Kon-Yong Yi

Kōn-yong Yi (also known as Geon-yong Lee) is one of South Korea’s most influential contemporary composers and a vital figure in the development of a distinct Korean liturgical music identity. Born in 1947, he came of age during a period of significant cultural and political transformation in Korea. He received his musical training at Seoul National University and later in Germany at the Frankfurt University of Music and Performing Arts. Throughout his career, he has served in prestigious academic and artistic roles, including as a professor at the Korea National University of Arts and as the Artistic Director of the Seoul Metropolitan Opera.

Yi is perhaps most internationally recognized in the world of hymnody for his hauntingly beautiful hymn "Come Now, O Prince of Peace" (Korean: Ososo, ososo, pyonghwa eui imgum). Written in 1988, the hymn was composed for a meeting of the World Council of Churches. It was born out of a deep yearning for the reunification of North and South Korea and a broader desire for global reconciliation. The text is a simple, repetitive prayer for the "Prince of Peace" to "make us one," reflecting the minimalist and meditative "praise chorus" style while remaining deeply rooted in the liturgical tradition.

Musically, Yi is a pioneer of the "Third Way" in Korean music, a style that seeks to synthesize Western classical techniques with traditional Korean musical elements, such as Pansori (narrative singing) and specific rhythmic patterns. His hymns often feature the Dorian mode or pentatonic scales, which give them a uniquely Eastern "color" while remaining accessible to Western congregations. This cross-cultural appeal has led to "Come Now, O Prince of Peace" being included in many major English-language hymnals, often printed with both the Korean and English lyrics.

Beyond congregational hymns, Yi has composed large-scale works, including operas, cantatas, and orchestral pieces that often explore social justice, peace, and Korean heritage. His work "Food to Pilgrims Given" further demonstrates his commitment to providing the church with a musical language that is both artistically sophisticated and spiritually nourishing. Today, Kōn-yong Yi is celebrated as a composer who helped the Korean church find its own voice, proving that local melodies and specific cultural longings can resonate as universal prayers for the global church.