Singer Lee Sang-soon has teamed up with Sungshin Women’s University professor Seo Kyung-duk to mark the 115th anniversary of Korea’s 1910 annexation by Japan, unveiling a campaign video and opening a nationwide search for fresh lyrics to the historic song “A Prayer.”
The 4-minute, 30-second clip, created in partnership with KB Financial Group, was filmed at Simujang, the residence where independence activist Han Yong-un met with fellow patriots. The project revisits the meaning of the 1910 annexation and sets the stage for a newly recorded version of the song, slated for release on March 1 next year, Independence Movement Day in Korea.
“A Prayer” is known as a song sung in prison by martyr Yu Gwan-sun and seven fellow women independence activists in Cell No. 8 of the women’s ward at Seodaemun Prison shortly after the March 1 Movement. The piece drew renewed attention in 2019, the movement’s centennial, when music director Jung Jae-il, singer Lena Park and former figure skating champion Kim Yuna reimagined it with a new melody.
“This time, we’ll select meaningful verses through a public lyrics contest with Lee Sang-soon and unveil the official track and a commemorative video on March 1,” Seo said. Lee added, “Lyrics carry real power. We’ll do our best to help a great recording come to life through this contest.”
Submissions are open through October 13. The top entry will receive a lyricist fee of 8.15 million won, a symbolic amount.
(SBS Entertainment News | Kang Kyung-youn)