The Korean National Commission for UNESCO organized a special jazz concert as part of celebrations for International Jazz Day at Olympus Hall in Samseong-dong, Seoul, on Friday.

The concert featured well-known local jazz musicians including renowned jazz vocalist Na Yoon-sun, who is also the KNCU’s International Jazz Day ambassador.

The 1st Generation Korean Jazz Band and the Yun Seok Cheol Trio also performed in the concert, which streamed live online Friday night on the KNCU’s website and on Ustream.

In 2011, UNESCO honored jazz music as a source of enhancing global unity and peace, selecting the date April 30 as International Jazz Day.

“This day is destined to raise awareness in the international community regarding jazz’s virtues as an educational tool, as a vehicle for peace, unity and dialogue, and for enhanced cooperation between peoples,” the KNCU said in a statement Friday ahead of the concert.

The KNCU was established in 1954 just after the end of the Korea War, making it nearly as old as South Korea itself. The organization has implemented various activities in Korea and abroad to contribute to UNESCO’s overall mission, like its “BRIDGE Program” to send young volunteers to Africa, “Sejong Project” to promote basic education in Asian and Pacific countries, and the publication of its “Korea Journal.”

(ephilip2011@heraldcorp.com)