Program Note

The Most Precious Work on My Filmography

If I had to name one person who has had the greatest influence on my life, it would be director Hur Jin-ho. For better or worse, he completely changed the course of my life. I entered the world of film music because of him, and I’ve found great success through our collaborations. Every film we’ve worked on together holds deep meaning for me—*Christmas in August* (1998), *One Fine Spring Day* (2001), *April Snow* (2005), *Happiness* (2007), *Dangerous Liaisons* (2012), and *Forbidden Dream* (2019). But if I had to choose just one, it would be *One Fine Spring Day*.

The main theme, “One Fine Spring Day,” came to me out of nowhere one day. I wrote it in just five minutes, and to this day, it remains the most ideal creative moment of my career. For a long time, I had wrestled with how to express through music the aching beauty of things that disappear—and my own personal experiences of such loss.

In moments like these, inspiration suddenly strikes. Music born from such moments can resonate universally. *One Fine Spring Day* opened many new doors for me, including opportunities overseas. It gave me the confidence that my music could speak to the world, and the determination to continue pursuing my own musical style and sensibilities.
(CHO Sung-woo)

Director

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  • Hur Jin-ho
  • Born in Jeonju in 1963, Hur Jin-ho graduated from Yonsei University with a degree in philosophy and later enrolled in the Korean Academy of Film Arts, where he directed the short film *For Go-chul*. He made a sensational debut with *Christmas in August*, receiving acclaim for his refined narrative style and elegant aesthetics, elevating the melodrama genre beyond sentimentality. His notable works include *One Fine Spring Day* (2001), *April Snow* (2005), *Happiness* (2007), *One Fine Rainy Day* (2009), and *The Last Princess* (2016).