Lee Ha-nee Narrates Gugak Story Concert for Families of Children with Disabilities

Actor Lee Ha-nee drew on her training as a Korean traditional music major to take part in a stage created for families of children with disabilities. The concert, titled “Story of Sky, Wind and Sunshine,” was held on July 3 at C-SQUARE in Gangnam District, Seoul, and closed with a warm response from the audience.

The performance was hosted and organized by Habahae, an arts-healing group formed by Collage Ensemble, with Hope Project participating in production and investment. The stage brought together Lee Ha-nee, gayageum player Seul-gi Lee, hun player Song Kyung-geun, haegeum player Seong Yeon-young, percussionist Kwon Hyo-chang and pianist Lee Hye-mi. Every performer joined the project by donating their talent.

Lee appeared that day as a “shining guest” and narrated writer Kim Dong-shin’s music reading play “Story of Sky, Wind and Sunshine.” The work follows Haneul on a journey to meet his older sister Haetsal, alongside the story of the wind that accompanies him. Through vivid acting, Lee gave shape to the tale’s storybook-like world.

The concert opened with “Gilnori,” Habahae’s first greeting to the audience. It then continued with 10 pieces in total, including “Spring Sound,” “Under the Sunshine,” “Nunnunanna,” “Small Step,” “Blossom,” “Gukhwaya,” “Hungi Sanghwa,” “Neoyeong Nayeong” and “Happiness.” Melodies centered on Korean traditional music, combining gayageum, haegeum, hun, percussion and piano, deepened the resonance of the narrated play.

The warmth of the performance continued the following day. On July 4, Habahae held a special performance at the Uncle Youngbeo Studio Art Center branch in Gwacheon, Gyeonggi Province, inviting 11 teams of children with severe disabilities and their families.

The event was planned so families who often find it difficult to attend cultural and arts performances because of practical constraints could enjoy the show comfortably, rest and feel free from concern over the eyes of others around them. Habahae is an abbreviation of “Haneul, Baram, Haetsal,” meaning sky, wind and sunshine, and the ensemble was formed to offer comfort and hope to families who have little room to rest while caring for children with disabilities. Through “Barrier-Conscious” and “Bed-side” concerts, the group visits homes of children with severe disabilities whose movement is limited, extending music’s healing possibilities into everyday life.

Lee explained through her agency why she proposed this stage. “When I first heard Habahae’s story, I thought it was not an easy path,” she said.

She continued, “But as I watched them quietly walk that road for years and convey sincerity, like a small seed blooming into a flower as in the title of the performance piece ‘Blossom,’ I also felt that warmth and comfort. I wanted to share that feeling with more people, so I proposed and arranged this occasion with the Habahae members.”

Lee added, “I believe your small interest and support can become a great miracle for someone. Please continue watching over Habahae for a long time, and please send warm interest and encouragement.”

Lee Ha-nee first became widely known as Miss Korea Jin in 2006 and has continued to return her artistic talent to society, grounded in her background as a graduate of Seoul National University’s Department of Korean Traditional Music. As an actor, she met audiences last year through the works “The People Upstairs” and “Ambiguous,” and this year she is awaiting the release of the Netflix series “Slowly and Intensely.”