Composer Jung Jae-il, known for his haunting music in films and dramas such as "Parasite" (2019) and "Squid Game" (2021), is stepping into the classical spotlight with his first original orchestral creation written for the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra (SPO).
The 15-minute piece, titled "Inferno," will premiere Thursday and Friday during SPO’s concerts at Lotte Concert Hall in Seoul. Next month, it will make its America debut during the orchestra’s U.S. tour, including a concert at Carnegie Hall in New York City.
"What set this project apart from my previous works was that everything had to start and end with the music itself,” Jung, 43, said during a press conference on Tuesday. “In the process, I endured days of despair that felt like hell.”
The composition, structured in four movements, draws inspiration from the final lines of Italo Calvino’s novel "Invisible Cities" (1972) and depicts a descent into inferno, then ascends toward peace through orchestral structure.
Despite his impressive resume, the project pushed Jung to his limits. Without formal education in classical music, Jung had to teach himself orchestration, seeking advice from colleagues in the musical world throughout the year-long process.
Jung described his first full rehearsal with the orchestra on Monday as “nerve-wracking.”
"The rehearsal was a completely new experience. It felt like 100 musicians were evaluating me," Jung said.
Still, the piece earned praise from SPO’s music director Jaap van Zweden, who commissioned the work.
“Jung is a very talented young composer who has made a big name for himself,” van Zweden said. “When you hear his music, you can hear his talent. He has the ability to move from the world of movies into classical music because he is a very multitalented person. SPO is always looking for brilliant musicians.”
The commission stemmed from van Zweden’s search for young talent. The conductor had heard of Jung even before arriving in Korea and expressed interest in working with Jung during his first press conference in January 2023, shortly after his appointment. The two eventually met in Seoul that April.
Jung admitted he was initially hesitant to take on the project, due to self-doubt over his lack of classical music education.
“I was wondering what the world-class maestro saw in me and I wasn’t sure if I could do what he was asking. I even told him I would refuse,” Jung recalled. “But he encouraged me to focus on what I could do as a composer and to find a story.”
Despite his worries, Jung pushed through. “When I felt overwhelmed by negative thoughts, I endured them and motivated myself with the pressure to finish,” he said.
Composer Jung Jae-il, right, listens to Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra's music director Jaap van Zweden during a press conference in Seoul, Tuesday. Yonhap
From humble roots to global fame
“Inferno” is the latest addition to Jung’s repertoire of genre-crossing works. His meteoric rise as a composer, however, is built on a humble background.
Raised by his mother, Jung lacked access to formal musical training. At 15, his mother enrolled him in a private jazz academy, where his talent was quickly recognized and professional musicians began inviting him to join groups such as the band Gigs and the percussion ensemble Puri. He continued writing songs during his military service.
In 2013, at the age of 31, he was music supervisor for the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical "Jesus Christ Superstar."
His career took off when he served as music director for Bong Joon-ho’s film "Okja" (2017), after which he went on to write the scores for "Parasite" and "Squid Game." In 2021, he became the first Korean musician to win the Hollywood Music in Media Award.
Jung is also an accomplished solo musician, with several albums to his name. He held his first solo concert in 2020 and, in 2023, released his latest album "Listen" in partnership with the U.K. label Decca.
