 Korean Dream Han River Festival” in August.
On June 13, 2025, a new song commemorating both the 80th anniversary of liberation and the 10th anniversary of the “New Era Unification Song Campaign” was unveiled at a press conference held at the Korea Press Center in Seoul. The event announced plans for the “2025 Korean Dream Han River Festival,” marking this historic anniversary.
The “New Era Unification Song Campaign” launched in 2015 to mark the 70th anniversary of liberation as a culture-based citizen unification movement. Over the past decade, hundreds of stars across multiple genres—including ballad, R&B, trot, and EDM—have participated, featuring artists like BTS’s Jungkook, Peabo Bryson, Insooni, Im Chang-jung, and Jung Dong-ha.
The campaign’s flagship song, “One Dream One Korea,” released in 2015, gained particular significance when it served as the farewell song for the 2018 Inter-Korean Summit and was subsequently included in middle school music textbooks, generating widespread attention.
This year’s commemorative release, “Korean Dream, Come Shine, Glorious Light!” embodies the national aspiration for peace and reunification on the Korean Peninsula. The song represents the pinnacle of unification music, where classical and vocal elements converge.
Production Team:
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Producer: Hong Dae-sung, renowned film music composer known for works including “The War Against Crime,” “The Attorney,” and “The Insiders”
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Vocalists: “Son E-Joo” (Son Seung-yeon, Lee Yeo-jun, Ji Se-hee, and Yoo Seong-eun) – Voice Korea alumni
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Orchestra: Seoul Grand Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Seo Hoon
Hong Dae-sung successfully translated the weighty theme of unification into a piece that resonates with the general public. The “Son E-Joo” quartet consists of female vocalists with exceptional vocal power who achieved first place and top-four finishes across seasons 1-4 of “Voice Korea.” Each member brings distinct vocal tones and styles that harmoniously express the longing for unification.
Director Hong Dae-sung explained his approach: “I wanted to convey the theme of unification in a way that everyone could relate to emotionally. Music is a language that opens hearts, and I hope this song becomes the starting point for creating a unified voice of hope for unification that transcends borders and generations.”
Lee Yeo-jun, Yoo Seong-eun, and Ji Se-hee, who attended the press conference, shared their sentiments: “We feel deeply honored to sing this commemorative song on this historic occasion marking the 80th anniversary of liberation and the 10th anniversary of the campaign. We hope this song will be sung by many people at various events, and that their collective aspirations will help bring about reunification as soon as possible.”
“Korean Dream, Come Shine, Glorious Light!” will be performed by the Seoul Grand Philharmonic Orchestra on August 15 at the 2025 Korean Dream Han River Festival, commemorating the 80th anniversary of liberation.
The “2025 Korean Dream Han River Festival” is a citizen-participatory unification cultural festival taking place on August 15 at Ttukseom Han River Park in Seoul. Marking both the 80th anniversary of liberation and division, the festival carries the message of national unity and peaceful unification.
Festival Highlights:
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Programs designed for all generations
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Choir featuring over 1,000 citizens
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Large-scale drone art show with over 1,200 drones expressing the desire for reunification
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Various cultural performances celebrating Korean unity